Living Spaces

HPA International Centre in Shah Alam - Islamic Bookstore Design

2010-10-11T01:29:00.000-07:00

We started with a theme, concept and visual image of how the bookstore would look...

Our advertising associate then came up with the graphics...

And we incorporated the new graphics into the design...

Inside we customised all its shelving for stationery and books to fit with its one of a kind, concept...

Shelving for stationary and small items designed as such...

Ready to be used to display...

Shelving for books...

Even shelving for magazines...

Overlooking out into the main Mall area...

The overall design view...

Here it is, for real...

Come see it at the HPA International Centre, Lot 1065, Phase 19, Laman Seri Business Park, Seksyen 13, Shah Alam.

Halal Mall in Shah Alam - The Pavilion

2010-10-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

The first of its kind, a mall with all halal products, produce, with some distributed through a local multi level marketing company called HPA. The Client recently bought this 12 storey building at Section 13, Shah Alam, and FZLD was engaged to design and manage the creation of this new Mall solely to sell their products to their over 600,000 members, as well as serve as a retail outlet.

The main feature of the Mall is the Pavilion, which not only provides shelving and storage for the main products of HPA -- jawi medicinal herbs and Muslimah cosmetics and skincare, solely owned and manufactured by HPA. The Pavilion also is a gallery which provides information regarding traditional medicine and the uses for herbs for personal health and well being.

The design of the Pavilion...

This is the overall view of the design of the Pavilion to be situation at the main entrance of the Mall to showcase the main products of HPA.

The middle section would serve as an information counter as well as a consultancy desk, to provide advice regarding the products and its use.

The left side of the information counter provides shelving for herbal products as well as a gallery regarding the synergy of herbs with individual well being, inside the dome area.

The right side of the information counter provides shelving for cosmetics and skincare, manufactured by HPA to ensure that halal ingredients are only used in their products.

Another view of the Pavilion showing the information counter and a display panel for all the logos of HPA products to be displayed.

Here's is where it all began...

The completed JawiMedHerb product area...

View of the completed Information Counter at the Pavilion...

View of the completed area for cosmetics and skincare products...

Now, with its frosted windows with an organic motive carved out...

More shelving for cosmetics and skincare behind...

Behind the Pavilion is a History Wall depicting the beginnings of HPA from the owner's kampung house to the now, 12 storey building called the HPA International Centre...

View of the completed Information Counter with a wall for the display of HPA product logos...

Inside the dome is information about herbs and its use. This side is a wall of herbs on display with a giant tongkat ali in the forefront.

More about the HPA International Center Mall coming soon. There is also a boutique, bookstore and HPA's very own halal mart.

When is a Wall, Not a Wall?

2010-06-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

When it divides a room into two different zones.

At the FZLD office suite, what we have done here is to divide the room into two different sections: the office and the guest lounge.

On one side is the designer's office, equipped with all the tools of the trade -- with storage for drawings, plans, paper, samples and much more, neatly tucked away in the custom built desk and work station from our "zary collections", designed by our designer himself.

On the other side, is an area for meeting with clients: to sit back, browse through catalogs and magazines whilst discussing the concept which best suits the clients' personal lifestyle.

When is a wall, not a wall? When it is the back of a cupboard.

The cupboard is a built storage cabinet with a white board made from frosted glass.

The other side is cladded with square shaped mdf panels.

And therefore, there are no bounds or limits for creativity....

Small Scale Selling -- How About a Kiosk?

2010-05-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

People love eating out... and the best way to get fast food, cheap, yet making a brisk business, to the customer is to set up a stall directly in their path, or I might say along the path of which most people would go by.

In Malaysia, we are famous for our stalls. The 'pasar malam' or night market is everywhere and sells a variety of products and food.

Many business organisations have taken this concept further and have used stalls or kiosks to set up shop at locations where traffic is at its most, rent is small and customers who already know the product, feel that it is a convenient way of getting that product quickly.

It has also become a successful franchise business, where small entrepreneurs without a large capital may begin a small business without the high overhead and renovation costs of setting up business in a shoplot. The brand is usually well known, and the product is popular; for example, burgers (being the most popular.)

Even large corporations are setting up shop using kiosks; in shopping complexes, where rental is cheaper than renting an actual shop lot. Again, the kiosk is usually set right in the middle of traffic where people can immediately stop, browse and buy quickly.

Here's Bijoux...

And the popular Starbucks...

We have gone a long way, moving from this...

To this...

