Page 67 - Masala E-magazine Vol 9 Issue 4 February-March 2018

Having spent her youth in England, and much of her
working life in Australia and Bangkok, Rahila has been
exposed to a variety of different cultures, from both sides
of the globe. These influences are clearly evident in her
lavish interiors, from the pictures on the wall — most of
which were painted herself — featuring day-to-day scenes
and buildings from her travels in Cambodia, Spain, Vietnam
and Pakistan, to the unique custom-made furnishings
sourced primarily from Chiang Mai.

The balcony area is probably the best toast to her
childhood in the UK. Easy to set for afternoon tea, it is The dining room table is made from recycled teak
surrounded by pots of red and yellow roses, and stands
out thanks to the contrasting blue and white colours
which give it a relaxed, seaside vibe. “My initial vision was
a bit different,” she explains. “I wanted a black-and-white
built-up canopy, but I learnt to adapt because being in
a rented place, I didn’t want to go overboard with my
expenditure. I was very lucky to find that particular swing
at an unbelievable price from Index. I’m also a big fan of
IKEA and got the curtains from there. I had my seamstress
cut out a panel and sew the black cloth into a section of
the white curtains.”

But that’s not where the personal touch ends. Each of the
detail on the pillows was also hand-made with the tassels
and buttons bought from Phahurat Market near Riverside.
“Tassels are a favourite of mine,” she says with a smile. “I
love how they just add an understated flair to whatever
they are affixed to. When you’re in a rented house, there
are certain restrictions. I’ve learned that if you can’t get
exactly what you want, then you adapt.”

These sofas were originally in the TV room

BEFORE RENOVATION Looking at the images of how the penthouse first appeared,
the level of dedication and detail that went into the
‘adaptation’ is no doubt evident. Rahila spent over five years
working in luxury retail at Tiffany and Co. as a sales manager
in Brisbane, Australia, and was heavily involved in visual
merchandising, because as she tells me, she has “an eye for
knowing where something belongs in a room.” Sofas were
re-arranged, tables and curtains were replaced, and even
the walls were repainted from bland beige to a more inviting,
Living room and dining table area contemporary grey. “Grey is the new white,” she says. “Visually,
it goes well with every colour, is a great background for art,
and helps to showcase a piece.”

One of the major renovations was in the living room area. “I have
this knack for looking at a room and knowing exactly where
something should go. When I first moved in, I took these sofas
out and replaced them with the ones in the TV room. They were
recliners and they didn’t fit,” she says, introducing this section.
Interestingly, the inlay in her living room table was originally an

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Entryway and TV room