An arched entryway frames part of the wet kitchen, designed in contrasting colours with brass gold elements. Photos: ruma.puteh/Instagram
Salwana Mohd Sapri and her husband, Mohd Shahril Mustapha, fell in love with their new house the moment they saw it.
The deciding factor? The view it offers.
“We love this house mainly because the master bedroom and backyard have such a great view of the playground and community area, which made us instantly want to own this place,” shared Salwana, 42, who works as a secretary.
Located in a gated and guarded community in Shah Alam, Selangor, the double-storey intermediate house has a cottage feel on the outside while adopting a casual, modern classic interior.
The house first underwent some modifications at the back, namely to extend the backyard and planting space.
“Transforming our backyard into a cottage-like ambience was a deliberate choice from the beginning. Our vision was to create a space that not only looked beautiful but also felt welcoming and tranquil.
Salwana and her husband transformed their backyard into a cottage-like ambience that is welcoming and tranquil.
“Our backyard directly faces a playground. The sight of children laughing and playing adds a cheerful element to our outdoor space. To enhance this setting further, we chose plants for their beauty and ability to grow well in our backyard,” said the mother of two children aged 11 and 16.
To create a casual, modern classic interior, Salwana and her husband combined vintage-inspired elements with modern and English styles.
“The choice of creamy whites and the use of wood and brass gold accessories give our home a timeless yet modern look. We prefer neutral colours for all
our furniture and decor,” said Salwana, who moved into their 2,402sq ft (223sq m), 4+1-bedroom, 4-bathroom home on Aug 18 last year.
The focal point of their living room is the TV wall, which gives off a sleek and modern aesthetic.
“The design strikes a balance between simplicity and sophistication, complemented by the open shelving on each side. The decor items on these shelves are carefully selected, blending our personal touches and a clean look,” said Salwana, who documents her home decor journey on Instagram.
Recently, her home was selected by @ighometourmalaysia – a local home tour group on Instagram hosted by home decor enthusiasts to inspire one another and share ideas on home design and decor – under the theme #ightmlighting for its enduring appeal.
“For the dining area and kitchen, we opted for a transitional lighting style. It strikes a balance between modern and classic designs, offering a timeless look that complements our home.
“The reason behind choosing this style is to seamlessly blend in with the overall aesthetic of our home. We also added brass gold accents in the lighting fixtures to give the space a subtle shine and tie everything together,” explained Salwana.
An area of interest in her home is a three-in-one corner fitted with an overhead skylight. The area was originally a utility room and a place for plants.
The combined coffee station, breakfast nook and laundry area is well lit thanks to an overhead skylight.
“Given its view of the playground and our space constraints, we integrated a coffee station, breakfast nook and laundry area into it.
“The standout feature of this area is the skylight for extra natural lighting and the arched entryway that connects our wet kitchen to this space.
“We have also added cosy touches to give it a cafe vibe, making it a warm and inviting spot for coffee or a meal.
“This area has become a favourite place for our family, allowing us to multitask – handling laundry while dining or enjoying coffee while keeping an eye on our kids playing outside.”
A few steps away brings one into their stylish kitchen space.
“In terms of kitchen design, we have adopted a modern farmhouse aesthetic, blending traditional charm with contemporary elements.
“We chose nyatoh wood material for both the dry and wet kitchen areas. In the dry kitchen, we settled for a single colour scheme to give out a calm vibe and let other items stand out,” said Salwana.
Marble-design quartz stone countertops offer a sleek, polished finish, with matching quartz stone backsplash completes the look.
Vintage black-and-white floor tiles and herringbone-patterned subway tile backsplash that extends all the way up to the ceiling are among the hallmarks of the wet kitchen.
For the wet kitchen, two colours were chosen to create contrast and add a lively touch.
“The wet kitchen’s backsplash stands out with subway tiles arranged in a herringbone pattern to make the kitchen feel classy. Extending the subway tiles from the countertops all the way up to the ceiling also creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.
“We also chose a vintage black-and-white floor tile design for our wet kitchen to add more character to the space.
“One of the key features of the dry kitchen, which has limited space, is the island, which serves as a focal point and functional spot.
“Hanging over the island are two pendant lamps to provide a touch of elegance. To enhance the luxurious feel of both kitchen spaces, we added brass gold fixtures like knobs, handles, faucets and pot filler.
“This choice complements the nyatoh wood and quartz stone surfaces, enhancing the overall modern farmhouse design,” she added.
The focal point of their living room is the TV wall, which gives off a sleek and modern aesthetic and is flanked by open shelving on both sides.
Is there anything else they plan to do with the house?
“We’re planning to upgrade our guest bathroom to align with our home’s concept and also enhance our balcony’s appearance. Hopefully, we’ll find time to tackle these projects in 2024,” said Salwana.
An arched entryway frames part of the wet kitchen, designed in contrasting colours with brass gold elements. Photos: ruma.puteh/Instagram
Salwana's home embraces a casual, modern classic interior.
A corner that gives off a calm vibe with woven baskets and modern classic decor items.
The focal point of their living room is the TV wall, which gives off a sleek and modern aesthetic and is flanked by open shelving on both sides.
Two elegant pendant lamps illuminate the island, which serves as a focal point and functional spot.
Vintage black-and-white floor tiles and herringbone-patterned subway tile backsplash that extends all the way up to the ceiling are among the hallmarks of the wet kitchen.
Salwana and her husband transformed their backyard into a cottage-like ambience that is welcoming and tranquil.
The transitional lighting fixture over the dining table features brass gold accents for a touch of elegance.
The combined coffee station, breakfast nook and laundry area is well lit thanks to an overhead skylight.
