Malaysian chef Dinesh Rao's home is a playful showcase of art and heritage

By opening up the lanai, light fills up the entire living area. Photos: The Star/Yap Chee Hong

Playing mix-and-match with colours and textures in a home can be overwhelming for some. In the case of Dinesh Rao, the creative mind behind @myasiankitchen Instagram account and former co-owner of Tray Cafe, it has been the cornerstone of creating a home that showcases his bold, playful approach in combining art and heritage.

Dinesh Rao is the creative mind behind @myasiankitchen Instagram account and former co-owner of Tray Cafe.“We saw the apartment during the pandemic and moved in in 2022,” he explains, “after living in a smaller apartment in the same development for several years. But when I started working from home and we got Miso (our Corgi), it was time for a bigger space.”

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The almost-2,000sq ft (185.8sq m) three-bedroom apartment was just what Dinesh was looking for.

“I was immediately drawn to the layout of the unit with its large windows and open living space,” he shares.

“One of the few minimal renovations we did was to further raise the ceiling as much as we could to create a greater sense of spaciousness.”

Another significant change was removing the sliding door leading out to the lanai.

“We didn’t want to keep it since it divided the room and we’d probably not use the space anyway. Once we took out the door, it really opened up the area,” says Dinesh.

The lanai is now decorated with thriving plants, a Magis dog and a Papasan chair for that cosy vibe.

The living room has a welcoming and comfortable feel.

At home with art

As it is, the soaring proportions of the main living space and large windows with a beautiful view give the space a loft-like feel, although Dinesh has taken the decoration in an entirely different direction.

Mixing and matching is a major element.

Dinesh explains, “I purposely kept the walls white so we could play with different textures, furnishings and artwork from pieces that we already had and new ones being added to the home.”

That has translated into most of the wall space in the house being covered in art. It’s not just any art, but a lifetime of collected pieces from well-known contemporary Malaysian artists – including a Nizar Kamal abstract piece, Rafiee Ghani’s colourful art piece and Ronnie Mohamad’s distinct charcoal portrait of his son.

Precious Peranakan homeware has pride of place in a home that celebrates multiculturalism.

Added perfectly to the mix are artwork from Dinesh’s partner and quirky limited-edition prints from their travels to Europe.

“When I look at a space, I want it to be practical and functional. Home is home and you want to feel at peace with it. If you don’t, then something has to change in the house.

“As your life evolves and priority changes, that’s when you need to find a space that blends with that no matter how big or small the space is. I feel happy when I come home now,” shares Dinesh.

“If you have a vision of what you like, then trust your instincts and go with it. Personally for us we always believe in investing in unique pieces,” says Dinesh.

Eye-catching art pieces line the hallway.Some of these include a classic white Eames lounge chair and modern Kartell Papyrus chairs.

“Yet at the same time I didn’t want everything to be modern. So I like to mix things up with mid-century pieces and artwork that have our culture in it,” he adds.

Dinesh’s heritage features heartily in his home, his Chinese and Indian roots manifesting in a sentimental gathering of family heirlooms, furniture and homeware.

“I collect vintage plates, mostly local Peranakan collections that are maybe about 50 years old. I collect them because it’s a piece of our history,” shares Dinesh as he pulls out kitchen drawers filled with these prized finds.

“I often head out to flea markets and antique shops to look for pieces. One of the oldest collections I have are these 100- year-old stacks of plates that I got in Melaka. Although they’re chipped, I see the beauty in them and love using them for my food shoots!” shares Dinesh.

It’s in this simple yet modern kitchen that Dinesh creates pretty traditional kuihs that he is known for. Antique furniture further adds to the multicultural bent, with a particular penchant for “pieces that have a slightly unusual characteristic or story that you can’t pick up anywhere”.

“I was never worried about the home having a single aesthetic,” Dinesh notes, “but I knew if I liked it, it would work.”

A jumble of pieces, colours, eras and designs doesn’t always work, but here, it really does. The overall effect is wonderful, spilling over with interest and creativity at every turn.

This dynamic quality continues in the master bedroom area, with neutral tones and warm wooden flooring balanced with a quirky paisley-and-horse printed curtain.

“When I saw the fabric, it gave me ‘Liberty vibes’. It came with a hefty price tag so there was some hard thinking but we knew that it would somehow work. And it did!” explains Dinesh.

A plush sofa creates an inviting vibe in the TV room.

For the bathroom, Dinesh had already removed the original bathtub that came with the house and was set on a double vanity.

“Then by a stroke of luck, we were browsing in a shop and I saw this orange see-through bathtub. I thought to myself, ‘What sorcery is this?’

“It had a sexiness to it and was just not something you’d anticipate when you think of bathtubs. It was a no-brainer that we had to have it!” laughs Dinesh.

Thought to be the only one in Malaysia, the striking orange resin bathtub stands proudly against the sleek and minimalist design of Dinesh’s bathroom.

“It was a way for us to still have fun and create a space that people always expect the least, but yet can give the most.”