Cover The mancave
The mancave
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This dark and moody home in Penang by Chaos Design Studio has an elegant mancave
A home should always express its owner's personality. Penang-based Chaos Design Studio set out to customise this townhouse at Stramax Residences in Penang for its owner’s beloved hobby of collecting action-hero figurines and comics.
The design brief for the three-store townhouse was to transform it into a home that was truly tailored to its owners, a couple and a young daughter while adopting a design approach of modern sophistication.
This interpretation means the space would be contemporary without sacrificing comfort and using raw materials and finishes such as concrete and textured slab. Combining this with a colour plate of refined dark hues creates a sleek urban lifestyle.
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The living room
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“Minimalistic, bold and masculine with a touch of rustic elegance are all brought together in each space through consistent use of a variety of stone, wood and metal
elements,” explains Charles Khor, creative director of Chaos Design Studio.
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Dining room
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“Stone elements such as marble, lava stone and rough stone are used in combination with black wooden details and metallic elements in the living room and kitchen designs,” says Khor.
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Kitchen
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Two unique rooms featured in this project stand out from the other spaces while still working harmoniously as a whole.
A departure from the sober colour palette of the rest of the home, the daughter’s room showcases pops of colours like soft pink for a girlier feel.
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Above Detail of internal staircase
Above Entering the man cave
Detail of internal staircase
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A botanical wallpaper frames the bed, while rounded shapes like blobby glass lighting and circular cupboard handles add whimsy, but the use of greys and warm lighting cohesively ties this room into the rest of the home.
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The mancave
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Like his daughter, the man of the house also has his private area, a mancave where he can wind down and focus on his hobbies.
Located on the lowest floor, the mancave houses all his hobbies and artistic endeavours and a granite block counter bar for entertaining friends.
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Master bedroom
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“Here, space is maximised by creating hidden storage spaces that are made functional and useful as they are aesthetically pleasing. In this space where colours and elements may seem overwhelmingly earthy, an ample sense of space and lighting becomes key to brightening the space,” explains Khor.
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The daughter's room
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While the mancave is private and moodily lit, full glass panels and windows allow for a sense of privacy yet possess permeability for interaction and light.
Several structures in the house have also been made to open the space to more natural light and the surrounding nature.
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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.
