LIVING / Living ASEAN - Inspiring Tropical Lifestyle

An Awesome Tropical Lake House in Chachoengsao

By livingasean
February 23, 2017
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Chachoengsao, Thailand /

/ Story: Panchat Changchan / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Sungwan Phratep, Sitthisak Namkam /

Country living being a lifestyle choice, who needs extravagant furniture and all the luxurious amenities? Striking a perfect balance, this family’s Tropical home is designed to embrace the lakeside ambiance while offering just the right amount of modern conveniences. It’s hard not to love this modern Tropical house at the water’s edge. Wait until you see the inside and the infinity pool. It’s awesome.

The layout is inspired by traditional Thai houses in times past, in which the living room, dining room and even kitchen seamlessly merge into one open concept interior. This one in particular is a one-bedroom home with a big communal area capable of updating and adapting to suit different lifestyle needs that can occur over time.

The interior is well lit thanks to an array of overhead transom windows that allow plenty of natural light. The comfortable and cozy look of wood dominates the interior living spaces. The entire walls, windows, and doors are made of teakwood in light to medium shades of brown.

For durability, the floor is crafted of Tembusu timber that is known for its long-lasting hardwood quality. Movable pieces of ash wood furniture in complementary color combos bedeck the spacious interior rekindling memories of a laid-back temperament of old-world homes along canals.

Need a break? The house’s most relaxing spot is the area around an infinity pool, which originates indoors and stretches into the distance giving the impression that it merges into the lake. The homeowner family usually hangs out together and entertain visitors here.

Built on a good-sized piece of land, the Tropical lake home has given the family a freedom to explore new recreational activities, something they miss while living in the city. Out here on a tract of lush countryside, time well spent is time spent together riding bicycles and tending vegetable nurseries. The homeowner family now stays here three days a week and loves every minute of it.

Architect: Vorapoj Tachaumnueysuk of Monotello (monotello.co.th)

Visit the Thai original article…

บ้านไม้ริมน้ำ สุดชิลล์

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T House: A Stylish Home in Cha-Am at the Cutting Edge of Modern Design

By livingasean
February 22, 2017
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Phetchaburi, Thailand /

/ Story: skiixy / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul / Styling: Prapaiwadee /

Searching out the best places to get inspired? Here’s a modern home with a smart, edgy ambience in Cha-Am, a seaside district in the southern part of Petchaburi. Once a quaint little town, the area is renowned for its beautiful beaches and charming fishing villages-turned-getaway destinations only a short drive from Bangkok.

Avant-garde in every aspect, the house is spacious and comfortable, thanks to an open-concept floor plan that’s airy and practical in a special way.

The common area where everyone enjoys the good times together as family is a roomy dining space with double height ceilings. The dining table is at the center of the home, and it can easily change when more space is needed.

There are chairs on one side of the table and a handcrafted bench on the other that can disappear underneath, turning it into a spacious countertop capable of many functions.

The downstairs room also has smart folding partitions that separate bedrooms at the rear of the building from everything else. When fully open, all the living areas merge into one open-concept social space for the whole family.

Designed with the sun and wind in mind, the front façade is glazed using clear glass to take in panoramic sea views.

For indoor thermal comfort, the bedrooms and sitting area on the upper floor are positioned in the coolest part of the home that blocks the direct light from the sun all day. Where necessary, double layer window treatments are installed to create a subdued color and light in the interior.

Seen from a distance, the cube-shaped home boasts a captivating contemporary appeal. Its simply amazing façades of engineered wood in light color rises amid green fields with trees and bushes under a blue sky. All told, it’s a home that’s handsome on the outside and cozy on the inside, a welcome contrast to what we’re seeing around the charming small town of Cha-Am.

Owner: Paul Sripongpao

Architect: IDIN Architects (www.idin-architects.com)

Visit the original Thai article…

T HOUSE บ้านวิวสวนและทะเลชะอำ ที่ห้องนอนทุกห้องเปิดหน้าต่างมาเจอกันได้ทุกเวลา

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Ordinary Concrete House with Extraordinary Interior

By livingasean
February 21, 2017
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

/ Story: Panchat Changchan / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Rittirong Tongjunsuk /

A drab and gray ordinary exterior belies a concrete house’s exciting interior rich in eclectic styles.

Inspired by simple living as a lifestyle choice, Krishnapong Meechunuk the homeowner can still recall leaving behind the chaos of the workplace and heading for the North of Thailand.

He puts in a dream home in Chiang Mai, where life begins again as farmer in a simple L-shaped house. Charcoal powder is added to the mix to create concrete wall textures in dark shades of gray. But that is not the only thing unique about this concrete house.

