Saturday 15 August — the morning after Sin Kimdo Barbecue. Dim sum with a friend first, then Homiest Living near Mount Austin for reno furniture window-shopping.
We’re mid-renovation and still deciding where a couple of pieces should come from — buy straight off Taobao, or see them in person first. This stop was meant to be casual looking. We walked in without a shopping list, and the showroom actually caught our attention.
Morning dim sum (no photos)
Before furniture, we met a friend for dim sum. Good company, good plates — and I didn’t take any photos there, so this note doesn’t try to review the restaurant. Just the sequence: supper at Sin Kimdo the night before, soft morning meal, then into Mount Austin for the showroom.
Where is Homiest Living Mount Austin?
Homiest Living has a few Johor Bahru outlets. We went to the Austin Branch at No. 16, Jalan Kencana Emas 2/2, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru. Official site: homiestliving.my — living, dining, and bedroom collections, plus custom-made options. Showroom hours are commonly 10am–7pm daily; worth a quick call (+60 11-1891 1111) if you’re making a special trip.
Taobao vs try-before-you-buy
I’ve ordered furniture from Taobao before — and I think we made a mistake on the sofa. Looking back:
- Things you don’t have to feel much — TV console, dining table — buying from Taobao directly can be fine.
- Things like a sofa, where cushion and comfort matter — better to sit on it first. My Taobao sofa’s feel just wasn’t right; it felt very hard.
That’s why a showroom stop like Homiest Living is useful mid-reno: not every piece needs the same buying channel. More of that China-direct reno thinking lives on renodirectly.com.
The sofa — push-back, RM3,900
Here I found a sofa I actually liked sitting on — light beige fabric, deep cushions, thick rounded arms. After discount it was RM3,900, including shipping and installation. In Singapore dollars that’s maybe around S$1,200+ depending on the rate — still very affordable for what it offers, in my opinion.
The feature that stood out is push-back: you push the sofa back and get more sitting space. Handy if the living room has to flex between daily lounging and having people over. Lengths come in a few sizes and are customizable — there’s a 2.6 m option, and we can bring it down to about 2.4 m if that fits the room better. Some models also offer a motorized footrest (electric leg rest that lifts up) — that one’s customizable too, depending on the model. What’s available really varies by sofa; worth asking the salesperson what’s possible on the one you’re looking at. We were still window-shopping — not locking a purchase that day — but the price-to-feature balance made it hard to ignore.
Another sofa on the floor had a different vibe: a small wood console tray in the middle and a slim black LED reading lamp built into the back. Same idea — features you only notice when you’re standing in front of it.
Extendable dining table — opens smoothly
The dining table on the floor was the extendable type — dark matte top (looks like sintered stone / ceramic), tapered black legs, paired with peach channel-back chairs. What I liked: when it opens, it opens very easily and very smoothly — no awkward fight with the mechanism. That’s the kind of everyday detail you only notice when you try it in person. Still deciding whether this piece comes from the showroom or elsewhere — but the action of the table already left an impression.
Still mid-decision
We went in with a window-shopping intention and left with clearer preferences: try the sofa in person, stay open on console / table sourcing, and keep an eye on Homiest Living’s Mount Austin branch while the reno moves. Not a full buy-day — a useful one.
FAQ — Homiest Living Mount Austin
Where exactly is the Mount Austin outlet?
No. 16, Jalan Kencana Emas 2/2, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru. Other Homiest Living branches include Molek (HQ), Perling, Taman Molek, and Nusa Bestari — see homiestliving.my.
How much was the sofa you liked?
RM3,900 after discount, including shipping and installation — around S$1,200+ depending on FX. Push-back for more sitting space.
Can you customize length and the motorized footrest?
Lengths come in various sizes and are customizable — there’s a 2.6 m option, and we can go to about 2.4 m. Some models also have a motorized footrest (electric leg rest). What’s available depends on the model — ask the salesperson.
Should I buy a sofa from Taobao?
Personally I’d be careful. Consoles and tables can work from Taobao; for a sofa I’d rather sit on it first. My last Taobao sofa felt too hard.
How does this fit the JB weekend?
Night before: Sin Kimdo Barbecue in Taman Sentosa after Renaissance Hotel JB check-in. Saturday morning: dim sum with a friend, then Homiest Living Mount Austin.
How this note got written
Dictated on Cursor Mobile with Wispr Flow — speak the reno furniture notes, ship the page.