Our recent project proposal for a kiosk business for a popular herbal product. The idea is to have a kiosk at every outlet for fast selling products. The kiosk not only serves to sell F&B products, it would also provide the necessary attraction to those who are not familiar with the product, enticing them to try and taste. It would not intimidate since the customer need not walk into the shop or have to spend for a whole packet of the product.

Here are the details of the kiosk front and back...

Other kiosks designed by FZLD as seen here...

So, if you are thinking of an alternative to setting up business in a shoplot, why not consider a kiosk? Let FZLD design one for you and your business today.

Design Proposal: Creating an Efficient Office Environment Within Limited Space

2010-04-11T23:25:00.000-07:00

The client came to us with a problem. He had already consulted many designers and received their proposals and drawings. They all had not come up with something he liked or close to what he had envisioned. Another thing was that the area was not that large; a 20' X 70' ground floor intermediate shoplot to work with.

The owner wanted to fit 7 employees with the ability to service 20 clients or agents coming and going at one time. People had to be able to move comfortably; there had to be enough workstations for individual work and consultations between agents and clients. Most of all, the space had to look spacious, clean, corporate and modern to depict its current business trends and success. It was a brand name and the client was one of its most successful agents for this prestigious insurance brand.

We came up with a design proposal which fulfilled the client's requirements as well as managed to put into the space all the requirements and areas which the client desired. It would require custom built interior fit-out and furniture. The right colors and materials would provide the corporate finish that was desired, adding the necessary dimensions to the limited space.

Take a look...

The layout and designation of space we came out with:-

Side elevation:-

Front view:-

Facade...

Entrance...

Reception Counter...

Inside to the Life Service Counter...

From the Life Counter to the interior offices...

The boss's office...

Birdseye View:-

Front area - service and waiting...

Left view...

Right view...

Design Proposal Completed and Handed Over:-

Now it's up to the contractors appointed by the client to realise the vision put on paper. At FZLD, as part of our design services, we do on-site measurements and markings to ensure contractors follow the space requirements. As part of our Project Management services, we will advise on materials and technical aspects for the construction and built of structures, wall treatments and custom furniture to help make the design a reality for the client.

Herbal Product Outlet - Stockist & Retail

2010-02-24T06:12:00.000-08:00

Our most recent project is a stockist and retail outlet for a well-known and trusted brand of herbal products. It is most uncommon for stockists to invest in a retail shop and we were more than happy to come up with a concept and business image for such an outlet -- rather the first of its kind.

We came up with this concept and design for the particular premise, including a corporate image that keeps to the branding of the products already so well known, but giving it a modern and up-to-date look for a stockist/retail store. It was important that its members would immediately recognise the brand, feel familiar about going in to get their products, but also attract those unfamiliar with the brand and products to enter the shop, browse around and purchase products.

The concept and design...

The completed store...

Interior Works:-

Where the counter would be...

By just cladding the wall with wood, all the way to the overhead canopy, we opened up the space... to get this result.

The drawing...

For real...

The counter would service customers who made purchases and the empty wall beside it served to provide a F&B area to sit down, chat and learn more about the products;

Again, an empty wall...

The drawing proposal...

Now, as part of the service counter, it does more than just let customers pay for their purchases, it becomes an area for a productive social environment -- ask about the products and even sample the products; coffee, cocoa, etc...

Now for the other side of the wall;

We decided on an info board; to provide information about the products, a place to put brochures and other materials to promote product knowledge.

Here's the drawing proposal...

We used a richer version of their corporate colour green, and after some on-site modifications of adding extra shelving for brochures, it turned out like this...

Another view of the info board at the shop...

And, this...

Now for shelf space to display products...

More shelf space in these custom made gondolas.

What we designed...

Became these...

And used like these...

What about space for the chillers; ice cream, frozen food products, and more display?

So, we designed these...

And they turned out like these...

And they became used like these...

The area at the back of the store became a discussion area, or private area for the owners.

The design of the private office area...

Behind the curved wall...

Even the restrooms got a makeover.

This...

Became this...

And this...

Became this...

A focal feature for the shop was its overhead artwork; hand drawn and painted. It provided the unconscious placement of the product brand in the mind. Not everyone familiar with the brand recognised it immediately, but after a while its association came to mind.

Here's how it was done...

Easy does it...

Last but not least, the facade, as the most important feature to attract customers to come in; must be inviting, depicts the products inside, and portrays the owners vision for the products and how it will benefit its customers.

