Interior designer Omar Khan dishes over rugs and Malay food at Bijan Restaurant

A bundle of creative and nervous energy takes quick, fast steps towards me as I sit at the bar of Bijan Restaurant in the heart of KL. Omar Khan is definitely harried, and although he greets me cordially, his mind seems to be miles away.

“I had only two hours of sleep last night,” he rues, as I take in how his vintage-looking half-frame Dita spectacles make him look a lot more serious than he probably is. “I was putting the finishing touches on an interior design project which I just submitted. I’m also in the midst of launching two new rug collections, my new website and an online store. Plus, I was secretly planning a surprise birthday party for my partner.”