“Parisian chic in Bangsar” |
| Posted: 23 Oct 2010 04:00 PM PDT Former model turned businesswoman Soong Ai Ling draws the curtains and unveils her latest venture. CURIOUS onlookers gather outside the dark brown façade and peer inside as if trying to unravel a mystery. With a name like Boudoir and a décor that includes intricately patterned floral wallpaper; a majestic stuffed peacock with a floor-sweeping plume; and frills, lace and fringes, it can be easily mistaken as a place of general wickedness. But it's not a lingerie shop and there's nothing very naughty in it. Boudoir, French for lady's bedroom or sitting room, is actually former model and TV host Soong Ai Ling's second nail salon in Bangsar Village II, KL. "I chose the theme because I find it very sexy," she croons. And yes, the dark and plush interior that it sports definitely oozes a slightly decadent appeal. There's a lounge near the entrance, dotted with carved red and black armchairs, where one could feast his or her eyes on the beautiful montage of prints that hangs behind the macaroon counter. An inner area, resembling a parlour, is where the manicures, pedicures and treatments are performed. Expressing how happy she is at the neat segregation of spaces, Soong cheekily throws her arms open while saying, "Boudoir is not supposed to be open like this!" But she admits that some visibility is very important. "We thought of using some draperies to divide the spaces but that would look too dodgy." At the nail treatment area, the wallpapers give a soft shimmer. According to Soong, the wallpaper is probably one of the most expensive features at the outlet; they were brought in from Britain. Her interior designers, Toto Ooi and Raymond Chow of Chow + Ooi Interior Design, were hesitant about the price and asked her many times over, "Are you sure, Ai Ling?" And Soong, who pulls all stops when it comes to her business, insisted on it. Another thing that she was adamant on having was the peacock. "I saw it in one of the illustrations that Toto and Raymond showed me and I told them I must have it!" Joking that one of the challenges was getting the bird "to fly in", the forthright lass from Balik Pulau, Penang tells us that it cost approximately RM7,000 and was sourced from China. The fittings and furniture, meanwhile, are mostly custom-made by local craftsmen with imported fabrics. These beautiful pieces, which adorn a mosaic tile floor, took between three and eight weeks to complete. However, she attributes the success of Boudoir's look, feel and design completely to her interior designers. "The only thing that I came up with was the name and concept; everything else I left to them," she says, adding that when people hire designers, it is important to give them a free hand. "They're so dedicated and practical and they have a passion that really shines through. If you're doing it for the sake of making money, then you're not going to get good results," she stresses. The two were also the interior designers of Chic Nail Spa, Soong's first nail salon which is located a floor below Boudoir. "Another thing that I love about them is their diligence in sourcing for items; constantly presenting new things to me and bringing me along on their excursions." And, she adds, they delivered everything she wanted to her right within her budget of RM250,000. "It was on the dot!" So what did the interior designers have to say to such glowing testimonials from a client? "Of course we're very proud of Boudoir. It's my favourite project," says Ooi, who is also part owner of Café Café and Banquet, two restaurants noted for their interesting designs. He met his partner, Chow, while they were studying interior design at the Malaysian Institute of Art many years ago. Since then, Ooi, 40, has lived in London while Chow worked in Singapore and New York, where he stayed for seven years. "We wanted to achieve a French look because they are known for their beauty, sophistication and architecture," says Ooi. But it only takes a glance at Boudoir to note the Oriental influence – the porcelain stools, motifs, and patterns all have a distinctly Chinese look to it. What gives? "Actually, this is not Oriental," stresses Chow, 43, who winces slightly at the use of the word. "It's chinoiserie. And we added this element to add a twist and produce something that isn't very often seen in KL." Chinoiserie, he explains, is a French term for a European artistic style that surfaced in the 17th century. It is an ornate style that was favoured by European monarchs such as Louis XV because it blended well with rococo aesthetics. Rococo is another style that was most famously culminated in the Catherine Palace in St Petersburg, Russia. And it seems that their touch has yielded results. "Most people who come here comment that they don't feel like they're in KL," says Soong delightedly. "One of my customers who hosted a private party here even printed an invitation that said 'One day in Paris'." This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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