KING OF HIS CASTLE

AWAL ASHAARI shares his journey of turning his house into a home with King Living and the lessons learned along the way.

- KIRAN PILLAY

Malaysians know Awal Ashaari not only for his work as an accomplished actor, model, and television host but also as the other half of the Malaysian sweetheart duo, Schawal, with his wife, Scha Alyahya. Off-camera, Awal spends much of his time at home as a devoted father to his two girls Lara Alana and Lila Amina. Undertaking the task of transforming their house into a home was a challenging effort for Awal and Scha, made easier by King Living.

"After living in a townhouse for so long, the idea of a landed property with our own garden space was one of the most exciting aspects of moving from the old house to the new house," the actor shares. The celebrity couple leaned into curating King Living furniture for their new outdoor space, including the Jasper Outdoor Sofa, Quay Dining Table and Chairs, and Calypso Coffee Tables in the round and square tabletops.

"When selecting these pieces, I had it in mind to lounge with the family over the weekend and spend more time outside. Now that we have a lawn, I want to enjoy the art of outdoor living," Awal explains. He admits the challenge was difficult in seeking patio pieces that didn't feel outdated, uncomfortable, or overly cheap and plastic.

"I found that with King Living, the outdoor pieces are similar to the indoor sofas, substituting materials to give it appropriate durability for the outdoors." Considering the Malaysian climate of intense heat and rain throughout the year, King Living's decadent outdoor solutions were perfect for Awal and his family. "My tip for furniture hunting is always to pay close attention to materials. You can't expect to use indoor materials outside and not have them spoil quickly!"