Cover The dining area in this Penang house renovation displays Velis dining chairs by Mario Ferrarini for Potocco beneath the Bocci 28.9 Armature pendant light by Omer Arbel
The dining area in this Penang house renovation displays Velis dining chairs by Mario Ferrarini for Potocco beneath the Bocci 28.9 Armature pendant light by Omer Arbel
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Studio Eleven redesigned a family home in Batu Uban, accommodating everything from Chinese calligraphy to Lego collections in this comprehensive Penang house renovation
When Kim Hin Neoh first walked through this 7,000-square-foot house in Batu Uban, Penang, nearly two decades ago, it was for business meetings, not design consultations. The owner, an entrepreneur who worked primarily from home, would invite the Studio Eleven partner over to discuss her other properties in Penang and Kuala Lumpur. But as the years passed and meetings accumulated, Neoh began to see possibilities in the space itself.
“Having spent so much time there over the years for our design meetings, the house had already become a rather familiar space to me well before the idea of renovating it came up,” Neoh recalls. “Observing how the family interacted with the space naturally gave me some pre-conceived ideas about how certain changes could enhance their lifestyle.”
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Above The renovated three-story facade in Batu Uban showcases contemporary lines with timber accents and generous windows that flood the interior with natural light
The renovated three-story facade in Batu Uban showcases contemporary lines with timber accents and generous windows that flood the interior with natural light
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The three-story detached house, built in 2006 as part of a gated development, was ready for renewal. Water leakage issues persisted, and the previous renovation had grown dated. When the owner decided to transform it into her retirement home, she turned to Neoh for a complete reimagining—launching what would become an ambitious Penang house renovation.
The challenge was immediate and complex: how to accommodate an owner whose tastes spanned traditional Chinese calligraphy, Victorian figurines, primitive carvings, and her daughters’ substantial Lego collection without creating what Neoh diplomatically calls “a funhouse.”
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Above Framed openings with dark timber create visual connections between spaces while maintaining distinct zones
Above The living room’s generous windows showcase the reworked fenestration, which brings abundant natural daylight throughout the day
Framed openings with dark timber create visual connections between spaces while maintaining distinct zones
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The solution lay in materials and spatial hierarchy. This Penang house renovation showcased Neoh’s understanding that different timber tones could create distinct identities while maintaining coherence. The ground floor, intended for entertaining, features darker wood that projects elegance and grandeur. The first floor, which is home to the daughters’ bedrooms and a Lego-themed lounge, features lighter timber for a more playful atmosphere. The second-floor master suite incorporates both tones, reflecting the owner’s layered interests.
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Above The open-plan living and dining area features darker timber tones on the ground floor to create a grand and elegant atmosphere
The open-plan living and dining area features darker timber tones on the ground floor to create a grand and elegant atmosphere
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“It was important to strike a balance between showcasing her unique personality and interests while ensuring the space remained warm, inviting, and comfortable,” Neoh explains. “This meant having plenty of conversations and gently persuading to subtract unnecessary elements and keep things simple and focused.”
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Above A corner vignette displays a Buddha sculpture from the owner's collection alongside contemporary furnishings
Above The dining room features the sculptural chandelier, creating a dramatic colour contrast above Velis’ dining chairs
A corner vignette displays a Buddha sculpture from the owner's collection alongside contemporary furnishings
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The marble selections demonstrate this restraint. In kitchens and bathrooms, Neoh chose polished white Carrara and honed black Marquina with subtle veining to avoid visual competition with the owner’s eclectic collections. But in key moments, the stone becomes theatrical: a full-height book-matched Emerald Pandora marble wall in the dining area, backlit to reveal patterns that suggest a butterfly mask. In the study, Mountain Wave marble evokes Japanese landscape paintings, providing a zen backdrop for the owner’s work.
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The dining area in this Penang house renovation displays Velis dining chairs by Mario Ferrarini for Potocco beneath the Bocci 28.9 Armature pendant light by Omer Arbel
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The Penang house renovation included significant structural changes. An awkwardly placed column in the original dry kitchen was removed, allowing for a more generous island that has become a gathering point. At the car porch, the middle of the three supporting columns was eliminated to improve vehicle access, requiring a substantial beam that Neoh softened with curved ceiling details.
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Above The kitchen features a restrained material palette, highlighted by a white Carrara marble backsplash and timber cabinetry,
Above The kitchen island showcases white Carrara marble with Palma pendant lights by Antoni Arola for Vibia overhead
The kitchen features a restrained material palette, highlighted by a white Carrara marble backsplash and timber cabinetry,
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Above Bocci 21.7 Random pendant lights by Omer Arbel illuminate the stairwell, creating visual continuity throughout the vertical circulation spaces
Above The stairwell features Bocci 21.7 Random pendant lights by Omer Arbel, that transitions the home from bright daylight to atmospheric evening moods.
Bocci 21.7 Random pendant lights by Omer Arbel illuminate the stairwell, creating visual continuity throughout the vertical circulation spaces
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“The ceiling was curved at the corner where the roof slab meets the beam,” he notes. “This subtle gesture softened the heaviness of the beam, making it appear lighter while also becoming a distinctive architectural feature in an otherwise utilitarian space.”
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The owner’s eclectic art collection, including colourful elephant artwork and Lego castle models on the Symphony Sideboard by Poliform
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The interiors blend international pieces with custom work. Bocci pendant lights illuminate the dining table and stairwell, while Vibia fixtures hang over the kitchen island. A Philippe Starck bathtub anchors the master bathroom, complemented by Tom Dixon wall lamps. Many pieces were sourced directly from European distributors when local dealers were unable to provide specific brands.
Above The home office features Mountain Wave marble as a feature wall behind the desk, while dark cabinetry offers organised storage for work-from-home needs.
Above Built-in shelving with Mountain Wave marble backdrop showcases the owner’s collections while maintaining visual restraint through the stone’s subtle landscape-like patterns
The home office features Mountain Wave marble as a feature wall behind the desk, while dark cabinetry offers organised storage for work-from-home needs.
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Natural light, enhanced by reworked fenestration during the facade renovation, floods the interiors during the day. As evening arrives, layered lighting creates what Neoh calls his favourite aspect of the project: “The lighting design seamlessly transitions the space into a softer, more atmospheric mood.”
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The master bedroom showcases floral wallpaper applied in different background colors, while Melampo bedside table lamps by Artemide provide task lighting
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The owner’s response has been telling. After years of collaboration, both designer and client have evolved. “It feels like we’ve influenced each other’s design sensibilities along the way,” Neoh observes. “I’ve grown to appreciate a fuller, louder and more expressive approach, while she, in contrast, has come to embrace simplicity more than before.”
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Above Dark floral wallpaper creates a dramatic contrast in this bedroom space, leading to the master bedroom lounge area, where the Heracleum III pendant light by Moooi provides sculptural lighting
Above The master bathroom combines white Carrara marble with custom built-in storage, featuring a Philippe Starck oval freestanding bathtub and Tom Dixon Melt Mini wall lamps
Dark floral wallpaper creates a dramatic contrast in this bedroom space, leading to the master bedroom lounge area, where the Heracleum III pendant light by Moooi provides sculptural lighting
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The home now includes five bedrooms, a gym, a dedicated study, and a home lift for future accessibility. Solar panels on the roof address the owner’s long-standing interest in energy conservation. But perhaps the most successful element is more challenging to quantify: the owner recently told Neoh that the family always looks forward to coming home when they’re away.
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Credits
Photography: TWJPTO
Topics
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.
