Cover Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, while built-in elements frame the entertainment area and underline the Japandi concept
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, while built-in elements frame the entertainment area and underline the Japandi concept
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Box Design Studio blends Japandi minimalism and functionality in this Mont Kiara condominium, using vertical wood panelling, travertine surfaces and tactile materials
Mont Kiara’s skyline in Kuala Lumpur is dense with towers, each one filled with apartments that follow familiar formulas. Box Design Studio’s latest project occupies 4,100 square feet in one of these buildings—a rare expanse of space in this vertical city—but step inside and the urban noise fades.
The first thing you notice about this sprawling condominium is the wood panelling. It runs vertically along the walls, creating clean lines that draw the eye upward. “It pulls your eye up, makes the ceiling feel higher,” explains Fong, managing director of Box Design Studio.
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Above Glass block walls and timber framing create a dedicated music area, showing how the design accommodates specific lifestyle needs
Glass block walls and timber framing create a dedicated music area, showing how the design accommodates specific lifestyle needs
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Fong and the team at Box Design Studio have spent the last year transforming this 4,100-square-foot condominium into what he calls a study in “tactile tranquillity.” The term sounds lofty, but the space itself feels anything but pretentious.
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Floor-to-ceiling timber elements maintain visual continuity throughout the apartment.
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The condominium unfolds in layers of muted blues and warm timber. A custom walk-in wardrobe showcases the designer’s approach—teal-blue cabinetry paired with natural wood drawers, where even the hanging rail becomes a design element against the rich backdrop.
The bedroom continues this material conversation with a striking blue headboard wall that incorporates built-in storage and a workspace, proving that calm doesn’t mean sacrificing function.
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Above The timber-framed workspace overlooks the city, proving that functional areas can be both practical and beautiful
Above Cream sectional sofa and dark timber coffee table create a comfortable gathering space with built-in storage as a backdrop
The timber-framed workspace overlooks the city, proving that functional areas can be both practical and beautiful
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“We wanted to balance warmth, structure, and tactility through a careful interplay of vertical and horizontal elements,” Fong explains, referring in part to the deep charcoal sofa. The furniture here doesn’t shout for attention. Instead, cream and charcoal upholstery anchors the space while rattan accents—a side table here, a pendant light there—add texture without fuss.
Built-in desk with overhead storage shows how workspace is integrated seamlessly into the apartment’s design language
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The kitchen continues the material conversation. Travertine appears again on the island and backsplash, its natural variation more interesting than any engineered stone. But it’s the lower cabinets that steal attention—cane webbing inserts add texture and visual lightness to what could be heavy timber fronts. Cabinets stretch from floor to ceiling, their fluted fronts catching light. Everything feels built-in, permanent, as if the apartment grew this way rather than being assembled.
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The curved ceiling detail and tiered pendant lighting create architectural interest above the dining table
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“The interplay of vertical and horizontal elements creates a meditative stillness,” Fong says, describing the approach. He gestures toward the dining area, where a long table sits beneath a cluster of pendant lights. The view extends through glass blocks that divide spaces without closing them off entirely.
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Above The open shelving displays ceramics and books with gallery-like precision, while the dining setup shows how the space accommodates daily life
Above Even technology storage becomes a design opportunity, with speakers integrated into custom timber shelving
The open shelving displays ceramics and books with gallery-like precision, while the dining setup shows how the space accommodates daily life
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This is Japandi design, that hybrid of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality, but adapted for Malaysian living. The climate here demands different considerations—humidity, intense sunlight, the need for air circulation. The designers have responded with materials that age well and details that work with, rather than against, the tropical environment.
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The interplay of smooth travertine and textured timber creates visual rhythm across the surfaces.
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In the master bedroom, frosted glass panels filter light while maintaining privacy. The bed sits low to the ground, surrounded by more of those vertical wood elements that have become the apartment’s signature. Built-in wardrobes hide behind fluted doors, their surfaces creating rhythm across the wall.
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The Japandi-themed master bedroom showcases natural materials like wood and cane
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“Every detail is curated to enhance a sense of tactile reverie—where surfaces invite touch,” Fong notes. He’s right. The wood begs to be touched, the travertine feels cool under palm, the rattan shows its handwoven origins. These aren’t materials chosen for their photograph-friendly qualities but for how they feel in daily use.
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Vertical timber paneling creates rhythm across the walls while a black circular side table adds contrast
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The bathrooms continue the material palette with travertine walls and wooden vanities. Here, the Japanese influence is most evident—clean lines, hidden storage, and a sense of ritual surrounding daily routines. A deep soaking tub sits beneath a window, its placement suggesting someone who understands the luxury of a long bath.
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Above A built-in blue headboard incorporates bedside storage and lighting, creating a calm focal point
A built-in blue headboard incorporates bedside storage and lighting, creating a calm focal point
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Throughout the apartment, open shelving displays objects with museum-like care. A ceramic bowl here, a small sculpture there, books arranged by height rather than subject. It’s the kind of styling that looks effortless but requires constant attention.
“We drew inspiration from Japandi aesthetics,” Fong acknowledges, though he’s careful to note that this isn’t mere imitation. The rattan elements, the way light is handled, and the integration of built-in storage—these respond to specifically Malaysian needs while maintaining the calm that defines the aesthetic.
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Above Teal cabinetry pairs with warm timber drawers in the custom storage area, where clean lines meet functional design
Above Fluted wood panelling and a minimalist white sconce demonstrate the apartment's attention to tactile textures
Teal cabinetry pairs with warm timber drawers in the custom storage area, where clean lines meet functional design
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The result feels lived-in despite its obvious refinement. Children’s toys could exist here without destroying the mood. Dinner parties would unfold naturally across the connected spaces. The apartment accommodates real life while maintaining its sense of retreat.
“The result is a space that feels effortlessly refined, grounding, and timeless,” Fong concludes.
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Photography: Pixelaw Photography
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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.
