Psychologist designs interiors that make for homey homes

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A Room to Breathe: A Refreshing Look to Modern Space
Marlene Tabalujan Setiyadi
PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Jakarta, 2005
p.136

"Sometimes, people need to be alone, stay away from the office, colleagues and even family. They need a place to breathe," said Marlene Tabalujan Setiyadi at the recent launch of her book A Room to Breathe: A Refreshing Look to Modern Space.

She was responding to resporters as to her thoughts in choosing this particular title.

Rather than filled with text from cover to cover, A Room to Breathe presents numerous magnificent images featuring Marlene's interior creations.

Her intention to write a book, she said, was inspired by her own experience in helping customers to find the right furniture and accessories at her furniture gallery Graha Toorak in Kemang, South Jakarta.

Marlene, who started her creative business 15 years ago, has made a name for herself in interior design. Prior to the launch of A Room to Breathe, some of her work were compiled in a book on interior design that was published overseas in 2004.

"People in other countries see Indonesia as a failed state. I hope this book will help to promote Indonesia. People should know that Indonesia could produce artistic work," said Marlene, who is a trained psychologist.

Marlene said, she wrote the 136-page book with a belief that even ordinary people, like herself, are able to create and develop a delightful, personal environment in working with decorative ideas.

The book is meant to inspire and to guide readers in designing their own private spaces and homes.

"Readers will find themselves creating wonders by applying small changes, like setting the right colors and themes, even with small budget and limited space," Marlene writes in the introduction.

Marlene divides her creative designs into six sub-sections: Small Spaces, East Meets West, A Room to Breathe, Classical versus Contemporary, Theme Houses and Modern Indonesian.

In Small Spaces, Marlene emphasizes that the important thing is the right choice of color and furniture in order to create a feeling of spaciousness, by highlighting the potential of small rooms.

Meanwhile, in East Meets West, she does not simply adopt an East-West cultural fusion. Instead, she adapts designs to accommodate the local lifestyle and climate to suit a tropical country.

In A Room to Breathe, Marlene emphasizes the harmony of colors to create a feeling of peace. For this purpose, Marlene suggests the use of primary colors paired with neutral shades like white and cream to create a calming environment.

The room should also provide supply of fresh air and natural light through open windows.

Marlene's interiors are intriguing in themselves, so that graphic designer Praba Aristyawan said he only made small touch- ups on the design and layout of the book.

"Everything is beautiful," said Praba.

The launch of A Room to Breathe is special with regard to two aspects. First, the book will function as a reference and give guidance to those wishing to create a comfortable home.

Second, it is the first book to be published by publishing giant PT Gramedia in English, which means this book may, in the end, realize Marlene's hopes to grab the international market and promote Indonesia's commercial artsts and art.