Contemporary resort home for sales director

Unlike many, Star Radio Group sales director Lily Fong knew the design concept she wanted for her new apartment in Ara Hill, Petaling Jaya, straight away.

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"Prior to renovating, I did my research by reading interior design magazines to see what the trends were and also to get ideas for my new home. I love the modern contemporary look and I wanted my house be chic yet cosy at the same time," said the mother of one.

Fong, who studied business management, had actually wanted to study designing after high school. "I love drawing and art. I wanted to become either a graphic designer or an interior designer but at that time, my parents were against it," said Fong.

She has been in the sales industry for 16 years now and is currently managing the sales department for four radio stations - 988 FM, Red FM, Suria FM and Capital FM.

"All my properties were previously occupied, so I didn't have much control over the design of it and if I wanted to refurbish, it would cost a lot. Therefore, I wanted to get a brand new property which I could design the way I wanted. The whole design process is quite exciting; you get to select your own decor items, lightings and furniture. At the end of the day, you get a sense of satisfaction. This is finally a place I can call home," shared Fong.

Love at first sight

"A friend of mine recommended Ara Hill and once I stepped into this development, I fell in love with it. I love the surroundings of the development which comes with 1.5km shaded walking path, water features and lush landscape. Also, the layout of this unit is good. It didn't come with odd angles and I didn't have to hack off any walls," pointed out Fong.

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Fong bought the condo unit in Dec 2011 for slightly over RM1mil (S$402,000). "Currently, the value for similar units in this area has gone up by approximately RM200,000. So, it is a good buy," said Fong.

Another factor which attracted Fong was the location. This neighbourhood is quiet, peaceful and accessible via Jalan Lapangan Terbang Subang, Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong highway (LDP), New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), Federal Highway and Tropicana link road, said Fong.

She added, "I've been searching for a property for more than a year. I didn't want it to be too far from Subang where my son is studying and also not too far from my office in Petaling Jaya. This location is strategic and very convenient."

Ara Hill also comes complete with comprehensive condominium facilities such as a swimming pool, gymnasiums, squash and tennis courts, children's playground, community hall as well as barbeque area. It also comes with perimeter fencing, 24-hour security and CCTV surveillance with a solar CCTV system that links to police beat.

"It fulfils my dream home criteria," said Fong.

Keeping it simple

There's a sense of cosiness upon stepping into Fong's 1,916sq ft condominium. Designed by Alice Kuek of MDD Design, the homey feeling stems from a clever combination of simple yet modern furniture.

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A fluffy black carpet and edgy decorative items further emphasise the contemporary feel in the grey living room.

Materials such as tinted brown mirrors, wallpaper and laminated boards are also present. Kuek explained that the mirror was chosen for the dining area to create a sense of openness.

"We had to ensure that the colours match with the white kitchen cabinets provided by the developer Sime Darby," said Kuek.

Kuek shared, "Lily is one of the few customers who knew what she wanted right from the start. During the renovation process which took two months, she had many ideas and was always ready to give her feedback. At times, she would even send me a photo of a decor item via whatsapp and asked if it would match her home. It was really easy working for her."

Fong spent approximately RM100,000 for the renovation, which included furniture and fittings.

The living room is her favourite part of the house. This is where she unwinds after a long week at work. "I also enjoy reading my book and drinking coffee at the balcony. It has a good view - an experience I would not get with landed properties," said Fong.

Coca-Cola collector

"My brief to Alice was simple. I wanted something uncluttered, easy to manage with not too many exposed areas - after all, I'm living with my son and when I get back from my work, I long for a place where I can sit back and unwind," she explained.

"Oh and of course, the most important feature that I wanted in my house was a place to display my Coca-Cola collection," added Fong.

"I started collecting Coca-Cola bottles and cans since 1998 after I bought my first Coca-Cola can from Korea. I noticed that in every country I go to, the bottles and cans have different interesting designs," explained Fong who surprisingly does not drink Coca-Cola or carbonated drinks.

Some of the items displayed are limited edition Coca-Cola collectibles. What makes these items special is the fact that they were brought back by Fong from all her holidays abroad. "Whenever my friends or colleagues travel, they too will bring back a Coca-Cola souvenir for me," said Fong who is an avid traveller.

Worthy advice

"The property hunting process was a great experience. I purchased a sub-sale property because I preferred to buy something that I could see. You may end up spending a little bit more for that but you will not end up with a house that faces a water tank, high tension wires or a graveyard," pointed out Fong.

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However, Fong is quick to add that for investment purposes, it is definitely wiser to purchase during a project launch.

As for renovations, Fong advised, "The rule of thumb is to spend between 10-20 per cent of your property value. If your purpose is to rent it out, you may not want to spend too much on renovations."

When asked about her first time purchasing a property, Fong shared, "When I bought my first property, I was 28 years old and like most youngsters, I was very cautious. At that time, I was thinking, would it be better to rent or should I purchase it? In the end, I decided to get it."

"You've got to start young. When you start working, you should put aside some money and purchase a property. Life is too short for us to think too far, so just do it," advised Fong.

"I can actually be debt free if I didn't purchase this Ara Hill home. But I thought of it as a good investment and I can also pass it to my son in the future. I might have to cut down on my travelling and shopping though," said Fong with a laugh.