ANUMBER of exclusive apartments and flats dot Sisowath Quay in Phnom Penh's main riverside district. Like this week's featured property, many have been completely renovated, yet are still open to a multitude of interior decorating ideas.

This apartment has two bedrooms, one of which has been converted into an airy and functional study. The floors have been finished with a dark-wood parquet and the walls are stark white, opening up the space and allowing the furniture and decorations to become the focus of the rooms.

From the terrace there are sweeping views along Sisowath Quay and out to the convergence of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Tonle Bassac rivers.

The couple that took on the lease has decorated the apartment simply but elegantly.

"We try to make it as cosy as possible; it's not supposed to be like a museum," Reena Shergill says. "We want people to relax. I like to think that my apartment can absorb a lot of mess."

With a collection of furniture from all over Asia, the space is sophisticated and practical. Heavy dark woods in the main living quarters contrast with light fabrics to create a tranquil and serene living space. The study is ablaze with colour, livening up this relatively smaller space.

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PHOTOS BY TRACEY SHELTON