A RT CONSCIOUS
the museums and galleries, expanding our imaginations. During the holidays we would drive to the country, visiting places such as Lake District or cities within Europe. It was a mesmerising childhood.”
NEW CHA P T E R
MY CANVAS What art do you collect? Art we like. Especially those
painted by our daughter. The best way to acquire art? It’s all in the connection between the art piece and the purchaser. We acquire a piece because we like it.
How has living with an artist influenced you? I have more appreciation of what has gone into a piece! Can art change the mood of a home? Art definitely plays a part in creating an ambience, but everyone
sees a piece differently. “Moving back to Malaysia was not a difficult task. I dove right into the fashion scene, bright-eyed and brimming with enthusiasm, working my way from ground up, to setting up the first Ferragamo store in Malaysia followed by the start-up of Valentino as well,” she reveals. “I would go to Paris, meet interesting people and designers, and atelierhop from one end of Paris to another.” After years in fashion, Sofiah decided it was time for a change. Then Harrods came calling.
There was no one more suitable for the job than Sofiah. Making her transition from the fashion industry into F&B without any hiccups, she did not stray too far from the fashionable crowd; it is Harrods, after all. As general manager The postmodern house that she shares with her husband and two children (one is an artist and the other a fresh graduate with an economics degree from Durham University) is minimalistic with artful accents of quirky décor and one-of-a-kind masterpieces by Asian artists as well as her daughter, Kara Inez. “The main architect of our home is my husband. As the planning progressed, the entire family was involved and Adeline Ng from Malreka Associates combined our ideas perfectly to create a working home,” explains Sofiah.
In keeping with the simplicity of ’ 70s architecture, Sofiah built the current house around an original dark wooden staircase and opened up the space allowing light to shine right in. “An abundance of natural light streams through the windows, filling the entire house with sunlight every morning, giving it a happy ambience. As the sun sets, low lights indoors come on to create a cosy feel,” she adds.
Here, light paired with the muted shades of her interior calls to mind the iconic painting “Impression, Soleil Levant” by Claude Monet, alongside statement pieces such as an original