A Pet-Friendly, Japandi & Japanese-Inspired Home Tour with Natural Signature
Written by: Agnes, Home & Space Planning Consultant @ Natural Signature
As a Home Planning Consultant at Natural Signature, the most rewarding part of my job is turning a client's vision—no matter how challenging—into a living, breathing reality.
Today, I want to take you behind the scenes of one of our most exciting projects: a complete, fully-furnished 1200 sqft condo in Kuala Lumpur for a wonderful couple, Joe and Yoga, and their beloved cat, Luna.
Their challenge? They had just two weeks to move into a completely empty unit.
Their dream? A peaceful, pet-friendly home with a "Japanese natural modern" aesthetic, a look that blends the clean, minimalist principles of the Japandi style with the warm functionality often seen in a Muji style home, all built with durable, high-quality solid wood furniture.
Here’s how we made it happen.
The Challenge: Start from Empty
When Joe from Japan and Yoga from Malaysia first approached us, they were facing a common but stressful situation. Their rental contract was ending, leaving them only less than 3 weeks to transform their new, bare 1200 sqft condo into a functional home.
"We were really struggling," Joe told us. "It's a big space for two people, with three bedrooms, and we had no idea where to start."
Their brief to us was clear:
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Aesthetic: A serene, Japanese-inspired design that felt peaceful and natural.
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Functionality: Smart, practical solutions for living, working, and storage.
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Pet-Friendly: All furniture had to be safe and durable enough for their cat, Luna.
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Timeline & Budget: Everything had to be delivered and installed within 2 weeks, within a reasonable budget.
Our Solution: 3D Planning for a Clear Vision
The first step in any project is to eliminate uncertainty. We provided Joe and Yoga with a comprehensive 3D layout and furniture planning service. This allowed them to visualize exactly how each piece of solid wood furniture would fit and function in their space before making any commitments. This virtual walkthrough gave them the confidence to move forward quickly.
A Walkthrough of the Home: Room by Room Solutions
Entryway: A Multi-Functional Welcome
First impressions matter. We designed a welcoming entryway featuring our Moon Mirror, Buffalo Shoe Cabinet, Kitten Bench and Stool, that serves multiple purposes: a place to sit and change shoes, extra seating for guests, and a cozy hideout for Luna. Above it, a playful Cat Wall Playground became Luna's favourite spot to climb and nap.
Living Room: The Perfect Blend of Nature and Pet-Proof Comfort
To bring the beautiful lake views indoors, we centered the living room around natural elements. A large solid wood TV cabinet, the Munich TV Storage Cabinet, Berlin Ladder Shelf and Lagos Ladder Shelf, offers ample storage, while numerous plants create a calming atmosphere.
The biggest concern for any pet owner is furniture damage. We addressed this with our pet-friendly sofa, the Lover and Landmass Sofa, upholstered in a premium anti-scratch fabric. Now, Joe and Yoga can relax without worrying about claws, creating a truly stress-free environment for everyone.
Dining Area: Smart, Space-Saving Design
Traditional dining tables can feel bulky in a condo layout. To maximize the open-plan space, we designed a custom, space-saving dining table, based on our Solid Wood Worktop / Tabletop, and Magical Blocks. This legless design not only freed up floor space for better traffic flow but was also customized to a specific height for Joe, ensuring ergonomic comfort.
The Masterpiece: A Custom Tatami Room with Hidden Storage
As a nod to his heritage, Joe's favourite room is the custom-built tatami room. This isn't just a traditional tatami space; our signature modular Tatami Series is a marvel of modern engineering.
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Smart Storage: The entire platform lifts up to reveal massive hidden storage compartments.
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Pet-Friendly Design: We even incorporated a small, playful hole for Luna to peek through and play in.
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Modularity: The lightweight tatami mats can be easily moved and reconfigured.
This room perfectly encapsulates our philosophy: honouring timeless design while innovating for modern needs.
Bedroom & Home Office: Durability Meets Customization
The bedroom needed to be a sanctuary. We selected a super king-size bed frame, the Zen Platform Wooden Bed Frame, made from 100% solid wood for ultimate durability. Practical features, like an integrated headboard panel for phones and glasses, and under-bed drawers that are inaccessible to curious pets, make it both beautiful and functional.
We installed our highly customizable wardrobe and open-concept shelving system, the Woodwall 1200 Wardrobe II and Fancy Open Shelf. This modular solution allows them to add drawers, hangers, and shelves as their needs change, making it a perfect setup for anyone searching for high flexibility and open concept wardrobe ideas.
We also design a versatile swivel standing dresser that combines full-length mirror and storage function, the Pinwheel II Standing Dresser
The PC Room: A Dedicated Space for Passion and Play
Beyond spaces for rest and socializing, a truly personal home carves out niches for individual passions. For Joe and Yoga, this was their PC Room—a dedicated sanctuary for gaming, video editing, and personal time. The goal was to create a space that was both a high-tech command centre and an organized library for their collection of albums, books and photos.
