Home tour: Jie Design revisits and refreshes a Jakarta family home 18 years after its first makeover

“The brief was mainly to refresh the home,” says Jie. “Before, it was a little bit Oriental. We wanted to bring a lighter colour and mood, and change some functions of the rooms.”

Jie Design worked within the existing framework to alter how the house is used and, consequently, how it feels. A guest room became a spa, one of the former children’s bedrooms was updated for adulthood, the study was transformed into a mahjong room, the second-floor living area became a private bar, and the attic was reworked as an entertainment space. Across these changes, the palette became lighter, the atmosphere more contemporary, and the overall character more closely aligned with the family’s present life.

The owner first encountered Jie Design’s work in a magazine 19 years ago, before the original house had even been built. Her preference for the studio’s signature air of casual elegance has remained consistent, as has her appreciation for timeless, functional and enduring interiors.

The renovation took place while the family continued living in the house. So, rather than emptying the property and completing the work in one sweep, the rooms were renovated in phases, making scheduling and sequencing the principal challenges. Otherwise, the project proved relatively smooth.

The result is a home that feels lighter without losing its sense of permanence. Light timber and pale furnishings replaced much of the previous visual weight, while classic design pieces provide continuity. Among them are Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair, Harry Bertoia’s wire stool and pieces from Fritz Hansen, alongside objects the owner has collected over the years.

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The arrival sets the tone. A transition foyer reception area forms a visually seamless boundary between the exterior and interior, with bespoke motifs by Jie Design appearing here and again in the interior foyer.

From the foyer, the more public areas unfold around the home’s social life. The mahjong room and new spa sit within this zone, while a generous living and dining area opens towards the terrace and pool. The arrangement accommodates both everyday family life and more formal occasions, including the private dinners the owners sometimes host.

The basement takes care of the practical side of the house, housing the service areas, gym and garage. Upstairs, the atmosphere shifts. The second floor contains the bedrooms and private bar, the latter furnished with Bertoia’s wire stool, another Mies piece and furniture from Fritz Hansen. The third-floor attic is more playful, combining a library and the owner’s private study with an entertainment area incorporating karaoke, a home-theatre setup and billiard table.

The progression is therefore less about creating a singular visual statement than giving each part of the house a distinct role. The social spaces are open and accommodating, the private rooms are more intimate, and the entertainment spaces let the family retreat from the more formal areas below.

That distinction is most apparent in the master bedroom, which Jie Design considers one of the most successful transformations in the renovation. Its generous proportions and high ceiling presented a particular challenge. A large room can easily feel imposing, yet the aim here was the opposite: to create somewhere warm and intimate.

The studio hence looked to Aman hotel rooms for inspiration, favouring an understated atmosphere in which nothing competes for attention. Light materials and restrained furnishings establish a sense of calm, while the owner’s collection of works by Indonesian painter Lee Man Fong gives the room a more personal dimension. “It feels really subtle, warm and very much embracing,” says Jie. “A tranquil place in which to end your day and rest.”

Perhaps the most revealing detail about DN House is not a particular chair, finish or room, but the fact that its owner has cared for the house so consistently over 18 years. Jie describes her as exceptionally tidy, with an unusually sophisticated understanding of how to live with design.

These qualities of the owner allowed the studio to make choices that might otherwise be considered impractical, including the introduction of white sofas as well as other light-coloured furnishings.

It is a point worth dwelling on because the renovation’s emphasis on durability is not simply about selecting hard-wearing materials. Longevity here also depends on how objects are used and maintained. The studio deliberately chose durable materials, but equally trusted the owner to care for them. Her existing pieces, collected over many years, could therefore sit comfortably alongside the new additions.

Eighteen years on, DN House has changed, but its essential character has not. To Jie Design, the project is a reminder that good design can accommodate change without losing its identity.

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