Tackling anxiety through DIY

The House of Art in Kampung Temeris, Kuala Pilah, where Rafidah Afandi and her sister Nor Padilah Afandi keep the artwork they create.

Rafidah, the village seamstress, developed an anxiety disorder in 2019 which worsened after the death of her husband.

Her sister, Nor Padilah (left), was a pillar of support for her throughout her ordeal, helping her manage her wedding dress rental business and taking care of make-up and cosmetics at weddings.

Together, they focused on their interest in interior design, using antiques and handmade art to decorate their house.

While Rafidah designs much of the artwork, Nor Padilah excels in creating furniture and other items out of recycled material.

Some of their work, framed and hung on the wall of their house.

The sisters share a love of decorating and are always on the lookout for more ways to use old or unwanted materials.

The guest room, where visitors to the unusual home rest and enjoy the village surroundings.

Nor Padilah and Rafidah sit and exchange ideas about what to 'DIY' next.

The sisters use a lorry to collect and bring home the materials they use.

Together, they carry these to the workshop at the back of their house, where they turn unwanted items into works of art.

Nor Padilah cuts a board into smaller pieces while Rafidah sands down another piece of wood.

One of their projects is a key holder, made of old chair legs painted over in a fresh coat of white.

The rest of their material is piled in a neat heap outside the workshop, where it waits to be used in their next project.

Even old fan blades are given a new lease of life as wall decorations.

Nor Padilah arranges some of the furniture made by her and her sister.

Everything is white, clean and minimal in structure.

A shelf fashioned out of motorcycle baskets and an old door leans against the wall in a corner of the house.

The living room is clean and tidy, filled with decorations made from the tyre rim of a motorcycle and other materials scrounged from the garbage heap.

In the kitchen, an island table made of wood scraps stands in the middle and the walls are lined with cupboards made by the two sisters.

The light bulb is covered with a lamp shade made from an old basin.

Outside, a bench has been fashioned out of a log resting on more motorcycle tyre rims.

Old mudguards are turned into decorative wall lamps.

Rafidah holds up some of her artwork showing kebaya tops made out of scraps of batik material.

Meal packages are available for visitors as well as overnight stays at the house.