5 ways to bring a touch of island paradise into your home

Boon Sim, Bawah Reserve’s architect and designer, shares some simple tips on how you can
transform your home into an island paradise.

1) Be inspired by your surroundings

Look out the window. Use your own environment as design inspiration, and don’t be afraid to
bring what you see outside into your house.

Bawah Design:

“Bawah’s Jungle Lodge was once a wood storage shed during the resort’s construction, and we wanted to use its jungle setting perched on the hillside as inspiration. So we adorned the inside wall with a hand-painted botanical mural that lends a whimsical, cheerful mood and creates a jungle feel inside and out.” Boon 

Home Inspiration:

You don’t have to be an artist or need to spend a fortune to do something similar. Check out these  design ideas on Pinterest. 

Image Credit:  Murals Wallpaper

2) Make a centrepiece of your bed

Dressing the bed with drapes or fabric doesn’t have to be just for hotels or to deter
mosquitos. There are many ways you can do this to create the ultimate bedroom
centrepiece.

Bawah Design:

“There is an art to the dreamy drapes that characterise our rooms. The housekeeping staff
have trained hard to hang it just so. Too tight looks rigid, too soft and it looks limp. By day it
is dressed to look fresh and by evening it is let down to do its job as a mosquito net as well as
a temperature-controlled cocoon to encourage deep sleep.” Boon Sim

Home Inspiration:

Check out these beautiful bedroom curtain ideas and find your favourite to replicate at
home.

Image Credit: Laura Interior Design

3) Use everyday objects and convert them into lights or lamps

Think outside the box when it comes to lighting. It’s a huge feature in any home, and
you don’t have to settle for what you can find in the shops. Think about beautiful
objects you have or like and how these can be used as lighting. Your local handyman
or electrician can easily convert these for you for a small cost – usually at a fraction of
store prices.

Bawah Design:

“All of Bawah’s lighting is locally made. The basket shapes and weave patterns that can be
found throughout Indonesia are a constant source of inspiration. Rattan fish traps and bamboo
winnowing baskets have inspired the many lamps found through the resort today. These
simple designs have a wow factor as well as a sense of practicality. “

Home Inspiration:

Look at these amazing DIY lamp ideas  inspired from old items that have been collecting dust
in the attic or garage.

4) Customised Wall paper

If you have a decent-sized bare wall, why not add wallpaper or artwork to fill the space. You
can even design your own.

Bawah Design:

“We worked with this company  to design our own custom wallpaper and print it on
fibreglass, which makes it more durable and suitable for bathrooms too.” Boon

Home Inspiration:

Create or find a design and contact a company that can transform your idea into wallpaper
art.

Photo Credit: Contrado Bespoke Wallpaper

5) Allow function and design to work together

If you are working with a small space, don’t let functionality trump design – or vice
versa. The two can and should work well together.

Bawah Design:

“We wanted to offer a space for a small fridge, some drawers and hot beverages such
as tea and coffee. So we designed a customised piece of furniture that looks fabulous
yet fits our practical needs too. The design was inspired from the wicker walls we
have in the bathrooms; it continued the design theme nicely into the rooms, whilst
hiding away a potentially messy space.” Boon 

Home Inspiration:

Explore these ingenious ways in which you can save space and create a beautiful look too.

Photo Credit:  Domus Chair by Andrea Mangano

Book a trip to Bawah Reserve and enjoy the design for yourselves!