Inside a 65-Year-Old KL Home Redesigned by its Architect Owner

Old bones, new life

From the start, Redza (39) and his wife Dayang (33) had a clear vision for their dream home—a minimalist space designed to support their family’s well-being, especially their kids. Instead of going for a brand new property, they saw a potential in a 65-year-old house that most people would’ve passed up.

With his background in architecture, Redza led the entire design process. He even put together a 50-page book that captured every detail of the renovation—from raw sketches and design concepts to colour palettes and 3D visuals of the home. Keep reading as the couple shares the full story behind their RM250,000 renovation journey.

About Redza and his family

Redza (R): My wife and I have been happily married for 10 years and are proud parents to two boys, aged 7 and 9. Back when we were renting a condo, we started dreaming of owning a home where our family could truly grow—ideally a landed property where the kids could play freely and safely within the privacy of our own space.

While house-hunting, we came across this 65-year-old home in Ampang that immediately caught our attention. It’s conveniently close to major highways and the city centre, which makes our daily commute to work much easier. We also love how peaceful and quiet the neighbourhood is, it just felt right for our family.

The original house was built in the 1960s. It’s a single-storey detached home sitting on a 3,737 sqft plot of land. Structurally, the house was still in good shape when we bought it. One thing that stood out was its unusual layout—the toilet was located outside the main house. Surprisingly, this turned out to be a plus, as it meant there were no signs of mould or water damage inside the house.

That said, the previous owner had extended the backyard to create a kitchen and food storage area. Unfortunately, this made the house quite dark and attracted a lot of mosquitoes. One of the rooms, used for food storage, had also become a nesting ground for rats, with small gaps and holes in the walls.

Design concept/playing with lines

One thing you’ll notice throughout the home is the interplay of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines. A specific detail we chose to retain and reinterpret was the diagonal column at the back of the original house. We loved its bold, unconventional character, so we echoed it in the gate structure at the front of the house—creating a subtle architectural rhythm that connects old and new. It’s one of those details that might not shout for attention, but for us, it carries deep meaning.

About the home’s design

When it came to renovating the house, we embraced a minimalist approach. Our goal was to create a home that celebrates the beauty of simplicity, thoughtfully designed to provide exactly what we need; nothing more, nothing less.

The well-being and mental health of our family, especially our kids, was also a top priority. We kept the layout simple and uncluttered, focusing on calm, open spaces and plenty of outdoor areas where the children could explore and play freely.

Inside, rather than maximising space for the sake of it, we embrace a “less is more” mindset, making sure every area serves a purpose without being overwhelming.

When it came to materials, we were drawn to raw, natural finishes. Rather than covering things up for the sake of aesthetics, we chose to highlight the textures, tones, and imperfections that give a space its character. Our material choices reflect a “true-to-material” approach; honest, low-maintenance, and grounded.

The floors are finished in exposed cement, which not only gives a clean, industrial feel but is also incredibly durable and easy to maintain, perfect for a home with young kids. We use exposed brick in select areas, both for texture and warmth. It brings a bit of earthiness and character into the space, especially when paired with the cement wall finish, which adds to the raw, unfinished aesthetic. To balance the rougher textures, we introduced wood accents in our furniture to soften the overall feel.

Design inspiration

Our main inspiration comes from the early open-plan concepts pioneered by legendary architects like Mies Van Der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier. We were drawn to their minimalist philosophy and the way they redefined spatial flow, stripping things back to essentials and creating a sense of openness and connection between spaces.

Projects like Farnsworth House, Fallingwater and Villa Savoye really resonated with us too. They challenged traditional layouts and embraced openness, light and fluidity.

We weren’t aiming to replicate a specific look, but instead to embrace the core principles, clarity in design, honesty in materials, and a thoughtful connection between indoors and out.

While platforms like Pinterest and Instagram offered useful visual inspiration, it was these timeless architectural values that truly shaped our vision for the renovation.

Colour scheme

Our colour scheme was thoughtfully curated to evoke simplicity, calmness, and a strong connection to nature. White serves as the primary backdrop, symbolising purity and providing a timeless, neutral base that highlights textures, materials, and natural light. To complement it, we introduced grey—a versatile, understated tone that adds balance and quiet elegance. Together, white and grey create a minimalist yet inviting foundation.