Inside, each room showcases an original decorating style. The living room shows signs of a tilt toward vintage décor, among them a wall-mounted mirror in a French-style frame.

At the center an elegant marble coffee table stands in front of a red sofa with butterfly chair in matching hues. The set was bought from a Paris flea market. A kitty-corner from it stands a glass-front armory filled with souvenirs from theaters around the world. Black stage curtains at the entrance conjure up images of an opera house foyer.

The modern workspace says a lot about the homeowner’s passion and a lifetime of journeys. The work desk is made from a section of an aircraft wing that comes coated in nickel. A set of silver color chests of drawers accentuate the cozy appeal of the room.

Close at hand, the reading room speaks to the industrial loft style. Bookshelf poles and brackets are made of water pipes adapted for different uses. The emphasis on repurposing is inspired by a clothing store in New York.

“This is the first house that meets my expectations in every detail,” said the owner. “I did the decoration at my other houses in Bangkok too, but because they were move-in ready homes, design choices were limited.

“For this concrete house, I had the freedom to mix and match all the ingredients and styles myself. I’m very proud and very happy.”

Owner/Designer: Krishnapong Meechunuk

Visit the original Thai article…

บ้านปูน สีเทาเข้มท่ามกลางธรรมชาติบนเขา

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A Chiang Mai Country Home with Breathtaking Mountain Views

By livingasean
February 20, 2017
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

/ Story: Atta Otto / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Sungwan Phratep, Sitthisak Namkham /

Perched on top of a wooded hillside, a country home of outstanding vernacular beauty is a metamorphosis of purpose. The twisting and spiral road between Hang Dong and Samoeng districts winds among some of the most beautiful mountains and valleys of Chiang Mai. Understandably, the owner need look no further than this bucolic setting to build his dream home. His is a rustic mountain abode with delightful views of undulating countryside. It’s built of reclaimed timber from old rice granaries that have undergone incredible transformations.

Built on an L-shaped house plan, it’s seen as quite a departure from the kind of homes typical of northern Thailand. It’s because the two grain storage buildings he purchased had been set that way, and a complete teardown was not an option.

So the homeowner had no choice but to focus on remodeling the existing structures instead. The result is a country home among the trees that retains much of old-world charm and an idyllic life of peace unique to the Region.

At the time of purchase, the old granaries were raised on piles to protect their precious cargo. There wasn’t enough headroom under them to begin with. So the buildings had to be elevated to a level suitable for human habitation and good living conditions.

There were a number of modifications to the buildings. First, they were lifted off their foundations, and then granite block footings had to be installed under the timber posts to give the entire structures a new lease on life. The expedient solution not only protects the house posts from humidity damage, but also creates plenty of room for living, dining, and food preparation in the open lower floor space.

Timber house posts set upright on granite block footings create more headroom in the open lower floor space, plus no humidity issues.

Building on uneven ground is a challenge even for experienced builders. Here, steeply-sloped terrain dictates that every step is neatly planned. For safety and convenience, a guest carport is built at lower elevation in the foothills, while the main garage lies halfway up the hilltop. Its roof doubles as a cozy terrace for relaxation.

The interior living space features teakwood paneling in dark hues that provides a welcome contrast to the lively color and feel of upholstered furniture. Elsewhere, home décor items and accessories strike the right balance that adds a rustic appeal to the house on the hill.

Without a doubt, the panoramic mountain view is breathtaking. It’s a perfectly secluded place to call home, a journey to get away from it all and appreciate the beautiful works of nature.

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From Unexciting Shophouse to Smart Home Office in HCMC

By livingasean
February 18, 2017
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam /

/ Story: Samutcha Viraporn / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Quang Dam /

Home offices are trendy nowadays. Given thoughtful planning, a dull shophouse can transform into a fashionable dwelling and place of business. The results are illustrated in this home office that looks to be one of the trendiest in Ho Chi Minh City.

The new design integrates a modern living space and a home office with a factory producing handcrafted leather goods. The house’s front façade is filled up with elaborate structural rod systems reminiscent of a giant labyrinth of beautiful needlework, albeit built of brick and steel.

It’s only recently that a homeowner couple acquired this downtown retail space and later decided to give it a complete makeover. “This house means everything to us because it’s the fruit of constant efforts to pursue our dreams,” said the young couple with an active lifestyle.

“For a product to be successful, say a handbag, it takes many processes involving fastidious needlework,” said the owners comparing their manufacturing job to that of the architect.

“Like meticulous craftsmen, the architect carefully puts together different parts to make a home, mixing old pieces with new ones, replacing unneeded features with practical strategies, and relying on well-thought-out plans to use every ingredient effectively, be it wood, brick, concrete, metal or even trees.”

