Couple build dream home step by step

Couple build dream home step by step

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Change is good, goes the adage, and that is what Antonio and
Maya Rana believed when they decided to remodel their South
Jakarta home.

While maintaining the structure of the two-story house, the
couple have plans to gradually remodel it into their dream house.

"We've made some small changes to the house to make it more
comfortable for us to live in," Antonio said, adding that further
alterations would be made during their "spare time".

Among the changes he mentioned included removing a door, which
separated what he termed the salon, or guest room, and a large
room on the first floor. The room has been divided into two areas
for family and dining rooms. A curtain was hung to replace the
door.

"I think a curtain is warmer and more welcoming than having a
door to separate these rooms. It can also give an impression that
the salon is more spacious," he added.

Antonio, who is French, also added a little style to the
otherwise plain window frames by embellishing them with carved
wood.

The family and dining areas receive plenty of sunlight through
the high windows. The windows look out to a swimming pool and
greenery in the rear garden.

Next to the dining area is a small, unobtrusive kitchen,
equipped with a wooden spice shelf on the wall, and a wooden
console with twin high rattan chairs which separate the dining
and kitchen areas.

Two dark-colored carpets are laid out on the floor in the
family room.

"Before we bought these carpets, we consulted first with
Tariq, the owner of Kashmiri's carpet store in Kemang Raya area
and showed him this room. We needed his advice because we wanted
to buy the ones that really match with the atmosphere and he
chose these two for us," said Maya.

As for the furniture, the mother of a baby son explained that
their choice was carved furniture from Jepara, Central Java, and
Madura, East Java.

The family area is furnished with a TV set and a set of
comfortable soft-toned sofas and armchairs. There is also a small
wooden table where the couple display their photos, a wooden
Compact Disk case and small terra-cotta pots.

The walls in the family area are bedecked with posters,
mirrors framed with wooden carvings from Madura and colorful old
product labels. "We collected these labels from magazines," Maya
said.

The marble staircase that leads to another family room and a
work area on the second story is ornamented with wrought iron
railing and several brass pots, one on each tread.

High windows on the second story allow sunshine to flood the
room and give the couple a vantage point to see surrounding tree
tops.

On the first floor, right in front of the staircase, is a
glass door that leads to the rear terrace and the pool. The
terrace is decorated with parquetry floor and furnished with a
large wooden round table and two leather chairs.

From this terrace, the couple can enjoy the relaxing view of
the swimming pool and the rear garden, which is neatly planted
with ferns and a variety of other plants.