Cover Mil Yung Mak and Edward Lye, founders of MIL Design & Construction
Mil Yung Mak and Edward Lye, founders of MIL Design & Construction
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MIL Design & Construction holistically designed projects tell stories with bespoke details
The home is a sanctuary, and it should express its owner’s personality while being calibrated perfectly to their requirements. MIL Design & Construction understand this and was founded by Mil Yung Mak and Edward Lye out of their passion for creating holistic interior architectural spaces.
“Each client is different, and we design to reflect each person’s character. We knew it would be a very niche direction, but we wanted to move in this way even right from the start and do away with the masses,” states Mak, creative director.
This dedication to bespoke detailing has served the firm well, which now has 12 years under its belt and, in the process, clinched awards in the International Properties Asia-Pacific Best Interior Design Award, UK and A’Award International, Milan. Not to mention an impressive client list, including celebrity Henry Golding.
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Above A private bungalow in Klang
A private bungalow in Klang
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Mak, an architect by training, worked around Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Tokyo before starting MIL Design with her husband, Lye, an expert project manager with extensive construction experience.
Together they believe in a holistic approach, informed by a design philosophy that spaces are like choreographed moments and curating this journey is like crafting an art piece that caters to each client’s unique lifestyle and character.
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Above A condominium in Sunway
A condominium in Sunway
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Indeed, embarking on projects starts with the duo establishing a baseline of the client’s wants and what they may need. “We design with our hearts. We love listening to the people (clients) and the site (each site has its unique essence).
So often they cannot provide a clear brief, or what they want to be done might not align with their lifestyle needs, so we listen and help them align the design with their needs,” opines Mak.
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Above Blossom Terrace, Jadehills
Blossom Terrace, Jadehills
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They then craft a narrative and fit in the components to support it. “I’d say we are good at making spaces tell a story. We are also well-versed in materials and work with clients in estimating budgetary vs design options. This is crucial because interior design is still a traditional brick-and-mortar job, and having a good grasp of the dollar and cent is also our forte,” enthuses Mak. “We always aim to be holistic in various ways, not just aesthetics and functions.”
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Above Semi-d in Jadehills, Kajang
Semi-d in Jadehills, Kajang
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Adept in both residential and commercial spaces, the firm has refurbished old and new private homes and lobby and common areas for developers.
They’ve also transformed six 40-year-old shop lots into a training and learning academy for youths with ASD and converted an abandoned multi-storey car park into a boutique hotel, not to mention boutique hotels in Melaka, Cambodia, and Maldives.
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Above Bedhead detail in a semi-d in Jadehills, Kajang
Bedhead detail in a semi-d in Jadehills, Kajang
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While the firm’s projects vary in size and audience, the story of the space permeates each project. “When we were designing Henry Golding’s home in Kuala Lumpur, he supported repurposing the existing 40-year-old concrete ceilings and walls and mixing the old with new Greek marbles and Thai ceramic tiles. Some of the old newspapers found stuck on the beams were also maintained to tell the story of this space,” says Mak.
“In a Serai Bangsar home, we recreated a feature wall using the owner’s vast Hermes scarfs and ceramic set collection because we wanted to infuse her story into the space. I believe in injecting an element of surprise in a space so that it tells a unique story—this is our style.”
For more information, visit their website
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Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
