Clean and crisp style a la Patrick Chin

A clean and crisp design can clear the mind when living in this lofty single-storey. -The Star/ANN

Thu, Aug 11, 2011
The Star/Asia News Network

Clean, crisp and calming comes to mind upon entering Patrick Chin's Sri Petaling home. A lofty single-storey link house with three bedrooms, this 1,500 sq ft structure has been brought to life with a mix of valuable artworks, perfectly pitched lighting and calming colour scheme.

As the head of interior design department in Pride Studio Sdn Bhd, and a part of duo behind lifestyle interior shop in Bangsar Shopping Centre called The Jekyll and Hyde Project, Chin has a highly developed visual sense that is evident in the way he designed his cosy home.

But when Chin bought this house in 2005, it was a far cry from homely - he explains that the house, with its tacky tiles and dull colour scheme, was in a dire need of renovation.

Despite the obvious flaws, Chin knew the house would serve as a good canvas for him to experiment with his personal aesthetic - thanks to its simple yet tasteful original layout.

As most of the original structures remain intact, Chin says that the renovation was more of a cosmetic effort rather than a structural one. Here, the 42-year-old shares his renovation experience.

A clean and crisp design Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: The Star/ANN)

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Renovation made simple

Standing on a 1,700 sq ft piece of land, Chin's house is located in a curious neighbourhood that consists of rows of dilapidated single-storey link houses. It is indeed hard to imagine that a tastefully renovated house actually exists here.

But upon closer inspection, as Chin puts it, these seemingly rundown houses don uncomplicated architectural features that are perfect for those seeking a practical design like himself.

Chin's house is a case in point. Not only the house is blessed with a lofty ceiling and split-level concept, but it also has a smart and functional-based layout. The original layout of the house sees three bedrooms on one side, and living room, bathroom and kitchen on the other.

As such, Chin explains, there's nothing much to renovate when it comes to the layout. He adds that the original layout is perfect for such a compact house.

"The layout was a big part of my consideration when buying this house. I was attracted by the lofty ceiling and the split-level floor plan, two features that are hardly seen in today's architecture," says Chin.

Chin explains that the hard part of the renovation - putting new tiles, creating garden landscape and upgrading the toilet - only took three months to complete. However, he spent approximately nine months perfecting a balance of interior details and atmospheric lighting to "transform the house into a home".

 Finding balance

Chin's house epitomises the old adage that goes: Good things come in small packages. While the exterior of the house is rather simple - there's a car porch and a Japanese-styled garden covered in raw sand block - the surprise lies within the interior.

A firm believer of Yin and Yang principle, Chin insists that finding a balance between two opposing factors is important when working on the interior.

As an example, Chin used neutral colours such as white, grey and brown for the floor, doors, walls and ceiling. But he chose rather flamboyant shades when it comes to furniture and decorations.

Numerous paintings in bold colours further enliven the space. Various lifestyle interior items, such as cable clips form The Jekyll and Hyde Project, added eccentricity to the house. The overall feel is original.

And despite the mixture of colours, concepts and interior items, the house maintains a certain level of sophistication, for which Chin credits the clever lighting arrangement and lofty ceiling.

"There's no single adjective to describe this house where design is concerned. As a designer and traveler, things such as arts and buildings inspire me. I basically just put all the elements that I like together when I designed this house," he explains with amusement.

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Mix and match

Ask him about the artworks he collected over the years, and you may get a better understanding on how he approached the design concept for the house.

Chin, who has been an art collector for years, did not buy these artworks for monetary reason. Instead, he chose ones that resonate well with his sentimental values. He admits that he has a soft spot for figurative and abstract arts.

His collection ranges from highly valuable paintings from the likes of Chong Siew Ying, Winner Jumalon and Chin Kong Yee, to lithography works by unknown artists he purchased on eBay.

He also followed his gut feeling when selecting the materials for the kitchen. Here, the dining table and kitchen countertop are made of lavish Italian marble, but the floor is covered in modest and locally made dark grey granite tiles.

Admittedly, he's a good curator when it comes to mixing high-end and low-end interior items. However, when it comes to the lamp collection, Chin is not one to compromise.

A big fan of Italian brand Flos, Chin has two Miss K table lamps in the bedroom and a Romeo Moon pendant light in the kitchen, both designed by Phillipe Starck for Flos. Then there's a decorative lamp in the study that dons industrial design, entitled Parentasi lamp, designed by Achillle Castiglioni and Pio Manzu for Flos.

"I didn't buy everything in one go. Many of the more expensive items in the house have been with me for a number of years," he explains, adding that this is his way of avoiding over-indulgent shopping spree.

When asked about the renovation cost, Chin shares that he had spent RM100,000 excluding artworks and electronic goods. He recommends homeowners looking to renovate their house to conceptualise the design of their house based on their lifestyle.

"It's essential to sit down with your family before you carry out the renovation process. Understanding the lifestyle of family members, and work the design concept around it, will give your family a home that is both functional and effective," he advises.