Ong Chin Huat sits down with Gavin Liew, the Founder of The Makeover Guys. Through smart renovation and remodelling, Gavin’s company has helped more than 7,000 homeowners and investors transform their properties into designer, functional, and fully furnished units.
With the property market gaining traction in Malaysia, it’s only natural that apartments and condominiums become the centre of attention. Gavin Liew’s company, The Makeover Guys, specialises in strategic makeover solutions for residential properties, making it well-positioned to benefit from the expected demand for homeownership over the coming years.
Luxurious Magazine: Could you tell us a little bit about the concept of your company, The Makeover Guys and how it came about?
Gavin Liew: The Makeover Guys started by solving a common problem faced by property owners: how to make their units more attractive for rental. Initially, we focused on providing an end-to-end solution to help homeowners and investors prepare their properties for the rental market.
Over time, we expanded our offerings to include collaborations with developers and personalised design solutions for own-stay clients, helping customers create spaces that feel uniquely theirs. Our vision is at the core of everything we do: enabling people to enjoy better homes.
Whether it’s maximising rental returns, boosting property value, or helping clients design their dream homes, we aim to simplify the makeover journey and improve how people live.
LM: How do you position yourself in the market apart from architectural firms, interior designers or contractors?
Gavin: We bridge the gap between interior design and property. While traditional firms may focus on design or construction, we provide an end-to-end makeover solution tailored to specific market needs.
Our approach is always strategic, whether enhancing rental properties, working with developers to offer fully furnished units, or providing personalised makeovers for own-stay clients.
We don’t just focus on aesthetics but also functionality, speed, and budget, delivering designs that serve specific purposes for every type of client.
Pop-up café in collaboration with RaRa Coffee.
LM: Tell us about the three core businesses you do, which you mentioned during the tour of your Experience Centre.
Gavin: Rental Makeovers—We focus on transforming properties to attract tenants and maximise rental returns for homeowners and investors.
Property Developer Collaborations—We work with property developers to offer fully furnished, ready-to-move-in units designed to meet market demands.
Own-Stay Personalisation: For clients moving into their own homes, we offer personalised design solutions with a dedicated team to handle everything from planning to handover.
LM: You also design furniture. Was this needed to fill a niche that you felt was missing in the market?
Gavin: Absolutely. When we were doing makeovers, we noticed there needed to be more affordable yet stylish modular furniture that could fit into different unit types. So, we decided to create versatile pieces that are easy to maintain—perfect for rental units but also appealing to homeowners.
This led to collaborations with local studios, such as Fuku Studio, who co-designed pieces like our modular sofa collection.
LM: What are the current trends in home décor and furnishings?
Gavin: We’re seeing a shift towards functional minimalism and modular living. People are more conscious about space and prefer furniture that can be adapted as their needs evolve.
A growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly materials also reflects a move toward conscious living. Neutral tones remain popular, but we also notice bolder accent pieces returning.
LM: Do you see the Malaysian market for home décor very different from other markets?
Gavin: Yes, the Malaysian market is unique. Here, people want a blend of functionality and aesthetics without overspending. Given the rise in urban living with smaller apartments, we also see a preference for practical furniture.
In contrast to Western markets, Malaysians tend to prioritise durable materials and multi-functional designs to make the most out of limited space.
LM: Can you describe your favourite style for interiors?
Gavin: I’ve always been drawn to mid-century design—a timeless quality makes it feel classic and contemporary, no matter the era. I think designers from that period were ahead of their time, creating pieces that look stylish and relevant today.
We’re working to incorporate more of this design language into our work, but balancing that aesthetic with the need for speed and cost-efficiency is challenging. That’s one of the reasons why we’ve ventured into furniture design: to capture the essence of mid-century style while meeting the practical demands of modern makeovers.
LM: Is it form over function or vice versa regarding home décor and furniture?
Gavin: It’s always a balance. Functionality is critical, especially for spaces meant for rental or compact homes. However, form plays a crucial role, too—if a piece isn’t visually appealing, it won’t attract renters or buyers.
The trick is to design purposefully, ensuring every element serves a visual and practical function.
LM: Which area of the home do you find the most challenging to do a makeover and why?
Gavin: The kitchen is usually the trickiest. For rental properties, we need these spaces to be durable, practical, and easy to maintain within a tight budget. For own-stay projects, the challenge lies in personalising the space to meet the homeowner’s needs while balancing aesthetics and functionality.
Kitchens, in particular, require thoughtful planning to maximise storage and usability, which can be tricky in smaller units. However, with the right strategy, they can become beautiful and highly functional home focal points.
Bedroom set-up at the Experience Centre.
LM: Final question, Gavin. Tell us about your new Experience Centre and what led you to open it.
Gavin: The Experience Centre was born out of a need to showcase the full potential of our work—it’s hard to convey what a makeover can do through pictures alone. Here, customers can walk through fully styled spaces, get inspired, and visualise how their units could look.
We also wanted it to be more than just a showroom; it should be a place for people to connect with our team, explore design ideas, and see the quality of our curated furniture pieces firsthand.
For further information on The Makeover Guys, please visit www.themakeover.my.
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