Sweet home Bukit Rimau in Shah Alam, Malaysia

Sweet home Bukit Rimau

By THEAN LEE CHENG

leecheng@thestar.com.my

Every detail, every inch of this house has not been neglected

IT is amazing what the human will can – and will achieve – once it has set its mind on something. Hurdles and roadblocks are mere irritants. The important thing is interest and staying focused.

The swimming pool does not use chlorine but salt
The direction taken by this family, who live in Bukit Rimau, Shah Alam, encapsulates just that. Says the hostess: “My daughter is studying architecture. My husband, who has some background in architecture, thought of buying this piece of land to build our own house, our first. We have renovated our previous homes before and have managed to sell them in a fairly short time with each move. We want to test the market with something we have built ourselves. Both my husband and I have an interest in architecture and home decor.

“If successful, we would like to set up a business on a small scale and have a company ready when our daughter graduates from her master’s programme,” she says.

From Subang to Kota Kemuning and now Bukit Rimau, with each stopover, they put in the same effort in upgrading and maintaining their respective properties. When they finally sold their semi-detached house in Kota Kemuning, the new owner was so happy that they became chums.

The open concept use throughout the house
While this family tale has its roots in an innate sense of style, the story of Bukit Rimau began in 1998, at the height of the financial crisis, when vacant bungalow land was sold between RM52 and RM69 per sq ft. Bukit Rimau is about 15 minutes and 30 minutes by car from Subang and Petaling Jaya, respectively, via Kesas Highway.

Comprising 358 acres, two portions were set aside as gated and guarded communities with a monthly maintenance and security charge of RM300 for bungalows and RM250 for linked homes. There are about 170 units of houses in this development, 40 units of double-storey terraces and the rest are bungalows.

The starting point of this luxurious open concept corner lot began with a purchase of 12,000 sq ft, double the average size of most pieces.

“I have always liked cosy homes. This place is peaceful and quiet and I wanted to take advantage of the outdoors,” she explains.

The many folding doors used throughout the house allows an uninterupted view of the garden
To complement the outdoor elements, they introduced water features both internally and externally. The sound of gurgling water sets a soothing and relaxing atmosphere not only in the living area but the dining area as well.

Both she and her husband sketched every part of the house, having pored over piles of books and magazines from feng shui to home decor to style.

“You will never find a toilet next to the kitchen. Every part of the house has been well thought out and the whole place configured to give it fluidity and flow. Yet there is much privacy,” says the hostess.

Whether it is the main living room, the rumpus or TV area, or the piano area on the ground floor, there are pleasing views of the outdoors or elements of it. High ceilings complete the atmosphere.

This place is peaceful and quiet and I wanted to take advantage of the outdoors, says the owner
While building the house was exciting (“we used only quality well-fired bricks”), the fitting out was exhilarating. Money was not an issue. Because so much emphasis was placed on the external, the layout and flooring, it is only natural that as much details be placed on plumbing and sanitary systems.

Says the hostess: “We were not just building a house, but investing in our reputation.”

“We bought sanitary ware and bathroom fittings that will last. In the dining area, the grand granite table is custom-made because we did not want any joints. There are Bofi systems in both the dry and wet kitchen with electrical equipment from Fisher & Paykel.”

In the dry kitchen, it is a marble island top to facilitate baking.

“We have thought of the most minute of details, right down to the swimming pool which does not use chlorine but salt. It is an extremely satisfying experience for the family and it is a beautiful and functional home.”

There is a study and guest room downstairs while the family’s private rooms are located upstairs. Flooring upstairs is stained merbau, the ground floor is marble-like crystallised stone while all folding doors and fencing are of chenggal, a hardwood.

The place comes complete with alarm and CCTV system.

The family started building their dream home in September 2005 and completed it 10 months later in May 2006, supervising the workers every day. They moved in last June.

“We are enjoying this place, but there will always be another house,” she says.