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Modern, rustic - and very comfortable - De Space Interior Design's Modern Kampung-Style Homestay combines elements from the Malaysian 80s to create this little jewel in Johor Bahru that holiday-goers can enjoy. ________________________________________________ City life. Fast, opulent, exciting… And unbearable at times. But while it may be quite unimaginable for many of us to go back to living without electric lights and interiors built from modern materials, it’s hardly surprising if we sometimes do wish when were simpler – when the nights were quiet and peaceful – removed from the low but oppressive cacophony of the city and lights that keep you awake when you should be sleeping. (see 10 Surprising Effects of Lack of Sleep) Truly Malaysian – a modern transitional interior design we can all relate to Inspired by the overbearing need to inject some sanity back into our crazy lives, the Modern Kampung-Style Homestay Design Idea by De Space Interior Design (an interior designer in Johor Bahru) was born. Combining home design elements straight out of typical ‘80s Malaysian household, the modern kampung definitely seems to be the perfect choice to bring out the best of a 600-square-foot studio which its owners intend to turn into the homestay for holiday-makers. Image on left: Lat the Kampung Boy says hello to guests as they come through the homestay's dark mahogany doors; Image on right: Private seating arrangements separated from the main entrance by an antiqued wooden screen. The Modern Kampung-Style homestay experience starts the moment visitors walk through the dark mahogany front door inspired by a time before, and we were delighted when a playful Lat the Kampung boy greeted us there, smiling playfully at us behind the curtains of his 2-dimensional world. Walking past the wooden screen dividing the entrance from the rest of the house, the modern-traditional transitional elements making up the core of the design quickly become apparent. Dark mahogany furniture contrasts beautifully against clean white walls, enchanting and elegant, which is further accentuated by jet black beams that run along with the ceiling lights. _________________________________________ Get personalized quotes to compare now - Find an interior designer in Johor Bahru _________________________________________ A traditional rattan chair that adorns the living room alongside dark mahogany-coloured modern furniture and upholstery pays homage to the 80s that inspired it. RenoMan from the RenoTalk Show shows us how it’s done. Old and New Decoration Ideas We also loved many other things that the designers at De Space had included in their modern kampung design and, on the wall, are lights encased in authentic-looking oil lamps and hand-woven baskets. To help define the boundaries between the living room, bedroom and bathroom is another wooden screen made with the same dark mahogany (the first small but gorgeously crafted screen at the entrance hides the living space inside from the wandering gazes of the outside, which complements the rules for good Feng Shui). And, just as we thought that there’s no way this small space had more surprises for us, De Space designer, BK Liau, introduces us to the homestay’s rotating TV cabinet. Mounted in between the living room and master bedroom, this one-of-a-kind TV cabinet rotates in a complete 180-degree angle - and with a flick of the wrist allows the same TV to be used from either side of the house. About De Space Interior Design: De Space Interior Design is a creative interior designer in Johor Bahru well-known for their versatility and expert understanding of interior spaces. Delightful or inspiring, elegant or powerful, the designers at De Space Interior Design are always willing to help. Watch the guided tour of the Modern Kampung-Style Homestay Design below! For more reading: Interior Designer vs Contractor _________________________________________ Get personalized quotes to compare now - Find an interior designer in Johor Bahru _________________________________________

We all hate getting cheated. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what a few psychopathic interior designers and contractors will do to make a quick buck, leaving us with broken dreams, an empty pocket and a newly-acquired cynicism for anything and everything related to renovation. We all know how “honest” many contractors in Malaysia are, and with how much cheating that goes on in the home design industry, you’d be foolhardy to let your guard down. But how can you know if you’re being cheated? Here are some red flags that could help you catch them red-handed – or at least provide some damage control. 1. Is the contractor genuine? Is it registered with the CIDB CIMS database? Before engaging a building contractor in Malaysia – ask them to prove that they are registered with the CIDB CIMS database by furnishing you with the details needed to complete a search query about them in CIDB CIMS database. [Link to the official register: cimsapp.cidb.gov.my/SMIS/regcontractor/reglocalsearchcontractor.vbhtml] Kava Décor is an example of a renovation contractor in Johor Bahru that is a registered CIDB Malaysia Grade 3 contractor. If they aren’t registered, be sure to carefully check them out first. Under Section 25 (1) of the Akta Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan Malaysia 1994 (Akta 520), it states clearly that, “No individual, without exception, will be allowed to carry out or complete, enact guarantees to carry out or complete any construction work or declare themselves a