Japanese influences are evident in the woodwork in this home.
The family den (foreground) has wooden pivoting doors that open up fully to give views into the formal dining room- and beyond into the tree-lined street.
Situated adjacent Ek-Anong Phanachet's residence at 100 Soi Tonson is 100 Tonson Gallery. It has the lofty aim of making a vital contribution to the visual arts culture in Thailand. The gallery organizes a minimum of four to five exhibitions annually, including a curated exhibit ion; space is dedicated mostly to contemporary Thai art. Built from concrete, the gallery is a box-like structure with high ceilings and plenty of natural light mainly procured from skylights. For more details visit www.100tonsongallery.com.
A suitably opulent dining atmosphere is achieved with fine tableware and napkins that match the drapes and lampshades. Taking its inspiration from a Japanese ikebana device called a kenzan, whereby lead blocks are spiked with brass nails, delicate blue iris are secured in galvanized iron square trays along the center of the table. Their cool blue hues contrast beautifully with the ocher shades above.
The kitchen is an assured combo of wood and stainless steel fittings. The solid table and bench by Saiyart Sema-Ngern is an artwork in itself. All stonewares on the table and counter are by Eakrit Praditsuwana for E.G.G Enterprise.
The family room features rattan, van lipao (a weed from the south of Thailand) and water hyacinth furniture as well as tactile rugs in organics from a variety of artisans, artists and interior shops in Bangkok.
Low-level lounging chair in rattan with metal legs by Udom Udomsrianan of Planet 2001. The chair was an award winner at the Milan Furniture Fair in 2003. The water hyacinth rug in neutral tones is from Ayodhaya. Rustic chair designed and constructed by Thai National Artist Saiyart Sema-Ngern sits behind a handmade rug by Rapee Leelasiri, chief designer at Graph-TEX Studio. Khun Rapee is a multiple award winner for her stylish rugs in natural fibers. Central rattan and glass Threesome coffee table by Udom Udomsrianan.
Crystal wine glasses and champagne flutes with hand-crafted silver stems with gems were designed by Tam Devakul of T Positif. The handmade hammered-work cutlery and under plates are from Niwat at Gaysorn Plaza. The glasses' elegant lines and clean, modern shapes complement the long central flower arrangement by Khun Sakul where tubes of banana leaves form a base structure and green cattelya are housed in a long, slim acrylic vase from Cocoon. Christian Liagre organic-style wood side table. An installation on the stairs by Sakul lntakul features white cattleya hanging in light porcelain "senna" vessels created by the designer. Sinuous curving detail of low-level yan lipao loveseat by Suwan Kongkhunthian at Yokatha with brown raw silk cushions. A single bright red-and-yellow cattleya sits in a "tripod" bronze flower vessel designed by Sakul lntakul. Close-up detail of Fringe Design pouf by M. L. Pawinee Santisiri at Ayodhaya.
Beneath the painting entitled "A Day in the Life" by Chatchai Puipia is a large black leather pouf called the Black Spaceship by Udom Udomsrianan for Planet 2001. Wooden stools by Christian Liaigre.
Khun Ek-Annong's house is a veritable treasure trove of art. Adjacent the stairs is displayed a large blue-toned painting "Cyber Baby" 120031 by British artist. Andrew Stahl. It is one of a collection he painted whilst he was Artist in Residence at Silpakorn University in the summer of 2003. On left on the stairs is the hanging white cattelya arrangement seen on previous page.
On the far wall is a painting called "2002-20" by Somyot Hana nuntasuk; the two black stools on right were bought locally.
Above a dark stained wooden stool by Christian Liaigre is a painting entitled "Guitar" by acclaimed Spanish painter Gines Semin-Pagan. A mixed technique on canvas piece, it was painted in 2003.
A bench fashioned from railway sleepers designed and crafted by Saiyart Sema-Ngern and Thailand Nation al Artist Nit hi Sathapitanonda.
"Prai 1" (100 x 70 x 35 cm) a ceramic stoneware sculpture by Amornthep Mahamart (2003). Prai translates from the Thai as "water bubbles" and the sculpture floats if put in water.
Concrete girders frame downtown views from the third-floor pool side; at the far end is a bench fashioned from an old boat. also by Saiyart Sema-Ngern and Nithi Sathapitanonda. "The benches are intended as functional art," says Khun Ek-Annong, "and are great showpieces for the contemporary art scene in Thai land today."
SHOPHOUSE CHIC
The shophouse model in Asia is a compact one, but is often criticized by modern city-dwellers for being too long and thin. This apartment created by taking the top floor of three shophouses and knocking down the dividing walls between, does away with the long/thin configuration and comes up with a spacious alternative. The owner Vichien Chansevikul and his partner Michael Palmer design, manufacture and export leather home decor items and furniture in the first three floors of the shophouses below- and live in splendor above.
Access is from the third storey of one of the outer shophouses. The central focus of the apartment is an enormous living room with open-plan dining area and kitchen. Clean, airy and light, it was designed by the owners with a little help from an architect friend. A wonderful, polished timber floor in teng wood was laid during construction, and it adds a warm sheen to the contemporary styled room. The adjacent dining area, cleverly divided off from the kitchen by a false wall that houses bottles of wine, is a little small, but ideal for entertaining in a relaxed, casual manner. Because there are no views to speak of, the rooms all look inward over a central courtyard. It's from here that light pours into the interior- from huge wall-to-wall aluminum-and-glass windows.
Unsurprisingly, furniture is imprinted with the flair and style of the two partners. The cream-colored, 1-shaped sofa suite was designed by the pair, but made in a friend's factory that specializes in padded furniture. It is complemented by plain and woven leather poufs in turquoise and dark brown. Of note are the cushions made from leather embossed with a woven rattan effect. Elsewhere in the room are textural, beautifully finished pieces from the couple's leather lines: plant stands in faux-croc leather, a nest of tables in wood and woven rattan, a console in wood-and-leather - and more.
Overall, the apartment illustrates how shophouses may be redesigned and re-configured for a more modern feel, all the while retaining the character of the original. The timber floors and internal courtyard are reminiscent of the past while the airy spaces and modern furniture