Traditional Housing & Longhouses :: Sabah & Brunei, Borneo

It's been a busy month with travelling around Sabah, Borneo then a quick trip to the UK for my sister-in-law's wedding - and now I am on a week stopover in Dubai before continuing on our travels to the Philippines.


Travelling around Borneo was great fun and interesting to see other house styles in this tropical climate. There is a actually bit of a mix between timber stilt housing (similar to the Australian Queenslanders), new terraced and townhouse developments and traditional and new community 'Longhouses'. 

A traditional 'Longhouse' literally means a large wooden communal structure, raised on stilts (in the case of the modern ones there is parking beneath) and the home and communal dwelling to one indigenous community or extended family.

In Northern Sabah there still remains the traditional timber Longhouses, this one belongs to the Rungus community and was originally 90 doors long with each dwelling being 3 meters in width, making a 270m longhouse! 

A traditional timber longhouse

The timber and bamboo construction allows for shade all day long in the private family rooms and the communal covered area.

Massive open plan communal living areas with open wall construction to allow for cooler air flow

It is designed with slanted side walls to allow the occupants to sit comfortably without the need for modern furniture! This is quite important as the Rungus women are renown for their skills as bead weavers and sit with their legs stretched out in order to produce their handicrafts.

Slated walls for leaning against, sleeping areas and all with minimal furniture

I was also invited to a more modern Longhouse in Brunei which was similar in layout but constructed in modern materials and with car parking spaces below.

Some communal furniture

Room below for car parking

Nowadays communities favour the modern town housing developments which are still similar in layout to the traditional longhouse community, thus still allowing for extended family living.

I wonder how we would all fair if we all lived so close to our extended families? 

Have fun.

Handbuilt Eco Cottages :: The Bohemian Masala, Varkala, India

A few weeks back I stumbled across The Bohemian Masala, a slightly different approach to an eco resort tucked away behind the main tourist strip in Varkala, Kerala. 

The resort contained a number of curious, indigenous hand built mud eco cottages. 

Each cottage has been designed on plan for maximum airflow and constructed with handmade mud bricks. The walls were then plastered using a traditional method of applying clay rich mud and cow dung and then painted with natural pigments such as red brick dust, flowers and herbs.

The pigment for the black floors is carbon from burnt coconut husks that has been given a top coat of wax to seal the floors. The thick brick walls, use of small windows and traditional plaster create a surprisingly cool room.

Also, a mix of secondhand ceramic tiles and palm leaves have been used to construct the roofs. All the timber used is sourced from ex plantation stock coconut trees.

For the interiors all the furniture is handmade with local ex plantation stock timber from a mixture of coconut and jack fruit trees. 

All the fabrics for the ceilings, curtains and wall coverings have been made from secondhand sari material.


What a great way to use up all those old sari's.


Have fun.

Chic Colonial Indian Design style :: The Raheem Residency, Kerala, India

This beautiful heritage residence caught my eye last year when I was looking for interesting places to stay in Kerala over the Christmas and New Year period. 

You really feel that you are in your own private palace!

Originally built by an Englishman in 1868, this beautiful house was purchased in the 19th century by Mr Raheem who moved his family from the Indian state of Gujarat to the thriving port town of Alleppey.

In 2003 the home was purchased by it's current owners who undertook the process of converting the run down home into a chic boutique hotel whilst retaining and restoring its original classical colonial Indian style. The new hotel was re-named the Raheem Residency. 

With ornate antique timber furniture and interesting objet d'art scattered around, this boutique home has an amazing mix of traditional Indian colonial elegance and a quirky chic style set in a lovely heritage residence. 

Such amazing carved timber detailing and unusual pieces of artwork... 

Now this is what you call a four poster bed Indian style!
Images courtesy of The Raheem Residency

Now this is truly a chic colonial heritage hotel and I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit such an amazing place.

Happy New Year.

Coastal Decoration Indian Style :: Goa, India

I am always drawn to the colour and texture when I walk along a beach and it's a pleasant surprise to find so much inspiration on Indian beaches...

These beach huts at Cozy Nook use decorative timber screens as the downstairs entrance wall and look stunning against a the natural bamboo backdrop. 

In contrast these images are of fishing nets, timber panelling, ceramic pots, fabrics and other objects that have now found a new uses. 

Next stop the beaches of Kerala.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Joglo Living :: Khayangan Estate, Bali

I had the absolute pleasure last week to assist a lovely client with her furniture layouts for a traditional Joglo she is building in a beautiful tropical setting just inland from Noosa. 

If you are wondering what a Joglo is? They are a type of traditional crafted timber house, mainly found in Bali and Java and built to be dismantled and moved easily. 

I have attached a fine example of one, recommended by my client, with The Khayangan Estate in Bali. These particular Joglos were once the traditional home of Javanese aristocracy and have been saved from destruction and lovingly restored.

Fantastic indoor / outdoor views...

Note the use of high ceilings, low perimeter shading and no major internal walls allowing cool breezes to flow throughout.

images from The Khayangan Estate

The result seamlessly mixes traditional craftsmanship with antique pieces and contemporary furniture within a tropical backdrop. 

Having travelled to some hot places I have nearly always been more comfortable with the heat with high ceilings, massive ceiling fans and shaded open areas rather than enclosed rooms with air conditioning units... 