Our solution was centered on ultimate flexibility. We installed our highly customizable open-concept shelving system, the Woodwall Open Shelf.
This modular system was the perfect fit, allowing Joe and Yoga to design a storage wall tailored precisely to their needs. They started with the core shelves and then personalized the unit by adding accessories like drawers and glass hangers. This versatile setup neatly organizes everything from gaming gear to cherished photo albums and can be easily expanded or reconfigured in the future.
The Final Result: A Dream Home Delivered on Time and On Budget
In just one day, our team delivered and assembled every single piece of furniture. The entire transformation, from an empty shell to a fully-furnished, cozy home, was completed within the 2-week deadline.
And the total cost?
For all the furniture you see—the cabinets, the solid wood bed frames and wardrobes, the custom tatami room, the pet-friendly sofa, delivery, and installation—the total investment was approximately RM30,000.
Joe and Yoga were thrilled with the seamless process, especially our online consultation service which allowed them to manage the entire project via WhatsApp, saving them precious time.
"Luna (their lovely cat) really, really likes this home," Yoga shared. "And we do too."
See the Transformation in Action: Watch the Full Home Tour
To truly appreciate how these custom solutions and solid wood pieces came together, you can see the space come to life on YouTube. Joe and Yoga were kind enough to document their experience and share a detailed walkthrough of their new home in two separate videos.
In the first video, they take you on a complete tour of each room, sharing their personal favorite spots and how the design functions in their daily lives with Luna.
The second video offers a deeper dive into their furnishing journey, including their planning process and why they chose Natural Signature for their pet-friendly, Japanese-inspired home. Watch both to get the full story directly from them!
Project FAQs
To wrap up this incredible project, here are some quick answers to common questions we receive.
Q: What was the total furnishing budget and which areas were included?
A: The total budget was approximately RM30,000. This was a comprehensive package that covered the living room, master bedroom, second bedroom/tatami room, dining area, home office (PC room), and the entryway with its dedicated pet zone.
Q: How was it possible to complete the entire furnishing process in just 2 weeks?
A: Our streamlined process made it possible. By combining our consultant's full-house planning support with our ready-stock modular furniture, we eliminated long waiting times. The use of 3D visualizations also helped Joe and Yoga make confident decisions quickly, which dramatically accelerated the entire project from planning to installation.
Q: What makes the furniture in this home "pet-friendly"?
A: Our pet-friendly approach focuses on durability and safety. The sofa, our Lover Sofa series, is upholstered in a premium anti-scratch fabric that stands up to claws. Furthermore, our solid wood furniture is sturdy and easy to clean, while thoughtful designs, like the under-bed drawers, prevent pets from getting stuck in hard-to-reach places.
Q: What interior style was used in this project?
A: The design is a "Japanese Natural Modern" style, often compared to a Muji-inspired aesthetic. It focuses on clean lines, natural materials like solid wood, and a neutral color palette to create a serene, cozy, and highly functional living space that is also welcoming for pets.
Q: Was this a renovation project?
A: No, this project did not involve any renovation or major construction work. The entire transformation was achieved purely through strategic furniture planning and placement. This shows how the right furniture can completely define a space without the need for hacking or building.
Q: Which products were the highlights of this home?
A: Several pieces were key to achieving the final look:
The Lover Sofa - Pet-Friendly Sofa: Its low-back design and durable anti-scratch fabric made it perfect for both the owners and their cat, Luna.
The modular Tatami Series: This modular platform created a unique, multi-functional space for relaxation and included clever hidden storage.
The Woodwall Series Shelving System: Used in the PC room, this open-concept modular system offered complete flexibility to create personalized storage for hobbies and work.
Q: I want a similar setup. How can I get started?
A: It's simple. Just provide us with your floor plan and a brief on your needs and lifestyle. Our Home Planning Consultants will create a tailored proposal and 3D visualization based on your budget and preferences.
Q: Is there a separate charge for the planning service?
A: Our planning service starts at a nominal fee per room. However, this fee is fully redeemable upon your furniture purchase, making the expert planning and 3D visualization essentially free.
Start Your Furnishing Journey with Us
This project with Joe and Yoga is a testament to what's possible when you combine a clear vision with the right partner. If you are a homeowner in Kuala Lumpur or anywhere in Malaysia and Singapore, whether you're looking for pet-friendly furniture, a custom tatami room, or a complete solid wood furnishing package within a specific budget, our team of Space Planning Consultants is here to help.
Ready to build your dream home without the stress?
👉[Contact Natural Signature Today for a Free 3D Design Consultation!]
