KUALA PILAH: From the exterior, a structural wooden and concrete house with a zinc roof at Kampung Temeris here is no different than the neighbours.
But don’t judge a book by its cover.
Located about 20 minutes’ drive from Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, the wooden indoor accents of the house offer visitors a welcome sense of home.
With its own aura and 1,001 unique features, a step into the house belonging to Norfaizal Wahab and his wife Rafidah Nani Afandi, will take your breath away.
The House of Art, with a built-up area of 3,700 square metres, has since gained traction on social media app TikTok with visits from interior decor aficionados seeking for a close-up of the magical touch of the couple, both aged 45.
“We started renovating our house in 2010 by preserving the main house and veranda made entirely of wood. What we did was to extend the kitchen and later decorated the interior.
“We chose the traditional theme as I am an antique lover, and decided to tap the potential of the items that were left behind by my late mother and my mother-in-law, Waginum Sasteruwa and Maroatun Salim.
“This process was fully completed in 2019, and initially it was only for sharing photos and videos of our works on social media for friends, but we didn’t expect our posts to become viral,” said Rafidah Nani, who is a homemaker, told Bernama.
The house with its antiques and collectibles received rave reviews from interior decor enthusiasts in 2021 who were also inspired by the couple’s creativity in matching heritage treasures such as spoons, charcoal tongs and trays with used items.
“We opened this house to the public after receiving overwhelming demand from those who wanted to see for themselves the classic decor from recycled products…not only from this state but also from Kuala Lumpur, Johor as well as Brunei and Singapore.
“Visitors could not believe what they saw as they thought these home decor pieces were luxury items. Much to their surprise, we told them that they were unwanted materials that we undertook to up-cycle, said Rafidah Nani, adding that the house is open to the public every weekend.
Affluent, high value
Perhaps not many would believe this, but according to Rafidah Nani who prefers to be called Kak Nani, the discarded items such as old wood, paper, boxes and clothes can be converted into home decorations that appear affluent with creative hands.
The results were magical when Do-it-yourself (DIY) objects were used as the core elements of their home decor, starting from the living room to the kitchen, as well as classic items that filled every corner of the house.
For example, the walls are enhanced with various art collections made of paper patchwork, such as framed kebaya pieces; tree branches adorning the corner of the living room; decorations made of discarded wood displayed on the walls or are turned into tables; used chairs, etc.
Antique spoons, traditional coconut grater, coconut milk strainer and charcoal tongs which are becoming rare these days, are framed by utilising unwanted materials to create wall decorations.
“Some of the visitors were surprised to learn that the framed flower and vase decorations were made from egg trays, old canned biscuits, paper, boxes and locust leaves, as they look expensive when framed in 3-D format. In fact, demand for these items has been overwhelming.
“We didn’t expect that what started out as a hobby to decorate our home with used and classic materials could generate side income. But for us, besides sharing our knowledge, we hope that our endeavour will create awareness among the people that recycled and classic materials can give a wealthy, elegant turn to your house,” she added.
Sharing their home decor secrets, Rafidah Nani said that not much capital was needed for the house, but noted that her expertise in handicraft and sewing combined with her contractor husband, who runs a small workshop near the house, boosted their creativity.
Producing her own decorative items from used materials gave her a sense of satisfaction, she said, noting that with patience, she was able to carve fine pieces of art despite the complexities and the lengthy process involved.
Inspired by her mother
Rafidah Nani also shared that her late mother, who was her source of inspiration, gave her 10 children exposure to the treasures that are “hidden” in waste materials.
“We’re not from a well-to-do family. My mother would up-cycle products from waste materials into small chairs or tables.
“These values of appreciating used items are embedded in our family, and in memory of her passing two years ago, I decided to display her kebaya outfit that she sewed, on the wall using the minimalist concept,” she added.
In fact, the moss green, figure-flattering traditional kebaya of her mother, who maintained an enviable 25-26 inch waist, was an attraction among visitors, especially home decor enthusiasts. Steeped in tradition, the House of Art, with the sounds of keroncong music in the background, takes visitors back in time.
For Rafidah Nani, memories of her late mother, whom she regards as her idol, are still fresh in her mind. She recalls her mother, who had an immaculate dress sense, would always be dressed in her kebaya even when she was doing household chores.
The neutral-hued living room boasts a calming ambience, making it another attraction for visitors to capture the moments with their ‘OOTD’ or outfit of the day.
The veranda is enhanced with old chairs, creating a kampung atmosphere where family members would sit around and relax.
“Besides classic home decor fans, there are others who are also keen to experience kampung life and savour kampung dishes.
“Depending on the requests and package, we also offer traditional Malay menu such as lempeng kelapa for breakfast and gulai kampung, ikan keli salai, etc for lunch that are cooked by my friend,” she added.
Father’s jawi scripts in dining room
For comfort, the couple only receives one family or group visit at a time.
“They can enjoy their meals either in the kitchen, veranda or dining area,” said Rafidah Nani, adding that all pieces of furniture in the kitchen are produced from waste items such as bed frame, which has been turned into the kitchen island.
To enliven the kitchen, old furniture has been repainted in soft blue sky that matches the earth tone, making the kitchen spacious, adding warmth and cosy appeal to the heart of the home, she said.
In the dining room, some jawi scripts – “Hidup Tiada Makna Tanpa Cinta, Tapi Cinta Yang Mana?” – were displayed on the wall, specially written by her father, Afandi Markawi who died last January.
“The kitchen area provides a relaxed atmosphere for the family as we watch programmes on television. Several heritage items such as tepak sirih, brass tray and traditional coconut grater are also displayed,” she added.
Sharing her home decor interest with members of the public brought personal satisfaction for Rafidah Nani, noting that the activity provided additional income for her family, with admission fee as low as RM10 for visitors.
“This excludes the food package that is served on requests,” she said, adding that on average, they receive over 50 visits a month. Those interested can contact her on her mobile at 017-6386348 or visit her TikTok @houseofartn9 for further queries. – BERNAMA