Any ordinary, usual shopfront...

Here's how we wanted it to look like...

And here's how we made it look like...

Another view...before...

And, after...

And then we finished off with the graphics...

Please come in...

Open for business...

At, Bandar Seri Putra...

All the best from us...

Zahari & Faizah,
Faizah Zainal Lifestyle Design

"Together, we help create your lifestyle -- business or personal."

Mom and Dad's Getaway

2010-02-11T22:56:00.000-08:00

It started with the building of a sliding door for the walk-in closet in the Master Bedroom. Many bedrooms have nooks where built-in wardrobes are put in, but forget that having a door is an important factor as well. The wardrobe is an essential feature in a bedroom and should be private and locked away from view. This also keeps the main bedroom area neat and spacious. A sliding door serves the purpose, yet providing enough room for passing through with ease without bumping into each other during the early morning rush.

We wanted the Master Bedroom to be able to function efficiently, with all the functionalities of a hotel room, making it a getaway for the busy couple. It had to have plenty of storage space for personal items, and for the storage of dvds, books, files, all things that would be handy to be used in the room without having to leave it, yet not look like a library of some sort.

As with most bedrooms, there was the bed and side tables...

It also had a TV area, with a sofa and armchair...

It also had a pantry, which housed a mini fridge...

Here's what we did:

For the TV area, we built a media centre.

The design...

The completed media center; a 'floating' unit, lighted below, and a smart electric system inside that would cater for all the devices that go with the TV - dvd, etc. Most of all, the electrical and unsightly wiring has been hidden from sight...

For the main bedroom area, we decided to do away with the heavy plaster ceiling over the bed...

And came up with this...

The bed area would have a built-in headboard, matching the TV media unit, with a lighted feature frame.

It would have a new wall which looked like it was cladded when actually the entire wall is storage space. There would be a writing area near the bed with a smart system for electronic devices; charging of handphones, etc.

The whole area would look like this, as proposed in the design...

Here's how it turned out...

And last, but not the least, the pantry was redesigned to follow through with the feature of the wall/cabinet cladding incorporating it into the design of the room. We added more 'hidden' storage so that it could be filled with all the amenities of a refreshment area; cutlery, cups and saucers, alongside with the existing mini fridge...

At last, a getaway, right here, in the home itself, everyday. Doesn't everyone deserve one?

What's With All The Girls? Boys Wanna Have Fun Too... In This Room

2010-02-10T05:12:00.000-08:00

Here's the concept proposal:

Storage space for the TV media, games, dvds and other gadgets...

More storage near the bed for personal items, books and more...

The original room and how it turned out:

The beds look so lonely...

So, here's what we proposed...

The owner wanted a lighter shade of wood, so we proposed a natural colour. Here's how it turned out...

There was also the ManU framed poster which currently needed a special place of its own, and so we built-in a huge wall softboard and mounted it there by the beds. The softboard would now be a place to place all football memorablia which would be collected by the boys...

Here's a view of the other side of the beds. Notice a graffiti wall by the entrance wall...

Now for the other wall, where the TV and games console are; this is how it was like... Note the white cabinet...

Here's the proposal...

We decided to do away with the dark curtains and just keep the sheer, adjusting its length to just reach the study table. We replaced the window dressing with wood venetian blinds to let the light in, yet keeping privacy...

Without the blinds...

With the blinds...

Also, we moved the white cabinet to a new location near the doorway, between the new graffiti wall and the existing wardrobe, and custom built a matching white display cabinet to put on top of it to display the many lego creations that the boys had created...

The cabinet looks totally new and has plenty of space to fit all the games and toys...

A room to sleep in has become also a room to play in; room for rest and a room for creativity to blossom.

A personal note:

"Children must be able to be children, yet have the guidance and love of parents who are constantly with them and aware of their needs; physically, emotionally and psychologically. They must also have a positive environment to grow into responsible, kind, polite, disciplined and ethical adults who respect their parents and care for society. These are happy families... :-)

Room for a Teenage Girl

2010-02-03T00:21:00.000-08:00

How would a room be like for a growing young woman whose favourite color is black and white?

It shows a teenager with a no-nonsense personality, growing up to be a vibrant and feminine woman with character and a strong will.

Here's what we did....

The proposal:

We initially proposed a traditional wood colour scheme and after discussions with the client, finalised on an antique white colour scheme to give the room a more feminine quality.

She has a beautiful desk near the window and we wanted to highlight the desk but put in extra space for storage for keeping her books handy whenever she wanted them.

