Malaysian builds dream home from scratch, it's eclectic and filled with greenery

The high ceiling and skylight window create a bright, loft-like feel. Photos: The Star/Azman Ghani

Nadia Majid’s father wanted his daughters to live nearby and bought them a plot of land to build their homes. In 2021, after her mother passed away, his father was even more keen to have his children close by. At that time, Nadia’s sister was also looking for a home for her family.

That’s when Nadia’s father asked her to also build her home as it’d be more economical to build two homes rather than one.

So, even though Nadia was a newlywed and in confinement after delivering her firstborn, she bravely embarked on the journey of building her home from scratch.

The first obstacle Nadia and her sister encountered was realising they didn’t have the budget to hire an architect or an interior designer. Unperturbed, Nadia decided she’d take on the challenge of hiring contractors and figuring out how to build a house.

“In the beginning, my sister’s plan was to have a two-storey home that seemed to me quite basic and like any other home you’d get from a property developer. Since she was building from scratch, I thought there must be something that she’d want to do differently.

Homeowner Nadia sits proudly in her home that she envisioned more than a year ago.

“So I started doing research online and looking for inspirations on Pinterest and Instagram. I loved home designs from Australia and England that were one-storey and had an open concept with a spacious backyard. Since my sister was busy with work, she was happy to have the same home design I liked.”

Their property is in a busy suburb in Klang Valley, surrounded by greenery. The first thing that catches the eye is the arched front door in green.

Step inside and you’d notice the house’s unconventional layout: four bedrooms and bathrooms with a double-height living and dining room and kitchen. The soaring proportions of the main living space, with its high ceiling and skylight window, give the house a loft-like feel with plenty of sunlight.

Both homes were completed late last year; her sister moved in first while Nadia moved into her home early 2024.

“Construction of the homes was pretty quick but completing the finishing touches, such as the interior furnishings, has been a challenge with some unexpected issues or delays,” shares Nadia.

An eclectic vibe

An eclectic look incorporating beautiful pieces that aren’t too matchy-matchy is very much in trend. Nadia was determined to include vibrant textures and an earthy vibe with vintage and salvaged furniture from a range of periods and places into her home.

Nadia was inspired by single-storey homes found in Australia and England that had an open concept.

The mix of furniture and accessories is key, and in such matters it’s best to be guided by what you like and think is beautiful.

“I’m always looking for good buys whether it’s furniture, lamps, chairs – and I mix them with the things I buy new,” explains Nadia.

Rustic farmhouse high chairs are a good example. She has combined them with her new kitchen island for that added classic charm.

Nadia has a wide range of sources to choose from, but her go-to place is the online marketplace Carousell and Unearth to find specific items.

“What I like is how easy it is to narrow down the huge selection by putting in dimensions, prices and materials – it’s just such an easy way to find what you need.”

Some of her other unexpected finds include rattan chairs and wooden shelves for a fraction of the original price.

Nadia worked with her one-year-old daughter on the artwork that will adorn her wall soon.

Though the walls are currently still bare, Nadia has added a personal touch to it by creating her a piece of artwork with her one-year-old daughter.

“We decided to do this large art piece on canvas, playing with shades of green since we’ve got plenty of plants in the home. It’s in the living room for now, though we’ve yet to hang it!” says Nadia.

One of the most attractive qualities of thrifting for home decor pieces is their uniqueness. Rather than visiting a chain store and buying the same chair or vase or lamp that everyone else has, you’re much more likely to find something unusual, perhaps something that will become a conversation piece in its own right.

And that’s exactly what Nadia found with a unique wooden lamp hung out in her backyard.

“We got this at a good deal and really haven’t done much to it. We simply hung it up and it looks great just as is,” says Nadia.

Transforming the home with greenery

Though Nadia is still in the process of decorating the rest of the house, her vision is evident.

The spacious backyard that allows Nadia to do gardening while relaxing with her family on weekends.

“I love gardening and have always wanted to bring the outdoors into the home,’ explains Nadia. “It always just made sense. I think having greenery and nature in the house really speaks to me. Another reason why I’m drawn to having a home with easy access, plenty of sunlight and natural greenery is because when my mother was very ill, she spent a lot of time indoors and there was limited space for her to move around because it was physically difficult for her.”

Now Nadia gets to spend quality time with her family in the privacy of her backyard.

Before the construction of the home, their land was used to grow pineapple, papaya, mango and various other fruit trees.

Some of those trees can still be found in Nadia’s backyard.

“We’ve added other trees such as avocado, coconut and passion fruit. We also have some vegetables and fresh herbs.” For a casual, easy and inviting home environment, Nadia has brought the outdoors indoors by creating layered corners and sections with plants. She uses houseplants of varying sizes and pedestals or plant pots to play with height for contrast and got creative by displaying different plants on breeze blocks and wooden planks.The green arched door greets visitors to Nadia’s home.

Most of her houseplants such as Philodendron, Scindapsus and Golden Pothos are of the low maintenance kind that require low light and minimal watering.

“My husband discovered a love for plants such as Monsteras during Covid and has quite a collection of it. So our home has a good mix of various ordinary plants mixed with collectible plants,” she says.

Your home is your oasis, and Nadia’s home feels that way.

“Building your own space is a unique opportunity to create a space that reflects your personality. Start by researching and finding inspiration, and then create a plan that fits your budget and vision,” says Nadia.

“Do your research and don’t be afraid to play around. Your space needs to feel good so that you can feel good.”