In a way, this pretty much explains the elaborate structural rod systems that fill up the redesigned front façade. Elsewhere, parts of the walls and flooring deemed to be unnecessary were removed to make room for new ideas.

The remodeled front and rear facades showcase a multitude of steel cube frames welded together to look like a web of fine threads being “sewn” together to fill the void between two side walls.

The welded steel rod paneling is painted white and decorated with climbing plants thriving in full sun. Despite its slender appearance, the design is strong enough for home protection, at the same time creating a light and airy ambience for both indoors and outdoors.

Among other things, the old concrete stairway was removed to prevent the indoors from feeling stale and stifling. Then, a new set of airy stairs with no risers between the treads was put in place instead.

For a lightweight look, stair railings were crafted of steel rods painted white with wood treads in complementing shades. The uplifting design rendered the staircase looking as if it were hovering above the floor.

In the kitchen and dining area, a long curvy counter stands in contrast to the stillness of rough brick texture on the wall. All in all, clever design has transformed an unexciting shophouse interior into a home office that looks to be one of the trendiest in Ho Chi Minh City.

Architect: Block Architects (www.blockarchitects.com.vn)

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The Perfect Townhouse Makeover in Bangkok HUAMARK 09: An Architect’s Charming Concrete Block House

What a Difference a Renovation Makes!

By livingasean
February 17, 2017
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Supachart Boontang / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Rithirong Chanthongsuk, Soopakorn Srisakul, Nattawat Songsang /

Done right, a home renovation project can transform an outdated and tired-looking house that time clearly forgot into a modern residence without losing its old charm.

This old house has stood in Bangkok for almost half a century. When it was time to leave their city condo to be with granny and grandpa, the owners at first wanted to do a complete teardown to make room for a new house. They later decided otherwise for good reason.

whr01w — Flashback: A tired looking old house façade before renovation, and [below] Shots of an interior stairway draw a comparison between past and present. / Photo courtesy of Pummaree Bawonwiwut and Prasert Chaisittiroekkul

“The initial plan called for replacing the tired looking old house with a three-story modern home and swimming pool,” said homeowner Prasert Chaisittiroekkul.

“But after much thought, we decided to keep the existing structure intact and focused on renovation, reason being that everything about it had a story to tell. Handed down from generation to generation, the house was long overdue for a makeover.”

The project started by taking out the beat-up wood façade on the upper floor and putting in a fresh new exterior wall crafted of black sheet metal with windows in complementing shades.

On the ground floor, the redesigned entrance received an elegant sliding door system with matching glass window panes that stood tall from floor to ceiling. For a light and airy entrance hall, the owners had a big chunk of the upper floor taken out, resulting in a spacious living room with double high ceilings.

The same open-concept design also applies to the kitchen, dining room and adjacent area, the homeowners’ favorite spot with cozy reading nook ideas. The combined spaces boast a big dining table that also doubles as workspace and meeting room.

The redesigned interior speaks to an industrial loft style with a bit of vintage flair to it. Natural wood panels alternating with naked brick walls go hand in hand with pieces of rustic-style furniture. In the meantime, they present a welcome contrast to shiny floor tiles and kitchen countertops. It’s amazing how a home renovation done right can make all the difference.

Owner: Pummaree Bawonwiwut and Prasert Chaisittiroekkul

Visit the Original Thai Version…

รีโนเวทบ้านไม้สองชั้น หน้าตาเปลี่ยนไป แต่ความทรงจำเหมือนเดิม

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Sustainable Living in a Tropical House

By livingasean
February 16, 2017
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Samut Prakan, Thailand /

/ Story: Ajchara Jeenkram / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Apilak Suksai, Pratya Chankong /

No air conditioning, no TV, no problem. Introducing a delightfully charming Tropical house that embraces green living authentically within the local context and character of a coastal area where the tide meets the Chao Phraya River.

The allure of an enchanting Tropical ambience is reason enough for a couple from far away to call this part of Thailand home. This modest yet perfect home belongs to Alisa Tang, a journalist, and her other half, photographer/graphic designer Landry Dunand.

Call it serendipity, perhaps? US-born Alisa returned home to the learn more about her roots, but ended up staying after falling in love with Bang Nam Phueng, a Samut Prakan suburb renowned for a green lifestyle and plenty of smiles.

What a difference a location made! It didn’t take long before the couple decided to put in a home and got it ready in time to welcome their baby girl.

House-on-stilts design blends well with the atmosphere of a fruit orchard at the water’s edge. Interior living spaces are upstairs, while downstairs is set aside for Landry’s photo studio and still has plenty of room left.