Here, not only is there space for writing or studying, there is accessibility to everything she would need nearby. The writing desk is kepted neat and free of clutter with storage and electrical outlets located above the desk.

As a teenager, much time is spent on the bed... not just for sleeping, but for reading, sitting and talking with girlfriends, etc. So, we created a nook that would say it all.

At first, just a bed.... but now, a place for creativity in the comfort of a warm nook. Reading lights are accessible above, a pinless softboard for all the latest news and interests, more storage to showcase personal items and keep them nearby making going to bed feeling safe, loved and secure and with all things familiar surrounding her.

One more thing,... where's the thing a young lady would need most?

No,... not the wardrobe. It's behind the desk, right beside the existing wardrobe.

Right,... every girl needs a vanity unit besides a wardrobe. We, girls got to have a place for keeping our clothes, but we got to be able to know that we look good in them. And this one has got storage for a young lady who knows how to be a lady.

The cubbies on the right provides space for handbags, boxes of accessories, or maybe teddy bears and model cars even, whichever the preference.

Happy living! :-)

Little Girl's Room - Sri Hartamas

2010-01-27T20:03:00.000-08:00

Most would have a bed, a wardrobe and even a desk, maybe for a child's room. The best thing a room should have is an environment so that the child can sleep, play, study, learn and do much, much more. A bedroom is more than just a place to sleep nowadays and if you can afford it, it should be designed with all the functionalities required for a growing and developing child.

What we were looking for was a room that would keep everything in its place, yet providing accessibility to all the toys, books, games and such that would be needed when it would be needed. Without such a room, toys, books and such would be 'lost' and forgotten, and not used for the development of the child's creativity and mind building.

It was an ordinary sized room with a nook near the bathroom. Most people would put a desk there, or a laundry basket, but no, not for this room. We went all out to find such a room and came up with this concept proposal that we thought would appeal to the client;

Pictures taken from PB teen Catalogs from various issues to propose concept and colour scheme to client. For more ideas and inspiration from and information about Pottery Barn, PB teen and their mail order catalog, visit www.pbteen.com.

After showing the concept to and discussing it with the client, we agreed that the room would have wall-to-wall all white cabinetry with white panelling on what little bare wall that was available. This would create a neutral yet clean and feminine background for the abundance of colors that would be provided by the toys, books, and boxes. We also wanted the room to be able to continue its appeal for an older version of the child when she grows into a teenager in a few years to come.

With the concept in mind, we then designed the custom built furniture and cabinetry that would fit and blend into each of the spaces in the room. The drawings are shown here below.

The client will usually amend the designs and move the units around; adding and removing shelves, units, measuring height and length until we get the perfect combination that will fit the individual lifestyle of the person using the room. Once the client has finalised the designs, the final drawings are approved and comes the process of manufacturing, site installation and finishing.

The results:

Entrance unit...

The other side of the entrance unit, also the foot of the bed...

The headboard of the bed. The bed has been custom-made to incorporate a pull-out bed -- great for sleepovers...

TV Media Unit...

Also a graffiti wall at the end of the bed by the entrance...

A study unit...

Lots and lots of storage and wardrobe units...

Last but not least, a vanity unit, to hold not just personal grooming items and lots more, just the thing a girl needs...

A lot of work went into this bedroom; the intricate parts and the finishing and touch ups on white was very tedious and meticulous, with unique custom units; vanity cubbies, smart desk accessories for the study, custom sized shelving for IKEA boxes, etc. The end result... a dream bedroom any girl (or women even) would want.

Customizing Your Work Space

2009-12-02T08:42:00.000-08:00

Tired of buying furniture that doesn't fit the space you want it to be? Build your own, or get someone to design one for you.

We came up with the perfect unit for our office space which was not only a desk for our designer but also a work space and a place to organise all our files and documents and store paperwork. It was built exactly to our needs and storage area was sized and customised according to the specific items we wanted to store at the specific compartment we wanted to store it into.

The length of the unit ran along the louvered wall that separated the lounge from the work area. The depth was sized according to the space we had so that it could fit along the entire wall, even at the odd nook near the aircon room. We wanted two work stations; one for the designer and the other for anyone who needed extra space to prepare sample boards or just about anything at all.

So, next time you need furniture but can't seem to find one at the stores that fits your needs, get someone to custom design and build it for you.

We could also color it according to the color scheme of our office, which was white, of course, matching all the accessories with it, especially the boxes from IKEA.

