Island chic

After having been totally captivated on my first visit to the “Island of the Gods” in the late 80s, I’ve made it a point to visit at least once a year. A heady mix of local culture, customs and artistry are infused into the everyday life of its friendly people, a combination that has made Bali irresistible to visitors from around the world.

Transfixed by the allure of a tropical lifestyle and the availability of fine craftsmanship, many expatriates with an interest in design and décor have made Bali their home and a centre for great design and creativity. You’ll find a large variety of homeware stores, stylish boutiques for chic ready-to-wear apparel and Michelin-star worthy restaurants dotted all over this island.

Among them are the affable husband and wife team of Jindee and Suriawati Chua, the creative source behind the local interior décor brand Cush Cush. Jindee or JD as he’s known by his friends, is Malaysian, and Suriawati is Indonesian. They met at RMIT in Melbourne, Australia, while studying architecture and interior design respectively, and forged a great design partnership soon after graduation in 1999.


 

Having set up their Bali design outfit based in Denpasar since 2002, their studio currently employs a team of more than 10 designers and coordinators.Cush Cush design their own items and collaborate with many international designers to provide an extensive range of furniture, furnishings and décor pieces for the hospitality industry.

Their furniture and accessories can be found in many high-end hotels, resorts and restaurants in Japan, Singapore, China, Europe, the US and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (at the Mandarin Oriental and the soon-to-open St Regis KL). Unfortunately, Cush Cush items are not available to the retail customer.

All items are made in Indonesia (mainly Bali and Java) using local products and craftsmen. They work with many varieties of local timber, shell, mother of pearl, shagreen, and the ever versatile coconut tree, while incorporating elements of brass, copper and bronze metal detailing.

“We see great potential in the traditional artisan crafts and natural materials found in Bali, Indonesia, and believe that they should be nurtured and celebrated,” says JD.

“With our love for design and crafting, we want to be a positive creative entity that elevates and redefines these crafts and materials … creating products suitable for the contemporary interiors of today,” adds Suriawati.

One of the main factors that makes their works stand out is the commitment of JD and Suriawati to always provide elegance and quality to their craft. Cultivating an open dialogue with fellow designers also helps expand their creative endeavours.



Among their high-profile pieces is the stunning, long emerald table in the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental KL (commissioned by Design Wilkes). Another fascinating piece is the Papri brass console table designed in collaboration with Richard Farnell of Burega Farnell & Associates. Cush Cush had also designed a lovely case for Armani Fiori and sourced two giant Lychee Root sculptures for the Cheval Blanc Randheli Resort in Maldives.

During my recent time in Bali, I was also privileged to witness another example of the timelessness of Balinese décor and design at the recently opened Bambu restaurant in Seminyak. It showcases fine Indonesian cuisine and a very elegant and gracious décor style.

A series of water features greets you the moment you step behind the façade wall at the entrance, which continues to surround the main dining hall and bar area. The main dining area, reminiscent of a traditional joglo pavilion, is painted white to enhance the light, airy feeling of the space. Faded cement tiles featuring geometric patterns grace the floors.

Many other charming design features such as the terracotta wall near the washrooms and framed antique textiles make Bambu a must-visit if you want to be inspired by the excellent interior design elements and delectable food.

This story first appeared in property+, a section of the digitaledge DAILY, on Aug 28. Download property+ for free here.