The absence of electromechanical air conditioning, not even a TV, speaks to a strong resolve to contribute in their small ways towards reducing carbon footprint. The signs of sustainable living and life hacks inspired by nature are evident in a composting sawdust toilet and the use of solar energy for water heating. Bicycles provide clever alternatives to spending time wasted on long commutes.

Made for a hot and humid climate, the wooden house was crafted by local carpenters who were experts in correct building orientation as a means to harness daylight and control glare on the building surface. With a knowledge of wind and sun directions, they were able to align it to reap every health benefit the already serene location had to offer.

By design, high ceilings increase the perception of space, create indoor thermal comfort and make this Tropical house aesthetically appealing. All things considered, it’s a secret to growing a happy family and this modest abode in an orchard takes sustainable living to the next level.

Owner: Alisa Tang and Landry Dunand

Visit the original Thai version…

บ้านไม้ไทยในสวน อยู่สบายแบบไม่พึ่งแอร์

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A Chiang Mai Tent House Epitomizes Grace and Elegance

By livingasean
February 14, 2017
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

/ Story: Otto / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Sungwan Phratep /

It looks like a huge bell tent. But don’t mistake it for a wedding canopy or a temporary shelter. Actually it’s a home, one that’s thoughtfully devised to provide comfort, convenience and enjoyment. The house nestled in a beautiful area of countryside in Chiang Mai has all the desirable amenities plus secrets to living a happier life.

By adapting innovative tensile structural systems for a new use in residential architecture, the engineers were able to produce a home that’s charming, flexible and stylishly chic. It’s an architect’s dream and a landmark easily recognized from afar.

Unlike traditional single pole marquees used for social and trade events, this modern home is built using a rigid steel framework with four tent poles in the middle designed to resist compression. Together they go to work carrying the entire roof structure and coverings made of high tensile materials.

The fabrics are water impermeable and capable of UV protection, plus multiple coats of stain for wear and tear resistance. For indoor thermal comfort, all living spaces and the building’s useful features are enclosed with exterior wall systems lining the inner circumference.

Overall, light tones give the home a bright and airy atmosphere. There is plenty of headroom, thanks to the bell-shaped roof that rises eight meters from the floor to the apex.

In the meantime, open concept design is truly a breath of fresh air. It provides visual and spatial continuity from the living room all the way to dining room to pantry at the far end. Together they flow into one shared space that’s used every day by the entire family.

The bedrooms are done differently with an emphasis on privacy. Well-thought-out room dividers and ceilings set them apart from one another without altering the structural layout.

Seen from a distance, the bell tent home amid an oasis of calm beautifully synchronizes with a nearby water feature and pillowy textures of the surrounding hilly landscape. It’s amazing what a difference good design makes, and this tent house is a perfect example of that — a living space that’s original and unique in its own special way.

To be fair, a bell marquee may not be a dream home for some. But for ones who live here, the refreshing ambience is everything and everlasting.

Visit the original Thai article…

ทำเต็นท์ให้เป็นบ้าน…สร้างบ้านให้เหมือนเต็นท์

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Tropical Garden Ideas for Big Family

By livingasean
February 11, 2017
GARDEN,LIVING

Big families deserve spacious backyards. This large tropical garden is a treasure trove of design choices that celebrate nature. There is plenty to learn from it.

/// Thailand ///
Story: Panchat /// Photography: Sungwan Phratep /// Design: Surin Kamolsiriwat of Bannsuantaweekoon

The compound has plenty of room for three houses with carports and a building used for accommodating guests. The built environments that provide the setting for human activity exist together in one big nature-filled space. For a humid climate, the homeowners put a mix of Tropical plants in between buildings. It’s not an easy task because each green space has to suit the specific needs of ones who live there.

For the father’s house, the designer puts in a flat concrete paver passageway that is easy to walk on. It is lined with only a few low-maintenance trees. He also spruces up the corridor with an assortment of potted plants turning it into colorful works of art.

Nearby two other houses belonging to his sons stand a good distance from guest accommodations. They boast beautiful tropical gardens that look much greener than that of the father. Shaded by big trees, the buildings are spaced to allow winds to reach ventilation openings.

At ground level, dependable native species of shrubs and groundcover plants in rich tones go to work protecting the soil. They include red gingers, ferns, firebrands and zebra plants. Where there is direct sunlight, the designer puts in flowering plants filling every nook and cranny with colorful blossoms.