For more info, contact our designer, Zary at 017-2020996.

Another Commercial Project Completed - Insurance Agency

2009-10-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

This time it was an insurance agency in Bandar Baru Bangi. Despite the project start prior to Hari Raya, the project was completed within schedule. The agency was given a corporate and professional approach eventhough its location is at an upstairs shoplot. The office is complete with an office for its manager, management meeting room, a corporate lounge, reception, training room, surau and even a cafe-like pantry with a serving counter.

Here are the proposed design drawings:

Proposed layout plan of the floor area - making room for all the amenities in the 1,400 sq ft space.

Top view of the main reception area... and the custom design of the reception counter tailor-made to suit the client's corporate image.

Columns and partitions designate the different areas and room functions, yet keeping the areas spacious.

Proposed customised pantry for a cafe-look and an atmostphere for informal networking among the agents and their clients.

The completed works:

The entrance with wall cladding outside providing a corporate look and relief from the dark stairways coming upstairs to the agency.

The reception counter.
The 3-D Rendering:-

The Actual:-

View to the training room, pantry and agent meeting area.
The 3-D Rendering:-

The Actual...

View to the manager's office, manager's lounge and meeting room.
The 3-D Rendering:-

The Actual:-

The manager's meeting room, enhanced with mirrors, existing from the prior tenant.

Hallway to the training room, surau and restrooms. Frosted glass provide light and space to the rooms and corridor.

Inside the training room.

Another design creation turned into reality and the joy of supporting yet another successful business venture.

Dynamics of Color

2009-09-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

Color is one of the most important element which can contribute to the life and vitality of a home. With the use of color, we can make a small space look larger, and vice versa, warm up a cold room, cool down a sunny wall and create the desired ambience for that room.

Although the use of color does require confidence, it also requires caution, because choosing the 'wrong' colors can be quite disastrous, as I have seen in many instances. Using color is also the cheapest way to transform a room, an ideal solution for those with budget constraints. But, if we are to be successful with color, we must learn how color works, harness its powers and use it in an educated manner. The understanding of color enables us to transform our surroundings, creating an atmostphere most unique to each of us. Let us do away with the "I like this color and let us paint our walls with it" attitude.

First of all, we need to understand that there is more to color than just the different colors itself. Many of us go to a paint shop, look at the color patches in the little booklet offered by a particular brand and choose the one we like.

It is not that simple. We must take into consideration many other factors; for example, the aspects of the room we are painting.

Take into consideration the size of the room, shape, height of ceiling, its function - what the room is used for; bedroom, dining, etc. and light source - any windows facing the sun, light fixtures, also types and color of existing flooring - will they be changed to fit the color scheme? laminated wood floors?

Now for the color. We need to know things like tones, hues, the use of an accent color. We can choose just one color for our scheme and by using its varying strengths of tones, we create a finished room of great visual interest. If not, we end up with a flat and uninteresting room that does not create any impact.

Here, we see different tones of one chosen color is chosen to create depth and yet catch the sunlight that comes into the room. Without the darker tones, the room would look too bright and flat.

Below, again the use of tone... with the floors being a focal feature of the room and a 'canvass' to showcase the furniture.

Here, we see the use of an accent to bring out the vibrancy of a room and enhance a neutral color scheme.

Choose colors carefully taking into consideration the ambience and mood we want to create.

For more information and help in finding the right colors for your living or working environment, contact us at Faizah Zainal Lifestyle Design.

Thinking of painting for Raya? Here are some tips.

2009-09-02T03:27:00.000-07:00

Be it the walls of a particular room in the house, the exterior of your house, or even 'ye olde' rusty swing in the garden, here are ten top tips for a great paint job.

#1. Always prepare the surfaces of what you want to paint thoroughly. Clean and sand them first. Scrap any excess old paint away.

#2. Use the correct paint; acrylic paints versus oil based paints, satin finish or matt finish. Ask a professional or your local handyman at the paint shop.

#3. Buy the best quality brushes and rollers you can afford for satisfactory results. Low quality brushes leave their bristles behind as you paint.

#4. Stir the paint well before use to 'pull' the pigment up from the bottom to the top.

#5. Check with your local paint shop to see if you need additives to make the paint flow better. There are many brands out there where you can use straight from the can.

#6. Always cut-in (paint around the edges) before rolling a wall or ceiling.

#7. Always work from top to bottom.

#8. Never paint when the temperature is falling, or on wet rainy days.

