Cover The design is unapologetically dramatic and glamorous
The design is unapologetically dramatic and glamorous
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This sleek apartment by Matthew Lim Associates celebrates the dramatic elegance of Versace Home
This glamorous residence was a 40th birthday present from the client to himself. Naturally, there was no holding back with the design choices, which are marked by a sense of bold and unabashed indulgence. Matthew Lim, founder and principal of Matthew Lim Associates, shares that it was precisely this vision that attracted his team to the project: “The client has very high design standards, never saves on good quality products, and embraces good workmanship.”
The setting itself adds to the allure of the apartment. Situated in the higher reaches of the Banyan Tree Residence Kuala Lumpur, this 1087 sq-ft apartment looks out on the most iconic landmarks of the city. It is no small feat that the sumptuous interior manages to command the attention even more than the breathtaking views.
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Top Tier
Above The view is nothing short of spectacular
The view is nothing short of spectacular
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From the outset, it was apparent that the client’s collection of Versace Home pieces should be the focus of the entire design concept.
These products had been gathered across various European and Asian countries and were a testament to the client’s taste for European luxury items. Lim shares just how impressed he was by the array: “So extensive and complete!”
Versace’s Medusa icon wields her seductive charm throughout the space. We thus immediately encounter her enigmatic half-smile at the entrance, in the form of a gleaming floor tile from Versace Ceramics, where she is framed in a geometric motif and looks as if she has been lifted straight from a mosaic.
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Above The entryway was designed with built ins to neatly display and house the client’s various collections
The entryway was designed with built ins to neatly display and house the client’s various collections
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Elsewhere, we find her gracing the upholstery of the sofa, embossed on a vase, standing out in relief from a robe hanger, embroidered on table settings, and even printed on oven mitts.
The effect of these Medusas is to imbue the apartment with an air of intense drama, which is entirely consistent with the brand’s indebtedness to Ancient Greek source materials.
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Above Marble cladding was favoured on many surfaces
Marble cladding was favoured on many surfaces
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While the Versace mystique is informed by Classical mythology, there is an equally strong influence exerted by the exuberant flair of the Baroque.
This penchant for the ornate and the unrestrained is abundantly clear in this residence. Note, for instance, the expressive curls of the leaf motif that wends its way along the bedspread.
There is no ignoring the raw energy brought by the representations of wild cats. The Versace colour scheme might tend to favour black and gold, but there are also vividly saturated blue and reds on the ottomans and the sofa. It is all about creating heightened moments through contrast.
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High Gloss
Above Precious vintages and Versace Home items play well together
Precious vintages and Versace Home items play well together
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The other choices in detailing and finishing all work together to further develop on the design ideas that are intrinsic to the Versace Home pieces. One of the most distinctive elements is the use of Nero Portoro (black Portoro marble) both on the walls and the floors of the overall area.
This fine-grained stone from the Liguria region in the north of Italy has been highly prized since the time of the Ancient Roman Empire and no wonder: the marble’s jet-black background contrasts in spectacular fashion with its gold veins and craquelures.
The Nero Portoro thus not only mirrors the Versace colour scheme but also adds to the sense of drama and indulgence.
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Above Marble cladding was favoured on many surfaces
Marble cladding was favoured on many surfaces
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The highly-polished finish of the marble is one of the main textural notes that is played on throughout the space. Smooth, gleaming surfaces are especially evident in the bathroom, where pieces from luxury European brands take centre stage.
There are, of course, glinting Versace fittings like soap holders, towel bars, and a toilet flush push button.
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Above The tableware is all Versace of course
The tableware is all Versace of course
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Other eye-catching choices include: the Diamond Bathtub by Maison Valentina, with its precise facets and high gloss varnish; the gorgeously-textured gold-plated Eden Vessel Sink (also by Maison Valentina) which is shaped in the form of a tree stump; and an elegant gold/black toilet from Catalano.
Lim shares that it was of the utmost concern to work intelligently to blend the textures and colours. It was all about playing with “black and gold” and to explore the options from “rough to matt and glossy”.
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Above The panoramic view can be enjoyed from the bed
The panoramic view can be enjoyed from the bed
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He provides two specific examples: “We used a gold-mirror finishing on most of the built-in furniture and a black-stardust finishing on the overall ceiling area which is paired with a wavy mirrored gold ceiling panel”.
Softer textures were added in the form of the Versace soft furnishings, a custom-made rug by Ferreira de Sá, and gauzy curtain sheers by Accordo.
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Seamless Transition
Above The Medusa is also underfoot
The Medusa is also underfoot
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The execution of this flawless space did come with some challenges. For one thing, the overall plan had to be shifted and adjusted as the client travelled and acquired new pieces for his prospective home.
Once Covid hit, there were severe obstacles to be dealt with. Lim shares that “the renovation was delayed by two years due to strict regulations, quarantine periods and workers being affected by Covid itself.”
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Above The client’s wardrobe is part of the decor
The client’s wardrobe is part of the decor
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Product sourcing also became an issue, since discussions with European brands had to be conducted online, with no option of seeing the actual product in person.
Much of the installations were highly complicated, since there so many reflective surfaces. As Lim ruefully explains, “any wrong move would result in a dent or a scratch”.
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Above Gold mosaic was added
Above The bathroom follows the theme
Gold mosaic was added
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It was all completely worth it. The end result fulfilled the client’s requirements for sharp edges with no sign of joins.
As for Lim, he is particularly proud of the way in which everything blends together, drawing our attention to the seamless combination of “colours, shades, and the reflections cast by differently-textured surfaces.”
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Credits
Photography: TWJPTO
