Live like the crazy rich Asians of yore in Heeren Mansion, located in Melaka, Malaysia

Heeren Street, also known as Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock in modern times, was once Melaka's Millionaire's Row – a narrow thoroughfare rich in historical resonance. The architectural vocabulary along this street weaves Dutch, Peranakan, and Chinese influences, with a predominant focus on Dutch aesthetics due to its initial construction by the Dutch in the 17th century.

The compact exteriors belie expansive interiors within, a discrepancy from historical taxation policies that based levies on building width rather than total area. Some residences span up to 100 metres, adorned with private courtyards, wells, intricate metal spiral staircases, decorative tiling, and other exquisite features.

Owning one of these storied houses has always been a dream for interior designer and antiques enthusiast Jennifer Ker. She and her husband hail from nearby Muar and had made their home in Kuala Lumpur, but Melaka was a frequent stop for short trips, whether for antique shopping or family holidays.

As such, when the opportunity arose to purchase one of these townhouses, the couple snapped it up and decided to undertake the renovation themselves. “The house itself was once a warehouse for dried foodstuff, after which it was a cafe for a while. It wasn’t in good shape when we bought it, and most of the original architectural features had been removed or replaced, so we had a free hand to do what we needed to do,” recalled Ker.

Nonetheless, as the townhouse was located within the city’s UNESCO Heritage Core Zone, the couple wisely navigated the complex rules governing renovation and idiosyncrasies of these heritage buildings with a skilled contractor. “We didn’t change that much architecturally, but a good contractor was essential as he or she need to understand old buildings,” said Ker. “For example, these buildings have no foundation, and all supports come from the beams. We were lucky that we found a very experienced contractor to help us with this process,”

As Ker noted earlier, there was limited materials on-site that could be salvaged but whatever could be recycled was repurposed. This included wooden floorboards from the second floor, which were enough for just one room, and some granite slabs that could be reused. Ker also meticulously researched and sourced authentic architectural detail from roof tiles and decorative embossed tiles hand-carried from the United Kingdom.

The facade was brought back to its previous glory with the addition of traditional Jian Nian (ceramic cut-and-paste shard-work). “We found some artisans from China who were doing temple restoration in another location and brought them here to add these flourishes to the facade,” explained Ker. These intricate details include a goldfish constructed from colourful porcelain bowls decorating a non-working rainwater pipe (rainwater was considered a Chinese symbol of wealth and abundance and was therefore revered).

Ker wanted to recreate the house to be as close to its heyday as possible, and as guests enter through the pintu pagar (swing doors), one is transported into another era. Beginning with the tua tia (reception hall), where one can enjoy a view of the gilded ornate screen, Ker spent months trawling antique shops to source.

The long, slim layout then leads to the first courtyard, which sports a Moorish theme. Drenched in sunlight, the courtyard is the first of many found in the townhouses. This quirk of architecture stemmed from the tax levied on the number of windows during that time, so courtyards were incorporated to compensate for the lack of natural light. Ker’s reimagination of the space draws from Melaka’s past, where Indians, Persians and Arabs passed through in search of spices. This inspired the soothing water feature fashioned from Spanish tiles and aquamarine Moroccan pendant lamps.

Where the thia abu (ancestral hall) and dapur (kitchen) would traditionally be located, the couple created a lounge anchored by a 15-ft custom-made marble-topped bar. Decorated with plush banquettes and lounge-style seating with a baby grand and taxidermised peacocks, the couple envisioned this as an ideal space for celebrations as it can comfortably seat up to 50 people. “With the bar and piano and plenty of spots to lounge, this place has all the makings of a party house,” Ker said with a smile.

While Ker’s priority was to source in Melaka, her search for the right design features led her further afield. For instance, the spiral wrought iron staircase was found in India, while embossed tiles were imported from Vietnam. Where necessary, she also modified traditional details to make it more practical: “We custom made our Tok Panjang, the customary long table for Peranakan feasts, with fewer legs so it looks neater and there are less chances of guests knocking their legs on the table legs.”

The fastidious attention to detail on the ground floor, with an emphasis on preserving its heritage charm, takes a turn for the modern in the four rooms upstairs. Seamlessly merging colonial aesthetics with vibrant colours and antique furnishings, Ker even installed air-conditioning in the bathrooms, deemed essential in the city’s notorious heat.

“I prioritised modern comfort in the rooms upstairs and didn’t want it to be like a museum, so I infused bold colours into each room with new beds,” she said. This concession to comfort extends to the addition of a small pool and jacuzzi tucked in the back of the house, ideal for cooling off after a day of exploring the city.

Adding a cherry on top of the decadent cake, the interiors are finessed with a carefully curated collection of exquisite artwork and antiques Ker has gathered over the years. This runs the gamut from embroidered birthday scrolls to bed curtains adorned with beads, not to mention Ker’s vintage kebayas and beaded shoes, combined with framed chair covers embellished with gold threads.