5 Things I Love About The Nest House

Have you ever been to a place that makes your heart sing just by being there? I have, and it was at The Nest House, Melaka. Like a little bird who returns to its safe haven, I felt an instant shower of happiness and sense of belonging as soon as I stepped into the beautifully-decorated guesthouse, as if I was returning to my very own sweet home while in truth, it was actually my first time staying there. Well, The Nest House does this to you…

Here are five reasons why The Nest House is special in my eyes:

1. The Property is Built with Passion and Love

The dynamic duo: Mr. Tong Chye Kiam and Melanie Bayoud.

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This gorgeous 10-room hideout is a brainchild of Mr. Tong Chye Kiam, a friendly insurance agent cum fist-time guesthouse owner, who stumbled into an old abandoned residence with a perfect location in Bandar Hilir, Melaka. Call it gut instinct or professional intuition after years of conducting critical assessments in his field, Mr. Tong simply knew that the property is too good to be left abandoned. Hence, he bought it and then engaged a local architect, Fern from Basique Studio, to give the old residence a new lease of life. The interiors, meanwhile, were done by Melanie Bayoud of Embee Designs, who is an Australian artist based in Kuala Lumpur. Interestingly, Melanie used to be a trained nurse, who specialised in psychiatry and postnatal depression. After hanging up her scrubs for good, she now holds art classes and art therapy sessions that strive to make people experience joy – I’d like to think that she is also the reason behind the immediate calmness I was feeling when being at the property.

2. Homely Decoration with High-quality Items

The smattering of a few carefully chosen ornaments and unique pieces of furniture from Harry Rogers Living and Cut Deco suggest that everything had been carefully curated and sourced. A bare wall that reveals the original texture of the building stands behind the reception desk, while photos of the components of the old house are hung on a few corners to pay tribute to the building’s history, adding another layer of intrigue to the establishment’s contemporary atmosphere. The tiled bathroom that is scented with actual pandan leaves, flat-screen TV, a supremely comfortable bed with high linen thread count, hairdryer, well-located plug points, heavenly fluffy towels and strong Wi-Fi complete the picture.

3. Eco-friendly

The Nest House (Bedroom)

I especially love the building-high ventilation block feature walls that let breeze flow freely into the property without having to switch the air conditioner all the time. It is also cladded with eco-friendly heat reflective glasses to cope with the South East Asian sunlight and heat, ensuring the interiors of the guesthouse remain cool and cosy. On top of these, part of the electricity is also solar powered.

4. 24-hour Snack Amenity

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There is a 24-hour pantry that is stocked with complimentary snacks and tea-and coffee-making facility that guests can treat themselves to whenever they feel like it, just like at home.

5. Central Location

Guests with Mr. Tong Chye Kiam and Melanie Bayoud

Tucked away in one of the hidden lanes in Bandar Hilir, The Nest House offers peace without having to be far away from the action. It only takes five minutes of walking to reach Dataran Pahlawan, and 10 minutes to the popular Jonker Street where travellers can find museums like the Baba & Nyonya Museum, artisan shops and cendol store, Jonker 88. The guesthouse is also a stone’s throw away from A Famosa and Sam Po Kong Temple, surrounded by various eateries like Restaurant Nyonya Makko and reflexology centres for travellers to rejuvenate their feet after a long day.

The rates at The Nest House Melaka starts at MYR158 on weekdays and MYR188 on weekends. The rates may vary on public holidays.

Website: nesthouse.com.my

This article is included in Gaya Travel Magazine Issue 13.3. Read the magazine for free HERE.