Sneak peek: A home with personality

A teacher and mother-of-two uses her spare time to create a home to reflect who she is, writes ANUSHA K

FOR Kavimalar Nagarajah, who turns 30 this year, nothing beats thinking about how to make her home a beautiful sanctuary.

That is why she spends most of her time watching TV shows or reading magazines on home decor, and window-shopping for anything that catches her fancy.

A schoolteacher, she lives in a double-storey corner house at Taman Puchong Utama, Selangor with her two children. Her husband is currently in Dubai Marina, working as a tender manager.

Kavimalar wanted a home that reflected her personality. So she went about selecting fabrics, textures and designs, and had beams put up and wall papers pasted.

She scouted around for furniture and decor items at bargain prices. Most of the furniture was purchased from Cavenzi furniture store, with picture frames from Ikea and the rest of the decor pieces from various stores in Puchong.

She also got knick-knacks from Dubai when visiting her husband there — stainless steal curtains rings (which were exceptionally cheap), vases and sculptures. The “brick walls” in her living room stand out and give an edgy feel when compared with dull, white walls. These are actually tiles made to look like bricks.

“Though brick walls are usually used for the exterior facade, I felt that they would also look nice indoors. They are easier to clean and with children around, a white wall would never stay white, so the brown and mauve bricks are the best for me,” she said.

The cozy, majestic grey sofa set in her living room was bought for RM2,800, inclusive of the geometric-patterned cushions. She paired the sofa with a cream and brown woollen carpet.

She also had a “fire place” built in her living room, with the coals replaced with a variety of flower pots and decor items to brighten up the space, and a storage area beneath it. To cap it all, chandelier lights hang from the wall carving on the ceiling.

Built on a raised platform next to the kitchen is the dining area. To add a rustic touch, wooden wall papers and beams are used. The beams are made from high-quality plywood while the dining table is made of teakwood.

Artificial lilies, orchids and roses abound in both the living and dining rooms.


The porch is filled with white pebbles with a water feature and money plants in a corner. Bamboo shoots are planted around the house. The result is a Zen-like atmosphere to the garden.

“After gardening, I usually sit in the porch and have a cup of tea. Feeling the breeze and listening to the sound of running water as I watch my children play is the best part of my day,” said Kavimalar.