bangsar baru · kuala lumpur
A studio built around how people live in their apartments
tepians was set up to work on residential apartments in Kuala Lumpur — not on show units, not on hospitality interiors, and not on briefs written for someone else's lifestyle.
the studio
Where tepians came from
tepians started with a straightforward observation: apartment renovation in Kuala Lumpur is genuinely difficult to navigate. Showrooms are scattered, contractor communication is inconsistent, and the gap between what an owner imagines and what ends up being built can be wide.
The studio was founded to address that gap — not by making the process feel bigger or more involved, but by bringing more clarity to each stage. A clear brief. A properly documented design. A consistent presence on site.
We work from a studio on Jalan Telawi 3 in Bangsar Baru. Most of our projects are in KL and the surrounding Klang Valley, though we are flexible when the timing suits. Our scope covers apartments — studios, condominiums, and landed homes are outside our current focus.
What we are set up to do
We take on the design thinking, the documentation, and the sourcing legwork. What we do not do is make decisions for you — we narrow the field, present options, and leave choices where they belong: with the person who lives there.
How a project typically runs
Most clients come to us with a rough idea and a timeline. We help turn that into a workable brief, a set of drawings, and a supplier shortlist. Some engage us for the full run from concept to coordination; others need one stage only.
What we do not do
We do not manage contractors, handle payment to suppliers on your behalf, or take on commercial, retail, or office projects. We also do not offer turnkey packages where decisions are made without the client's active input at each stage.
the people
Who works here
Amirah Halim
lead designer
Amirah leads concept and documentation work. Her background is in architecture, and most of her practice has been in residential apartments across central KL. She runs the client brief and drives spatial decisions.
Rafi Zulkifli
visualisation & drawings
Rafi handles 3D rendering, technical drawings, and material schedules. He has worked on both residential and commercial documentation and joined tepians to focus on apartment-scale work.
Siti Norashikin
procurement & coordination
Siti manages supplier relationships, site walks, and the coordination side of active projects. She has sourced across the Klang Valley for several years and knows the local supplier network well.
how we work
Standards we hold to
Written documentation
Every decision, change, and site observation goes into writing. We do not rely on verbal exchanges for anything that matters to the project record.
Client review at each stage
Work does not proceed to the next stage without client sign-off. The brief is confirmed before drawings begin; drawings are reviewed before coordination starts.
No supplier arrangements
We do not accept commissions or referral fees from suppliers. Shortlists are built on suitability, not on commercial relationships between us and the seller.
Client data handled carefully
Project documents, floor plans, and client information are not shared outside the project team without explicit permission. We store files securely and do not retain data beyond the project period.
Scope kept clear
We work within non-regulated interior design practice. We do not produce structural drawings, certify electrical or mechanical systems, or make representations outside design's professional remit.
Communication in plain language
We write to clients and contractors in straightforward terms. Site summaries, change notes, and shortlists are written to be read and acted on, not archived.
apartment design in kuala lumpur
Residential apartment design in Kuala Lumpur covers a wide range of situations. Some owners are planning a first renovation after purchasing a unit in Mont Kiara or Bangsar South. Others have lived in their apartment for years and feel the layout no longer works for how their household has changed. A number come to us mid-way through a renovation that has stalled or drifted from the original plan.
What most have in common is a preference for someone to work through the details with them — layout, material selection, contractor communication — rather than hand the project over entirely and hope for the best. That is the gap tepians occupies: a design practice that stays engaged throughout, documents clearly, and gives clients the information they need to make decisions with confidence.
The Klang Valley is home to a broad range of apartment types, from smaller studio units in older city buildings to newer condominiums with open-plan layouts across three or four bedrooms. Each has its own spatial constraints and structural realities. Our work is adapted to the specific apartment, not applied from a standard template.
Working from Bangsar Baru, we cover most of KL's residential districts without significant travel overhead — Damansara, Kepong, Ampang, Cheras, Subang Jaya, and the city centre all fall within our regular schedule. For apartments further out, we discuss logistics at the enquiry stage.
work with us
Tell us about your apartment
We are happy to hear where you are in your project and whether we would be a good fit for what you have in mind.
Send an Enquiry