#9. Seal patched areas before painting and paint over the filled holes to help seal the filler.

#10. Allow adequate drying time between coats of paint.

Here's another tip:-

Forget about cleaning your brushes whenever you take a break from painting. Instead stick them in a plastic bag and tie a rubber-band around it to keep the paint brush from drying out making it easy to use later when you resume painting.

And another one:-

If you don't want to take the door off the hinges to paint the bottom edges, simply use a scrap of carpet as a brush to paint the bottom edge.

Happy painting!

Reference: Reader's Digest, "10 001 Time Saving Ideas"

Commercial & Business Properties for Sale/Rent

2009-07-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

Located at one of the prime areas of Bandar Baru Bangi, right in front of Bangi's Equatorial Hotel, it is planned to be a center of attraction and activities for Bandar Baru Bangi, a location well worth the investment for those who have interest in purchasing. For those renting, it is to be an oasis for tenants to converge at an area designated for prime business and lifestyle activities.

For more information or enquiries regarding rental and purchasing opportunities, contact Faizah Zainal Lifestyle Design.

A Traditional Touch to a Modern Home in Bandar Baru Bangi

2009-07-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Our next project was further upgrading of a 20 year old double storey terrace house. After we had done their dining room and living room about 2 years ago, the couple came back to us to redo their kitchen, their bathrooms and especially to redo the facade of the house.

The objective was to continue the original concept or theme of the interior which we previously had proposed to resonate throughout. Since the couple's three children are now adults and had left home, it was time to further transform the house to a sanctuary that would be comfortable for retirement providing a beautiful yet peaceful environment to enjoy and to receive guests and grandchildren.

For the living room, the walls were originally pink. We were able to keep to the client's preferences by toning down the pink to a more brown hued color which looked pink but was actually not. Two shades gave the interior some character as well as provided the 'shadows' at the right places to make the room spacious whilst enabling the existing furniture to perfectly fit into the traditional concept that already existed. A polish of the old floor terrazo tiles to bring out its original beauty was the finishing touch.

The dining room was originally the kitchen with a window to the backyard. After converting the backyard into a kitchen, the existing window became the perfect opening for a 'bar-type' serving area; a great place to sit and chat with the 'cook' over coffee and snacks. It also serves as a serving area to the dining room. We chose dark floorboards to complement the existing dark coloured wood glass top dining table. For a modern, yet keeping to a traditional concept, we opted for white cabinetry for the new built-ins flanking the serving counter. The old side cabinets were repainted white to match.

Old furniture..., new floors...

Given a new lease in life...

The new serving counter to the dining room completed...

That was two years ago.

The couple wanted the concept to continue throughout, all the way out, in fact. The exterior was where we would need to focus on. The facade faded in comparison to the new extension the neighbour had constructed. The couple wanted to beautify their facade, but not 'overpower' their neighbours; in terms of view, structure and air flow.

Here's the original facade...

Here's what we proposed...

The sketch....

The 3-D computer rendered version...

The work...

Meanwhile... inside the kitchen...

This...

Became this...

And this...

Became this...

After two months of hard work; monitoring the details, the contractors, choosing the materials, buying the accessories, finally...

The joy of helping to create another lifestyle continues...

Creating a People-Friendly Kitchen

2009-07-09T23:44:00.000-07:00

Kitchens are popularly known as the heart of a home. This is because it usually is the center of the home; where meals are prepared to nourish family members, thus giving life and energy to the family. It is also the place where the traditional homemaker spends most of the time. It used to be that stay-at-home moms would prepare wonderful and nourishing meals for the family, catering to many special moments like birthdays, and such. It would also be the place where cuts were healed with home remedies and tears were wiped away from growing children and where stories along with juicy gossip were shared with a hot cup of soothing tea at the kitchen table.

In today's home, the kitchen is merely for cooking when family members are able to get together during weekends or holidays. Kitchens are rarely the center of activity these days as family members are all involved in outside work, school or other activities. When the 'cook' of the family does use the kitchen, he or she usually is alone preparing the meals whilst the other family members are watching television or in their own private sanctuaries, i.e. their rooms.

It is therefore much more important for the kitchen to be connected to the other living areas in order to maintain contact with family members. What with the 'cook' also working full-time, making the kitchen a place for interaction will enable family members to connect with each other during the short moments at home, especially during the prepration of meals, which take a considerable amount of time in itself.

