Cover View across the living area in this Kuching home renovation showing the modular seating arrangement, black artwork panel, fluted wall detail, and the three-step staircase leading to the upper floor in the background
View across the living area in this Kuching home renovation showing the modular seating arrangement, black artwork panel, fluted wall detail, and the three-step staircase leading to the upper floor in the background
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A Kuching home renovation by J Hous Studio reimagines an existing award-winning house in Sarawak into a residence defined by curved architectural details, a restrained material palette, and a considered connection to the outdoors
The owners of a house in Kuching, Sarawak, gave J Hous Studio an unusually open brief. The couple, who have two young children, wanted a transformation that would exceed their expectations. They named Italian luxury minimalism as a reference point and then, by their own account, handed over the rest.
Joyce Wong, founder and lead designer of J Hous Studio, was working with a property that already carried some history. The house had previously received a PAM Architectural Award. She proceeded anyway, and at considerable scale. Walls were hacked, ceilings stripped, all floor finishes replaced. A ground-floor side and rear extension brought the total built-up area from 2,500 to 3,400 square feet.
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Above View of the entrance foyer with curved ceiling, illuminated column, three-step staircase, fluted wall panel, and Arabescato Orobico marble feature inset; the family cat walks across the ground floor
View of the entrance foyer with curved ceiling, illuminated column, three-step staircase, fluted wall panel, and Arabescato Orobico marble feature inset; the family cat walks across the ground floor
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Above The three-step staircase at the base of the upper-floor entry, with the guest bathroom door visible behind, finished in oak-toned wall panelling
Above A guest bathroom with a marble double-basin vanity on a walnut-toned cabinet, black curved taps, a full-height mirror, and small-format white wall tiles
The three-step staircase at the base of the upper-floor entry, with the guest bathroom door visible behind, finished in oak-toned wall panelling
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The physical scope of the work is evident in the finished house, though Wong was more interested in the organisation of space than in its addition. “Rather than relying on physical partitions, we explored how design elements, materials, form, and architectural details could subtly differentiate each zone,” she says. A curved timber platform at the dining area separates it from the living space without enclosing it.
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Full ground-floor view from the living area through to the kitchen, showing the curved ceiling, modular sofa grouping, round coffee table, Bianco Carrara marble island, and looped pendant light
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Above The living area with cream modular sofa, Arabescato Orobico marble feature panel, sculptural side table and dried branch arrangement, with the layered curved ceiling above
Above The living area with modular sofas in cream and grey, a round tiered coffee table, and the curved ceiling overhead; the family cat occupies the floor between the seating
The living area with cream modular sofa, Arabescato Orobico marble feature panel, sculptural side table and dried branch arrangement, with the layered curved ceiling above
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A corresponding curved ceiling sits directly above, and together the two elements establish a spatial boundary that reads as structural. A corresponding language of curved ceiling edges runs across the entire ground floor, broken into different levels to compensate for a ceiling height constrained by the existing first-floor slab. The layering creates depth where a flat plane would have felt compressed.
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Above The kitchen island in Bianco Carrara marble with bar stools and looped pendant light, set against the Arabescato Orobico marble splashback and oak-toned upper cabinetry
The kitchen island in Bianco Carrara marble with bar stools and looped pendant light, set against the Arabescato Orobico marble splashback and oak-toned upper cabinetry
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The material palette is anchored by Arabescato Orobico marble, used throughout the home and extended into the master bathroom, where it is incorporated into the sink design. The kitchen island uses Bianco Carrara marble — less expressive, more subdued — as a visual counterweight. Teak wood covers the ground-floor platforms and the entire first floor.
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View across the dining table towards the slide-up kitchen window framing garden greenery beyond, with teak flooring and sheer curtains to either side
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The staircase moves through three materials across three steps: trowel stone cladding, then Arabescato Orobico with curved edging, then teak. Cabinetry and wall panels in the common areas are finished in oak tones; the master bedroom shifts to walnut, marking the move from shared to private spaces.
Above The dining area with the custom organic-form dining table and acrylic-leg seating, the structural column integrated into the composition, with the dark kitchen cabinetry visible beyond
Above A children’s room with a built-in window bench, oak-toned cabinetry, a slide-up window, and an open bookshelf unit with ceramic objects and design books
The dining area with the custom organic-form dining table and acrylic-leg seating, the structural column integrated into the composition, with the dark kitchen cabinetry visible beyond
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A structural column in the dining area was an early problem. It fell within the dining table’s footprint and compressed the usable layout. Wong designed a custom table with an irregular, organic form that works the column into its composition rather than around it. The table surface is finished in anti-scratch stainless steel; one leg is curved acrylic, reducing the visual weight around the column. “The column no longer feels like an obstruction,” Wong says, “but becomes part of a cohesive design feature.”
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Above The outdoor bar counter with a fold-up pass-through window connecting to the wet kitchen, with high stools on the timber deck and garden greenery beyond
Above The side garden with a solar-powered fish pond, timber deck, water feature spout, chain rain drainage, and slatted timber ceiling along the covered walkway
The outdoor bar counter with a fold-up pass-through window connecting to the wet kitchen, with high stools on the timber deck and garden greenery beyond
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View from the backyard garden into the dining and living areas at dusk, with the large folding doors fully open, curved ceiling and strip lighting visible inside, and landscaped garden with stepping stones in the foreground
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At the rear of the ground floor, large folding doors in the dining area open onto a landscaped garden with a fish pond along the side of the house. A slide-up window between the wet kitchen and the dining area allows food to be passed through directly, and a garden bar counter extends the serving sequence outdoors.
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Above The master bedroom with a low-profile black bed, teak herringbone flooring, Arabescato Orobico marble feature panel, and a slim pendant light
The master bedroom with a low-profile black bed, teak herringbone flooring, Arabescato Orobico marble feature panel, and a slim pendant light
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Above Open oak-toned shelving displaying decorative objects
Above The master bedroom sitting area with teak flooring, a slatted lounge chair, and a sculptural floor lamp
Open oak-toned shelving displaying decorative objects
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The fish pond circulation system and select garden lighting are solar-powered. “When meals are prepared, they can be conveniently passed through this window directly to the dining space,” Wong says. “This seamless flow between spaces encourages a more social and interactive lifestyle.”
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The master bedroom storage wall with sliding wardrobe doors open to reveal the walk-in wardrobe beyond, finished in contrasting grey and oak tones
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Above View into the walk-in wardrobe through the glazed partition, with oak-toned cabinetry, open hanging rails, and a black metal stool
Above A dark-toned dressing area with built-in shelving and strip lighting opens to the master bedroom beyond, where a slatted lounge chair is visible
View into the walk-in wardrobe through the glazed partition, with oak-toned cabinetry, open hanging rails, and a black metal stool
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Cross-ventilation was built into the layout through the folding doors, a side folding-up window, and strategically placed sliding doors. When fully open, the configuration allows air to flow through the interior, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling.
The owners have described the house as their forever home, a place where they expect to remain as their family grows.
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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.
