At first glance, the residential area of Pantai Hillpark in Bukit Kerinchi in Kuala Lumpur looks like a development that is bursting at the seams. Further investigation reveals a neighbourhood that has a structured layout and a homogenous façade — courtesy of the uniform design and architectural language that has been adopted for the entire development.

Phase 3 of Pantai Hillpark is no different; it comprises stretches of low-rise apartments and one tall apartment block that houses the apartment we are here to visit. Stepping out of the lift into the corridor leading to the apartment, we are greeted with a generous sampling of the owner’s approach towards the décor of this home which boldly announces that we will not be stepping into a minimalist or Zen-inspired abode.  

Sure enough, almost every inch of visible space in this home appears to showcase a feature element. Antique wooden chests, urns of varying makes, origins and sizes, Buddha statues and wall hangings dominate the delineated spaces. Interestingly, there is neither a feeling of clutter nor constriction. Instead, the display of artefacts and furnishings transforms the apartment into a warm and inviting abode that also provides an insight into the owner’s personality.

Against a canvas of white walls, floors and ceilings, interior designer-owner Raymond Lee of Xceptional Interiors, has created a landscape of vibrant and sumptuous colours anchored by a clever union of earth tones ranging from dark chocolate to sand. The colour palettes for each space – the lounge, master and guest bedrooms and the study - are inspired by the feature paintings allocated for the respective spaces. Using the paintings as focal points, the owner has introduced verve and depth into each area by experimenting with shapes, textures and shades.  

A common colour and design theme also ensures the spaces in the apartment flow seamlessly, creating an impression of continuity.

“I bought this apartment 12 years ago and only recently found the time to indulge in a small makeover,” says Lee.

“I replaced the sofa, added some new furnishings and did a little cosmetic renovation, such as introducing a new window treatment in the lounge. I also substituted the flooring in the balcony with terracotta tiles and spray-painted the kopitiam dining table and chairs white for a fresh look. Basically, it’s about adopting a new approach to familiar things,” he adds.

With a built-up area of 1,350 sq ft, the apartment was already chock-full with Lee’s accumulation of treasures over the years. Consequently, the make-over presented him with a convenient opportunity to weed out some unwanted and non-essential items. “My home is not representative of my body of work. It is my haven, my nook to relax and destress. I work hard and travel a fair bit, so it is important to come back to a place that, while comfortable, soothes and rejuvenates my spirit. The interior design concept of my home is actually a marriage of old and new, with an emphasis on comfort and functionality,” says Lee.

Lee does not own any iconic pieces of furniture or “conversation pieces”. Instead, his home is furnished with items that resonate with his singular style. “Certain people might find my place a little cluttered but I am emotionally bound to the artefacts that I have collected over the years. Some are precious for sentimental reasons like the Peranakan antiques that were passed by my grandmother to my father and on to me. Others are precious for the memories that they carry of my travels and experiences,” continues Lee.

The apartment does offer a telling account of the owner’s favourite vacation haunts. The various statues and other representations of Buddha originate from Myanmar while the bulk of the antique artefacts are from neighbouring countries and China. Lee’s art collection which boasts the works of established artists, were sourced locally and regionally and include oil, acrylic and mixed media paintings as well as prints, etchings and photographs.  

His collection of urns is so extensive that the receptacles seem to be waging a private battle for the diminishing space in the charming apartment. “I have a fondness for these vessels but now that space is running out, I admit that the buying has to stop,” says Lee ruefully, although we think that may be easier said than done.

Many homeowners decline the services of interior designers because of the fees involved, or that they prefer the challenge of designing their own homes or simply because they feel that they can do a better job. Lee’s apartment offers a gentle reminder that a designer with an innate and trained eye for design may well see things that the rest of us will not. The brief from Raymond the client to Raymond the designer laid down the challenge of devising a cohesive and comfortable design concept that would accommodate his wide collection of artefacts within a relatively small space. The result is a sanctuary that defies spacial constraints. One where he can unwind in the company of friends and family.

This article appeared in haven, Issue #36, April + May 2009, the deco and garden publication of The Edge Malaysia