An island, a bar counter or an opening from the kitchen will allow the 'cook' to prepare meals and hold conversations with the rest of the family watching television nearby, yet hide the mess behind higher level counters.

Having a bench, or stools at an island table or counter allows family members or guests to chat with you while you cook. It also doubles up as convenient area for speedy meals, where you can have quick early morning breakfast and meet each other before departure to individual destinations. It can also be a place to catch-up with an after-school snack with younger children, or a place for them to do homework whilst still being supervised by the 'cook'.

A peninsular, or island type dining table, accessible to the kitchen makes an excellent area to get together to enjoy coffee or snacks whilst the main meal is being prepared...

An opening to the cooking area serves also as a counter where family members or guests can watch or sit and chat.

Living the Life at Seri Maya Condominiums

2009-07-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

An exclusive and happening location for anyone who needs to be near Kuala Lumpur and yet accessible to the highways through the Duke or good old fashion Jalan Ampang and Jalan Tun Razak, that is when the traffic permits.

No matter, the condo is just the right hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the outside world and the fast pace of work. A great place to come home to at the end of a hard day's work.

That was the objective we were aiming for when we got the job to transform the premise from an ordinary looking living space to an exclusive and comfortable home for a busy gentleman.

Look at the previous cabinetry...

Unappealing, ordinary, and without character,...

We decided for a clean look with clean lines, choosing the colours of walnut, and dark wood for the cabinetry, blinds and floors. The walls to be off-white with a feature wall that would complement the surroundings and create a background for the 42" flat screen tv in the living room. The guest room would be the only room with some color to offset the no-nonsense of the rest of the living areas.

After the breaking down of some walls to create a bigger master bedroom and direct access to the bathrooms from the guest room, and access to the kitchen from the living room, we were ready for the floors.

Take a look at the transformation one on one...

The Kitchen:-

This...

was changed to this...

To make it larger, functional, modern and open, we broke down the existing wall that contained the existing kitchen.

To enable this to happen...

Making it also possible to add modern features such as these....

The Master Bedroom:-

Old wardrobe to new wardrobe

to having a completely large, new bedroom...

The Guest Room:-

The transformation...

The Living Room and Balcony (now an annex):-

What was just a normal living room with a normal balcony, is now an extended living space to relax, have friends over and enjoy the fresh air without compromising on privacy.

The final result; A place to call home...

If you would like a makeover or advise on how to change the look of your living space, give us a call at Faizah Zainal Lifestyle Design 017.372.1522.

Sunway Semenyih - Modest and a Place to Call Home

2009-07-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

It all starts with an idea from the clients. Our job was to create it from a modest budget and make their dream come true. The idea was to create a homey, neat, inviting environment for a growing family. Also to make it a place to come home to, after a hard day's work and a great hangout to have friends over.

What we came up for the exterior:-

Progress.....

Resulting in this...

Now for the interior... Here's the idea...

What we started with...

And....

Finally, a nice garden...

And a nice home...

Designing Our Very Own Office

2009-05-13T22:21:00.000-07:00

We started off with an empty upstairs shoplot, 22' X 70'. Not only that, it was hot due to the sun streaming in the front windows in the mornings, and from the back windows in the evenings.

We decided to build a conference room which will serve as a meeting room for the Lifestyle Design Office Suite, also with the purpose of blocking the sun's ray from heating up the rest of the floor and the remaining areas of what would be the Studio, saving also on air conditioning and of course being energy efficient addressing today's global needs. The Office Suite would be situated at the front of the building to take advantage of the wonderful view of the Bandar Baru Bangi hillside, with the Equatorial Hotel at its top. Being quite small, a 1HP air con would suffice to cool the office suite when necessary.

From the Office Suite there would be a hallway, a gallery of sorts, to display our latest design projects, with the doorway to the conference room immediately after the hallway prior to entering the Studio.

Rather than build more rooms, we opted for zoning the remaining entire floor space/studio into sections, thus creating an atmostphere to promote interaction, teamwork, creativity and learning, within a peaceful and comfortable environment catering for individual and group activities.

We began from this:

Went on to this:

Then this:

Finally this ....

And this, the hallway to the Conference Room and the Lifestyle Design Office Suite:

Viewing the back of the floorplan, we started with this:

The area on the right....to be zoned a reading, resting and motivational area...

With a backdrop to depict the harmony of the many hands of our many races... the unity wall taking shape.

to become, this .....

And, finally this .... a comfortable area to quietly interact informally or just read a good book or listen to music or motivational tapes.

