Tour This 990 Sqft Modern Zen Family Condominium in Selangor

With its modern looks and zen-like design, this lovely condominium in Petaling Jaya exudes a cosy laid-back charm.

Your home is your private oasis. This is especially true in an urban environment, where you need to create a tranquil haven to decompress and live peacefully. This condominium in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, designed by Paperworks Studio, is an excellent example.

The owner of this 990 sqft condominium enlisted the help of interior design firm Paperworks Studio, to turn his empty property into a cosy, open space home that is modern and inviting for him and his family. We spoke with Neo Chin of Paperworks Studio, the project manager who oversaw the renovation that took 8 weeks to complete.

Qanvast (Q): Hi, can you tell us a little about your client?

Neo Chin (NC): This condominium is owned by a bachelor in his forties who’s an insurance agent and lives with his mother and brother. He is a very family-oriented person who enjoys travelling and has a very active social life.

He learned about our company through a referral from an existing client. He was impressed with our work after looking through our recent projects on Instagram and Facebook, which prompted him to work with us.

Q: Can you give us a brief description of the property?

NC: The unit has 3+1 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. He chose to purchase this condominium after previously living in Kuala Lumpur to get away from the bustling, busy city, and they were impressed with the community and neighbourhood offered in this area.

The condominium is also convenient for his mother, who does not drive, to access various amenities, such as hospitals, grocery stores, and restaurants. On top of that, the condo is also in close proximity to his office.

Q: What was the client’s request for the home renovation?

NC: For this project, the client requested a Zen and MUJI-inspired design with a modern look. He also desired a relaxing haven to which he could retreat after a long day at work.

Luckily, the interior demonstrates a strong potential to create a Zen environment, thanks to the open-plan layout and white walls. We enhanced the Zen vibe further by adding curved forms, rounded edges, marble slabs, high-quality wood laminates, and custom-made furniture.

In terms of colour palette, we used natural oak and white walls as the background, black and dark ebony wood as accents, and grey soft furnishings to lend warmth and calmness to the space while remaining modern.

When it comes to living in a condominium, space is often an issue. However, we ensured that the home appears light, airy, and spacious by incorporating a number of space-saving solutions (more on this below).

Q: Can you tell us about the renovation that was done to achieve this look?

NC: The entire look seems simple, but when you look closely, you can see how much effort was put into the project to ensure that the sense of continuity and seamlessness is maintained throughout.

The moment you walk into the house, you will feel at ease. The herringbone flooring creates a welcoming, dynamic flow that is subtle but eye-catching, especially when paired with white walls. It leads you to the open plan layout, which incorporates the living room, dining area, and dry kitchen.

The majority of the furniture was custom-made to maximise every square inch of space. This way, we were able to create a space that is easy to keep clutter-free while also maintaining the space's calmness.

Since the dry kitchen is very small, we designed it to be as simple as possible and incorporated built-in units to conceal appliances for a visually seamless look. We also added lower cabinets for storage, which are paired with gorgeous marble countertops.

Next to the dry kitchen, there’s a wet kitchen, which is thoughtfully closed off behind frosted glass panels. This is a great way to keep cooking fumes out of the living area while allowing natural light to flow through the dry kitchen from the wet kitchen.

Although the wet kitchen is separate from the open-concept living area, we wanted there to be thematic continuity. So, we used similar-coloured wooden materials for the upper and lower cabinets, creating a continuous visual flow from one room to another.

Instead of dazzling you with ornate designs, this home captivates you with its understated but beautiful touches. For example, to create a visual separation between the dry and dining areas, we added a false ceiling with overhead wooden panelling, which has the added effect of ‘framing’ the marble island.

In the dining room, we installed a full-height black mirror with an inlaid light to elevate the area while making it look bigger. We added a large dining table and an L-shaped bench to accommodate the owners’ lifestyles, providing a space for work, study, entertainment, and dining.

To separate the dining and living rooms, we added a wooden partition that acts as a boundary between the living and dining areas. The wooden walls sport rounded curves, which are mirrored in the design of the furniture and built-in units as well. The subtle design is a great technique if you want your home's furniture and walls to do most of the talking. It also contributes to the home's modern and effortless appearance.

The bedrooms are consistent with the rest of the home and are soothing and relaxing. To maximise the available space and provide adequate storage, we installed built-in furniture and floor-to-ceiling wardrobes rather than filling the space with loose furnishings. This also contributes to the space's neat and uncluttered appearance.

Instead of curtains, we chose blinds to complement the wooden platform bed and flooring. It's a fantastic idea because it adds visual interest to the otherwise plain white walls while also making the room appear lighter and calmer.

There were no major changes made in the bathrooms except for the built-in sink cabinet and a simple mirror, which we installed to improve the space's functionality.

Q: What was your clients' reaction when they saw the completed project?

NC: The client was overjoyed with the outcome of the home renovation, and he was blown away by how similar the final look is in the 3D rendering.

He was so excited to move into his new home that he came almost every day to check on the progress and see the house's gradual transformation. While he was there, he noted that our workmanship is excellent and that the attention to detail is commendable.

Love this home? Get in touch with Paperworks Studio to help renovate your dream space.

Send us your request for a free quote, and we will connect you with up to four interior design firms to assist you with your home renovation based on your budget and needs.

Aside from that, homeowners who enquire with an interior firm via our platform are automatically part of the Qanvast Trust Programme, including the Qanvast Guarantee that safeguards your renovation deposit up to RM50,000.

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