To reinforce the connection with nature, we brought in green through landscaping and outdoor views, infusing the home with a sense of vitality and freshness. Deeper shades of green are used indoors as subtle accents, echoing the outdoors while adding depth and a grounded feel. Warmth comes through brown tones found in wooden accents and furnishings, offering a sense of stability and comfort that ties the palette together and enhances the overall earthy, organic ambiance.

About the home renovation

After getting the keys, we initially approached an interior design firm to work with. However, they couldn't suggest a design that works with the original structure of the house. They wanted to have a ‘normal’ approach where major works required for the house structure, which we were hoping to avoid.

That inspired me to take on the design himself. I created the 3D drawings and we then hired contractors to bring the vision to life.

The renovation included major work like demolishing old walls, building new ones, installing flooring, painting, electrical wiring, and adding gates. We sourced all the windows and doors ourselves. Most of the furniture and lighting including the TV cabinet, sofa, dining table, and even the TV were bought from Shopee.

Main entrance

Since we chose to retain the original outer walls and roof, we focused our efforts on reworking the internal layout.

The result is a compact, open-plan home with just 2 bedrooms. For added privacy, we moved the main entrance from the front to the side of the house. This not only gives us a more discreet entryway but also creates a more spacious car porch.

Stepping into the house, you’re immediately greeted by something a little unexpected, a freestanding bathtub paired with a soft light feature, inspired by hotel suites. It sets the tone for how we wanted the house to feel: calm, curated, and slightly indulgent in all the right ways.

The bathrooms

One of the most unique twists in our layout is how we reimagined the bathrooms. Instead of treating them as secondary spaces, we made them stand out as distinct focal points. The bathrooms are strategically placed at the heart of the home (both on the right and the left side of the freestanding bathtub), acting as a spatial bridge between the private zone (bedrooms) and the semi-private area (living and dining). It’s not fully enclosed in a traditional sense, which gives it a unique character, somewhere between private and public. It’s functional, yet it becomes part of the architectural expression.

Having an open-plan bathroom really motivates us to keep the space neat and tidy. For practicality, we added curves to the edges of the toilet walls, which makes cleaning so much easier—especially since bathrooms tend to stay damp and mold often builds up in corners. The smooth, rounded design helps prevent that. We also slanted the toilet wall divider slightly to make dusting much easier.

The open plan kitchen, living room and dining area

On the left side of the house, you'll find the open kitchen with an island that anchors the space. It overlooks the dining and living area, all of which open out visually and physically to the outdoor space via the glass doors and windows. The connection between indoors and outdoors is very intentional, creating a continuous flow that makes the house feel larger and more breathable than it actually is.

We also paid attention to details like cross ventilation, natural light, and circulation, all of which support our idea of a home that’s not just beautiful, but truly livable. For instance, we installed glass doors and windows with minimal window treatment which allow plenty of sunlight and helps to improve air circulation around the house when opened.

What we love most is how the entire house feels connected. You can almost “see” the whole home from a single point without walking through it. That visual openness creates a sense of transparency and cohesion that ties the entire space together.

The layout also brings our family closer together. My wife can be in the kitchen cooking while still keeping an eye on the kids playing in the living room.

We also wanted to bring our kids’ creativity into the home. In the dining area, we hung up two abstract paintings they made, and you’ll spot a few more of their little masterpieces around the house too.

The yard

One of our favorite parts of the house is the yard. The previous owner had extended the back of the house and turned the yard into a kitchen and storeroom. But during the renovation, we decided to tear all of that down and bring it back to its original state.

This is where the kids naturally gravitate to play, explore, and just be themselves. What makes it special is that we can be in the kitchen or living area and still see them running around, laughing, and making up games. It’s such a simple thing, but having that visual and physical connection to where they are brings us so much peace of mind and joy.

It’s a space that feels free, open, and alive. In many ways, it’s the heart of the home, not because it’s the biggest or the most designed, but because it’s where the most meaningful moments happen.

To sum up

At the end of the day, we designed this home to grow with us—to adapt, evolve, and reflect the way our lives change over time. It’s not just a structure; it’s a living, personal space. And the best part? It’s brought us even closer as a family. We find ourselves spending more quality time together, and that means everything to us.

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