“The key to garden design lies in a good knowledge of plants and the ability select and incorporate them,” explained the designer. “Large trees love strong sunlight. So we plant them along the edges. They provide welcoming shade and give the property value and character. Meantime the species that don’t need much sunlight look their best at the center of the garden.”

For a large backyard, water features are a must. They fill the tropical garden with soothing sounds of running water and give it natural forest appeal. Here the beautiful backyard does what it says it will do – provide a setting for family activity. Together different generations enjoy the great outdoors without leaving the comfort of their extended compound.

Contemporary Home in a Calm, Peaceful Forest Setting

By livingasean
February 10, 2017
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand /

/ Story: Wuttikorn Suthiapa / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Thanakitti Khamon, Nattawat Songsang /

This contemporary house looks like it’s crafted entirely of timber, thanks to effective use of color, texture and techniques to create interest. It stands hemmed in by the healthy foliage of tall trees in Nakhon Ratchasima, a province in Thailand’s Northeast.

A few years back when her family planned to build a new house, architect Kanika Ratanapridakul was assigned to the task. It was the first time she had to work directly with local builders and suppliers.

At first, things didn’t go quite as smoothly as expected, but it was a mission accomplished nonetheless. The key to success lies in being a bit more flexible to ensure things get done right, on budget and on schedule.

“This home may have some imperfections, but it has the same good quality as the other projects I have been involved in previously,” said the architect, adding, “It feels natural and relaxing.”

To create a serene wooded landscape for her home, Kanika came up with a better idea. She had experience growing single-species stands of trees, dealing with homogeneous woods in the past. But this time, she thought differently.

And the result of all this, the house now stands surrounded by a mix of tree species, with a different set of characteristics, ranging from Indian cork to mahogany to bamboo.

A heterogeneous mixture offers many benefits. In no time they grow and mature to become a healthy ecosystem, turning the landscape into a little forest. At ground level, the land is covered by shrubs in bright tones, including Minnie roots, or popping pods, and pinto peanuts.

Evergreen foliage along the perimeter fence shades the bedroom from the heat of the afternoon sun.

The architect chooses house-on-stilts design for its warm, intimate feeling and better air circulation. Its open concept living area makes for flexible space utilization.

To create the look and feel of a wooden home, real timber is used only in areas that people always pay attention. They include the floors, ceilings, stairs, handrails, and wood paneling walls opposite the bedrooms.

As she puts it, that’s enough to create an easygoing wooden ambience, despite the fact that main building materials are concrete and metals. It’s about making effective use of available resources.

Solid wood panels make up decorative walls in the bathroom opposite the bedroom.

modern house Nakhon Ratchasima — Bench railing design incorporates the guard rails and deck seating in one solid piece.

“Wood impacts feelings and emotions. It makes the house feel warm and comfortable. Plants are one of the two groups of living organisms. They come into being, live and thrive just like us humans,” she said.

Many brilliant ideas went into making this modern house in Nakhon Ratchasima cozy and inviting. Yet it’s not flawless. Ironically it’s the imperfections that makes it perfect for the forest setting.

Architect: Kanika Ratanapridakul of Spacetime Architects Co., Ltd. (www.spacetimearchitects.com)

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Blog : LIVING

An Awesome Tropical Lake House in Chachoengsao

T House: A Stylish Home in Cha-Am at the Cutting Edge of Modern Design

Ordinary Concrete House with Extraordinary Interior

A drab and gray ordinary exterior belies a concrete house’s exciting interior rich in eclectic styles.

A Chiang Mai Country Home with Breathtaking Mountain Views

From Unexciting Shophouse to Smart Home Office in HCMC

Home offices are trendy nowadays. Given thoughtful planning, a dull shophouse can transform into a fashionable dwelling and place of business. The results are illustrated in this home office that looks to be one of the trendiest in Ho Chi Minh City.

What a Difference a Renovation Makes!

Done right, a home renovation project can transform an outdated and tired-looking house that time clearly forgot into a modern residence without losing its old charm.

Sustainable Living in a Tropical House

No air conditioning, no TV, no problem. Introducing a delightfully charming Tropical house that embraces green living authentically within the local context and character of a coastal area where the tide meets the Chao Phraya River.

A Chiang Mai Tent House Epitomizes Grace and Elegance

Tropical Garden Ideas for Big Family

Big families deserve spacious backyards. This large tropical garden is a treasure trove of design choices that celebrate nature. There is plenty to learn from it.

Contemporary Home in a Calm, Peaceful Forest Setting

This contemporary house looks like it’s crafted entirely of timber, thanks to effective use of color, texture and techniques to create interest. It stands hemmed in by the healthy foliage of tall trees in Nakhon Ratchasima, a province in Thailand’s Northeast.

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