Also, the left area of the back of the floor plan....

became this..... Again blocking the sun's rays, with the Surau area located by the window.

And finally, a zone for a little more noisy, just a little more, interaction at the same time enjoying refreshments.

A final view of the Studio Area; various zones for various activities to cater to our clients' needs - relaxed discussions at the Lounge area along with coffee, tea or cakes from the Cafe area, or team meetings at the Work table area.

Project presentations in the Conference room.

Or a private consultation with the designers in the Office Suite.

Come visit us today, and let us help you create your own Corporate Image, and the environment you would like for your business at Faizah Zainal Lifestyle Design, 20-2-1, Jalan Medan PB 4A, Seksyen 9, Pusat Bandar, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor.

Women Accessories Retail Outlet, Kuala Lumpur

2009-02-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

The layout of the retail outlet...

Entrance counter...

Display areas...

Herbal Product Outlet - Bandar Baru Bangi

2009-02-08T20:08:00.000-08:00

Layout of the stockist centre...

An outlet that showcases the natural products; clean & refreshing, yet of high quality.

Bangi Perdana Home, B.Baru Bangi

2009-02-08T19:57:00.000-08:00

A simple home, accented with wood to create a homey and comfortable getaway to relax in...

UiTM Inovasi Library, Shah Alam

2009-02-08T19:55:00.000-08:00

Apartment, Port Dickson

2009-02-08T19:50:00.001-08:00

Cyber Height Apartment, Cyberjaya

2009-02-08T19:29:00.000-08:00

A small home made spacious, with planning and built-ins.

Entrance balcony...

Entrance shoe rack...

Built-in kitchen...

Home office to work at home...

Master bedroom with built-in wardrobe, and

built-in platform bed with a headboard as a feature wall.

Era Bookstore, B.Baru Bangi

2009-02-08T19:15:00.000-08:00

Kitchens

2009-02-07T01:18:00.000-08:00

The most popular interior projects are kitchens -- presumably the place where stomachs are fed and the heart is home. Here are some designs from our previous projects...

Bandar Baru Bangi:

Bangi Perdana.....

Seksyen 3.....

Sekyen 1 - Mutiara Bangi

Puchong:
Putra Heights.....

Shah Alam:

Bukit Jelutong.....

Nilai:
Putra Mahkota....
May you be inspired.....

Putrajaya Backyard Making Space

2009-02-07T00:43:00.000-08:00

As a young couple begin to have more children, space becomes a limitation. The idea of using ones' backyard as, not only storage for toys and more toys, but also as a play and family activity area was realised through this project.

A backyard space commonly used for drying clothes and an arrangement of potted plants...

The plan....

Making it possible....

Finally.....

A space that is functional, organised and a pride to live in...

Local Pizza Outlet

2009-02-06T23:57:00.000-08:00

A local pizza outlet, selling frozen and freshly baked pizzas from a kiosk, now has its own cafe situated at Hentian Kajang. We came out with a signature look for its brand; including its corporate color, logo and concept for all of its outlets -- present and future -- its look for its kiosks, its cafe, and the upcoming full fledge restaurant -- all keeping to a concept which is trendy, up-to-date and modern that will definitely bring their brand of a local pizza to a national level if not international.

Here is a concept for a kiosk outlet, situated in malls or shopping complexes.

Its cafe.... from the drawing board....

....to the real thing...

From a vision,...

to reality.....

The future has much to offer, with bigger dreams.....

The full fledge restaurant...

All rights reserve - Faizah Zainal Lifestyle Design & ZMY Designs

Taman Sepakat Indah II Condominium, Kajang

2009-01-26T09:27:00.001-08:00

From an empty condominium, transformed into a dream home... It was a joy to hear the client say, "this is more than what I could have imagined!" and "... looks better than the showhouse."

It was a one month project to create the living space that the client wanted, so that he could bring his family over to during the weekends and holidays. It had to be modern, comfortable, within the budget, yet have that look as though it came from a magazine or showhouse.

First, the on site inspection and getting the client's "point of view", Zary, our designer then begins the work of putting things together and drawings to show, and also for the client's approval.....

We started out with a totally empty, cold space and slowly it began to transform.....

Into this....

The dining area, from this.....

To a place for the gathering of family and friends.

The boys' room...

The daughter's room...

Everything, including the color of the walls, the flooring, the furniture right up to the accessories.....

Built-in kitchen cabinets, Zary's signature "zmy designs" for the country home the client wanted...

At last, a place to call home.....