Red Hong Yi finds joy in cooking with the Dekton Marmorio from Cosentino
Cover Red Hong Yi finds joy in cooking with the Dekton Marmorio from Cosentino
Red Hong Yi finds joy in cooking with the Dekton Marmorio from Cosentino

Artist Red Hong Yi reveals her creative approach to home design with Cosentino that celebrates personal passions and storytelling

When it comes to designing a home, it’s not just about the aesthetics—it’s about creating curated spaces that nurture wellbeing and allow you to unwind, focus, and pursue passions. This is no different for someone like local artist Red Hong Yi, whose career revolves around the beauty of her artistic creations.

Like her life-sized artworks, her home too comprises dedicated spaces that breathe life into personal interests, carrying stories that reflect deep personal values. It’s a carefully curated environment that celebrates cooking, reading, and mindful design—everything that she enjoys doing while relaxing and recharging at home between her creative career and family life.

Read more: Chinese New Year 2025: 5 home makeover tips for the Year of the Snake

Kitchen aide

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Dark wood materials add depth and character, while travertine-like texture provide a sleek, linear design
Above Dark wood materials add depth and character, while travertine-like texture provide a sleek, linear design
Dark wood materials add depth and character, while travertine-like texture provide a sleek, linear design

For many, cooking is a hobby that not only offers a creative outlet for culinary experiments, but also a way to relieve stress. It is likewise for Hong Yi, who finds joy in trying out new recipes and dishes while cooking for loved ones.

“The kitchen is the heart of the home,” she explains, “and I wanted it to be cosy and calming, with soft neutral colours and a warm, inviting palette.” 

See also: Home tour: A modern haven embracing curves and sustainability in Malaysia

Navigating the challenges of a middle-lot terrace house with limited natural light, Hong Yi enhances the flow of the space with darker wood materials to add depth and character. This gives the illusion of a larger kitchen area, while maintaining a more grounded and sophisticated feel.

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A kitchen surface that can withstand the rigours of passionate cooking
Above A kitchen surface that can withstand the rigours of passionate cooking
A kitchen surface that can withstand the rigours of passionate cooking
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Responsible design that is beyond aesthetics
Above Responsible design that is beyond aesthetics
Tatler Asia
Soft neutral colours and a warm palette
Above Soft neutral colours and a warm palette
Responsible design that is beyond aesthetics
Soft neutral colours and a warm palette

In terms of functionality, she opted for the Dekton Marmorio from Cosentino for the kitchen countertop and island—a critical material that can withstand the rigours of passionate cooking. 

While its travertine-like texture and horizontal patterns provide the kitchen with a sleek, linear design, it is also the perfect canvas for her culinary experiments, particularly when exploring high-temperature recipes. 

Don’t miss: Tips from Michelin-starred Chef Raymond Tham on how to choose the right kitchen countertop

“I even conducted my own scratch and stain tests at home using kitchen utensils and turmeric juice to ensure they met my standards,” she laughs.

Not to mention, Dekton’s sustainable production process and eco-friendly qualities resonate with Hong Yi’s commitment to responsible design that’s beyond aesthetics.

A nook for books

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A dedicated reading nook to escape into literary worlds and unwind
Above A dedicated reading nook to escape into literary worlds and unwind
A dedicated reading nook to escape into literary worlds and unwind

Hong Yi is also an avid reader, and in her new home, she carved out a dedicated reading nook, where she can escape into literary worlds, unwind, and find inspiration

Anchoring the “study corner” is her very own creation that beautifully combines form and function—the Totem Shelf. This unique storage solution houses her growing collection of books and cherished trinkets, each a narrative fragment that has shaped her creative journey thus far.

Read more: 8 spellbinding bookcases to nurture bookshelf wealth

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The Totem Shelf is crafted from Cosentino’s Earthic by Silestone XM collection
Above The Totem Shelf is crafted from Cosentino’s Earthic by Silestone XM collection
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It also features reclaimed wooden planks, unused metal and enamel bowls
Above It also features reclaimed wooden planks, unused metal and enamel bowls
The Totem Shelf is crafted from Cosentino’s Earthic by Silestone XM collection
It also features reclaimed wooden planks, unused metal and enamel bowls

Constructed from Cosentino’s Earthic by Silestone XM collection—a series that is renowned for incorporating recycled offcuts from Cosentino’s previous ranges, the shelf also features recycled materials, such as reclaimed wooden planks from a demolished house in Penang, and unused metal and enamel bowls typically found in local kopitiams (traditional coffee shops).

“It’s where I go to relax and unwind, and I love that I can see a piece I’ve designed as part of my home,” Hong Yi muses. “It makes the space feel even more special.”

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Credits

Photography: Cosentino

Topics

Celeste Goh
Senior Writer of Tatler Homes, Tatler Malaysia
Tatler Asia

Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.

Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.