In the absence of having one of these Joglos shipped over from Bali for myself... I await with excitement to see my client's one finished in the not too distant future and the chance to visit The Khayangan Estate the next time I am in Bali. 

Have fun.

W Retreat & Spa :: Maldives

Call me soft but yesterday was one of the coldest days I have en-counted  here in Brisbane. With 7c at night and 12.5c in the day this is cold for our sub-tropical climate that normally hovers around 20-24c and clear blue skies!

So where to today.... somewhere hot and tropical like the W Retreat & Spa in the Maldives?

This retreat is set on a private island in the Maldives. It's designed with the indoor and outdoor as one, with views of the sky, glass paneled floors that reveal the lagoon below and unparalleled sea views. 

All designs within the W Hotel series adopt sustainable practices, use natural materials and commission local artwork, furniture and fabrics for he interior decoration. 

images via Starwood & W Hotels

The only thing that stops me from going staying here is the cost... With money aside this hotel is definitely on my Bucket List!

Have fun.

Waka Nusa Resort :: Nusa Lembongan, Bali

Another interesting place I have stayed in Bali is the Waka Nusa Resort on the Island of Nusa Lembongan, situated 12 kilometers East of Bali.

The resort faces Sanur and the impressive Gunung Agung volcano (at 3100m) and because of its isolated location and limited infrastructure, the Island has been preserved from the growth and progress that has evolved in Bali over the last ten years.

The resort has 10 thatched huts based on a palm tree plantation with a white sandy beach, a beautiful turquoise lagoon and coral reef. Diner is alfresco style and literally on the beach edge with your own bamboo lantern.

images via Waka Nusa Resort

The hut construction materials used are in keeping with the natural landscape, local available materials and local tradition; traditional 'alang-alang' thatched roofs, coral and earth pigmented wall rendering (no VOC's here), local wood joinery and traditional decoration.

As Nusa Lembongan has an ancient and fragile ecosystem the island's power and water supply is limited. The huts do not have air conditioning (only overhead fans), intercom, TV's or telephone in the rooms. Instead of air-conditioning, there is natural ventilation which is forced by the lower wall inlets bringing the cool air in from the outside garden. The hot air is let out through the Terra-cotta outlets at the top of the roof.

It was nice not to have to rely on power and the creature comforts of air-condionting. We found the fans and the natural ventilation enough comfort... and embraced the calm and quite atmosphere without phones and the TV in the back ground.

If you are likely to miss your sports channel then this is not the place for you but if you fancy a peaceful and beautiful island getaway then look no further.

Have a great weekend.

Bali Spirit Hotel and Spa :: Ubud, Bali

I could not help myself but to mention another place I have stayed in Bali...

I just love places surrounded by rainforest and located near water. One such place is the Bali Spirit Hotel and Spa nestle on a hillside above a gorge just outside Ubud. I love the combination of its natural location and hand crafted Balinese architecture.

However it's not a place if you do not like walking up and down steps! But if you like to swim in an outdoor pool surrounded by rainforest; or read a book to the sound of a river flowing below; or take a dip in the nearby traditional Balinese bathing pools; or just relax with a traditional Balinese massage in a garden pavilion to sounds of frogs and the flowing water... then this is your place.

the rainforest pool...

breakfast by the river below

the main building

As you can see from the photos, the main building has been lovingly restored and retains a traditional Balinese character and feel. Windows and doorways are made from carefully carved timber along with the old four poster beds and foyer furniture. The hand woven fabrics and textiles are also sourced from local craftsmen and designers.

images via Bali Spirit Hotel and Spa

If you are interested in staying one day, then this is one of those mid range hotels that makes you feel like you are stay at the luxury end without the associated charges.

Have a great weekend.

Komaneka Tanggayuda :: Ubud, Bali

Today there has been non stop rain here in Brisbane... This rain reminds me of our first trip to Bali a few years back and a rather soggy stay in Ubud.

Ubud is a beautiful hillside village in the centre of Bali. If you prefer not to be part of the party scene on the coast and would rather relax in a day spa surrounded by lush rainforests, rice terraces and plenty of culture then the inland villages of Bali are the perfect option.

At the time I was designing a Balinese day spa here in Australia… so this trip was well timed and added an extra dimension to my interior design research!

As it was Christmas, we treated ourselves big time and stayed in the Komaneka Tanggayuda resort, just outside Ubud. This picture says it all...

Our accommodation was this Valley Pool Balinese Villa with our own private infinity edge plunge pool, day-bed pavilion and outdoor bathroom!

The design style of this resort reflects a contemporary interpretation of traditional Balinese architecture. It is also a great example of the architecture being constructed from local materials. These included "alang-alang" thatch roofing; "paras" sandstone and other Indonesian stones for the floors, walls and hand made outdoor bath; and hand crafted local furnishings and furniture.

This outdoor stone bath also came with its own surrounding frog pond! It was quite an amazing experience to have your own frog chorus in the evenings.

images via Komaneka

With such stunning views overlooking the surrounding landscape it did not matter that it rained the whole time. It was still warm and we could spent most of the time outside under the protection of our day bed pavilion reading and listening to the rain... bliss!

Since then there is now three in the resort chain. So if you feel tempted you can check them out here.

Have fun.