contractor, unless registered with the Institution and holds an official certificate of registration conferred by the Institution under this act.” ‘Nuff said. 2. The contractor asks for full payments or large “deposits” even though their work is incomplete. Be careful around contractors who are persistent that you do the following before even completing their work: (i) make full payments upfront, (ii) asks for large “deposits”. If you run into these types, then agree to disagree. In other words, say NO but try not to antagonise them. Explain to them that you will make payments ONLY when work gets done (or at each phase if applicable). Following this rule also encourages more “honesty”. In the worst case scenario, it serves as damage control and you can then proceed to engage the services of another, more reliable contractor to pick up where the cheater left off without having to start from scratch. 3. The contractor keeps delaying work, but insists I pay up first. Watch out if the renovation contractor frequently delays work and insists that they won’t start until you pay up. More devious strains of this type cheater are ones that may put on a show of performing some initial work to entice you into paying up before packing up and disappearing. However, even if the contractor is on the level with you and intends to do the job for you, delays in your schedule will only result in other difficulties. For example, where are you going to store all the new furniture when it arrives because your home is literally under construction? _________________________________________________ Worried about getting cheated by your renovation contractor? Listen to both sides of story and learn more about the relational dynamics between contractors and homeowners. _________________________________________________ <A word from our sponsor :D> Don't be let down by scammers - find a Reliable Contractor in Johor Bahru to renovate your home! _________________________________________________ 4. The contractor gives you an unbelievably low first estimate. If the contractor comes to your home, takes a quick look around without making any proper checks – then hands you an unbelievably low estimate for the renovation – don’t believe it right away! Chances are the next thing they’ll do is tell you that they’ve made a poor initial estimate of how much work actually needs to be done (after tearing up your home to do it, of course, to put the pressure on you to take them up to complete the repairs). It’s not an easy problem to prevent of resolve, and the best thing you can do is to get a second (or even third!) quotation from another contractor to get a better evaluation. After all, they can’t all be dishonest, right? Make sure the materials promised you for your renovation is what you’ll receive. Insist on receipts for all materials as proof of purchase. 5. Work is getting done, but the quality is really poor. When the results of a renovation job looks bad compared to what was promised, then it probably is. Unscrupulous contractors are known for not delivering on their end and will swap the promised materials for low-grade replacements to increase their profits while hoping that you wouldn’t notice. Therefore, insist that the contractor provides receipts with the quotation for the materials you were promised. This way you have evidence if he tries to cheat you but denies any foul play. You can also arrange to meet with their supplier first to check up on him and to take down details of his firm/company. 6. I’ve been cheated. Should I make a police report? (For Malaysian readers) You could, but it shouldn’t be your first option. Under Malaysian law, a contractor who leaves before completing his work can only be charged as a criminal offender if he had planned the offense all along, i.e. he had never intended to finish work on the project, not before and not after you agreed to the contract. Guilt can be difficult to prove, and a bad contractor could lead investigators astray by simply claiming that he had: (i) Ran out of money or manpower to continue with work (ii) Put together an “inaccurate quotation and assessment” (iii) Been obstructed by “unforeseen circumstances”, e.g. his supplier disappearing without word or reason, or (iv) “Unforeseen” price hikes in materials or labour, which is very unfortunate because they are probably telling the “truth” about the commodity price hike. And if the case isn’t “Criminal” then it’s a “Civil Dispute”, which puts it out of the jurisdiction of the police. 7. National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) The National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) handles and records all cases that fall into the category of “civilian disputes” before relaying them to the appropriate parties. They are therefore your best bet of getting your complaints taken seriously and action taken. [See NCCC guidelines for filing a complaint] Once they open a case, the NCCC then acts as a legal mediator between negotiations taking place between the victim and accused. The proceedings are then analysed and assessed before coming to a decision regarding the matter, which is then officially announced to the relevant government agencies and to the public. Further reading: How to Avoid Getting Scammed _____________________________________________________ <A word from our sponsor...> Don't get cheated - Find yourself a reliable Renovation Contractor in Johor Bahru! _____________________________________________________ How much should your renovation cost in Johor Bahru and Malaysia? Watch the Episode 5 of the RenoTalk Show to find out more!