•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

The tiny bedroom was tucked away in a corner of the Bukan Bazaar — a quiet, colorful oasis where one could almost imagine curling up and sleeping for awhile amid the swirl and bustle of one of Jakarta’s busiest weekend craft markets. But this bedroom wasn’t for sleeping. Rather, it was set up by the owners of Kamar, an online specialty boutique selling hip and retro knicknacks that people can use to personalize one of the most private of spaces in their home.

The founders of Kamar, an Indonesian word meaning “room,” made it their mission to personalize and style as many bedrooms around the world as possible.

Their vision was on full display in their booth at the craft bazaar, where a bed covered with brightly colored pillows, each emblazoned with a funny or telling catchphrase, rounded out a model room sprinkled with bric-a-brac, from lamps to photos, toys and accents.

All of these could be purchased from the boutique’s online store (http://kamarkarma.multiply.com).

“We design collectibles for the bedroom,” said Arie Triono, one of the boutique’s founders, who also works as a freelance copywriter.

Arie had always believed that when entering a friend’s bedroom, there should be a lot to check out, like stuffed animals, pillows and figurines.

While discussing the notion with his friend Galuh Kesumanjati four years ago, the two had a eureka moment and decided they would start an online shop selling bedroom accessories.

Shortly after, they launched the online boutique on social networking site and market platform Multiply.

Their online showroom features a blast of colorful art and images, like the Rolling Stones’s signature red lips, the British flag and pop art likenesses of everyone from Darth Vader to Mao Zedong.

The site sports an eye-popping red and yellow greeting, “Good Luck! Find What You Like!” Shoppers could click through pages and photo albums featuring the boutique’s collection of pillow covers, lamps T-shirts and assorted figurines.

Arie said their best-selling items are the cotton pillow covers, each emblazoned with a unique phrase or quote. These cost Rp 65,000 ($7) each. Arie said these were meant to be collector’s items or funky gifts for friends. One of the more popular pillow-cover designs depicts a toothy creature next to the phrase “Hug Me Please.”

Another pillow cover has a picture of a gun and the sensible pointer: “Too much work will kill you.”

Arie explained that they wanted their pillow products to convey a message, similar to greeting cards.

“If someone bought this for his or her lover, the pillow would convey the message,” Arie said. “We deliver fun messages to attract customers.”

Kamar’s hottest pillow-cover items, however, are the ones that come in sets of two and are designed for couples. The set features artwork that ties two pillows together in a fun and creative way, like two headphones connected by a single cable.

Another set features a picture of two crowns, one labeled “King” and the other “Queen.” Priced at Rp 90,000 ($10), the couple’s pillow sets could make great gifts for friends or co-workers.

Kamar also has a variety of table lamps adorned with quirky and colorful designs like bikinis, cartoon cats, flowers and polka-dot patterns. The lamps cost around Rp 65,000 each.

Kamar also has items that could appeal to the geek-chic crowd, with the obligatory selection of toys that include colorful stuffed cactus plants, small plastic action figures, miniature vintage cars (one depicts a Vespa) and characters from the comic strips “The Adventures of Tintin.” Of course, Kamar also offers a wide variety of toy robots.

Rounding out the collection are sets of creative T-shirts, buttons and vintage necklaces.

Arie, however, noted that the only original designs they produce are the pillow covers, T-shirts and pins. The toys, he said, are mostly bought elsewhere.

Kamar is set to release a new collection of funky pillows, shirts and other bedroom accents on their Web site.

That means clients can start dreaming up new ways to make their bedroom look hip and cool.

KAMAR Workshop
Jl. Pulo Raya
No. 28b Kebayoran Baru

E-mail:
karmaproject@yahoo.com

Web site:
kamarkarma.multiply.com

Facebook:
facebook.com/KAMAR
onlineshop