Blog : small house

A Pretty Little House Nestled in the Lush Green Countryside

A Pretty Little House Nestled in the Lush Green Countryside

/ Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand /

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

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul / Styling: Pakawadee Pahulo /

Handcrafted of Siberian cedar, timber from a large tree in the pine family, this tiny wooden cabin looks amazing. It’s built with skill and the right material at Khao Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima. Needless to say, it’s ideally suited to a variety of lifestyle needs, whether it be a refocused life in the city, or a perfect getaway in the countryside.

wood cabin house

Like a series of small serendipities coming together in a happy way, the homeowner already had a piece of land on a forest edge. And the wood cabin design came in handy to turn her dream into a picture worth a thousand words.

wood cabin house

“I wanted a small house and was glad to get one built on a limited budget,” said homeowner Warapon Punnahitanon.

“I came across a ready-made cabin design by Me Home, and I knew right away it was the right kind for me. The home is built strong with adequate interior spaces at a bargain price.”

wood cabin house

The wooded cabin is beautifully handcrafted of Siberian cedar, the timber known for its pleasantly unique scent. Built fast, the handsome dwelling took only three months in the making, thanks to all the various parts that came custom-made to suit every application.

wood cabin house

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The modest single-story design comes with a bedroom, living room with a kitchenette, and a bath. On the exterior, a relaxed front porch is hemmed in by green spaces with plenty of fresh air from a nearby wooded hillside. The small kitchen belies her true passion, an unfailing love for cooking.

The interior reveals a lifetime of journeys manifested in the mix-and-match home décor featuring beautiful ornaments and tchotchkes from flea markets across the globe. Experience as a flight attendant no doubt culminates in such a lovely ambience.

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Carefully thought out, the small cabin design leaves plenty of outdoor spaces for gardening and recreation. For visual continuity between the home and surrounding landscapes, colorful native plant species thrive, blending seamlessly into the wooded hillside. Together they give the pretty little cabin irresistible charm and character. Who would have thought it’s a ready-made from the factory?

wood cabin


Owner: Warapon Punnahitanon


Visit the original Thai article…

บ้านไม้ที่มีความสุขอยู่เต็มไปหมด


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Taking a Look inside an Artist’s Studio Home in Chiang Mai

Taking a Look inside an Artist’s Studio Home in Chiang Mai

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

/ Story: Warapsorn / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs:  Sungwan Phratep /

An artist’s house is never just a place to live. It’s a collection of creative spaces. Let us now turn to the studio home of Chamnian Thongma, one of the country’s most famous artists and sculptors. Many prefer to call him just “Thongma.” The artist is widely known for having produced many life-size figurative sculptures. His works are soft and sweet with a little bit of rawness to them, the likes of which aplenty right here at this chic studio home.

Chamnian Thongma Studio Home
His art studio is constructed based on a simple design. The exterior walls are crafted of exposed brickwork. The most charming feature is the door shutter that has a classic antique feel to it.

Not affected by the passage of time, the studio home boasts the simplicity of exposed brickwork on the exteriors. Among other things, the most attractive feature is the door shutter with a classic antique feel.

The place is nestled at the heart of an old housing development just off of a major thoroughfare in Chiang Mai. Thongma came across it while working on a decorating project at the home of a friend of his, which happened to be right next door.

Chamnian Thongma Studio Home
The living space inside the studio is wide open. The interior is calm with a beautiful set of table and chairs. Some of Thongma’s sculptures are on display here.
A human head bust on display inside the studio home has a raw, rugged look to it.
A human head bust on display inside the studio home has a raw, rugged look to it.

When he first bought the place, the one-Rai (1,600 sq.m) land was teeming with long tall grasses. After all the clutter was hacked out, it was a beauty just like it had been when the project was completed many years back. It took him just four months to build this new home from start to finish.

Chamnian Thongma Studio Home
The artist’s residence is a simple one-story home. For the most part the structure is built of reclaimed wood and steel framing.

Thongma started out with simple design with the work studio occupying the front section facing the highway. The residential wing is at the rear looking out over a small stream where the soothing sounds of water flowing in the background can be heard night and day.

The home plan consists of three one-story buildings looking very much alike but serving entirely different functions. They all have simple gable roofs.

Chamnian Thongma Studio Home
The studio exterior wall has a large steel window casing glazed using clear glass. Multiple window panes open to promote natural ventilation.

The studio’s main entryway sports a different kind of appeal with the door shutters showcasing classic antique design. Next to it stands the residential section, which consists two white buildings.

The fasciae covering the ends of roof rafters are made of reclaimed wood boards. Together they add a country rustic charm to the home. The two residential buildings connect to each other via an unpaved courtyard at the center of an L-shaped floor plan.

The living room in one of the residential buildings boasts the simplicity of sloped ceilings crafted of reclaimed timber. Along the wall, potted Cordyline plants thrive beside other interior décor, also in bold shades of red.
The living room in one of the residential buildings boasts the simplicity of sloped ceilings crafted of reclaimed timber. Along the wall, potted Cordyline plants thrive beside other interior décor, also in bold shades of red.

The first residential building houses Thongma’s bedroom, while the second is reserved for guest accommodations. Both of them possess a full array of wall openings to let natural light shine through in all directions.

They double as engine that drives natural ventilation keeping the interior living spaces cool and comfortable all day. Plus, they reduce the harsh appearance and irregular surfaces of the exterior walls.

Chamnian Thongma Studio Home
For an open and airy interior, the living room is not divided into smaller rooms. Décor materials are mostly of European origins. They are placed at random by design.

The house interior is bedecked with décor items from Thongma’s collections. They consist of old furniture from France arranged and utilized in ways that embrace the natural appeal of a European country home.

The L-shaped house plan keeps the bedroom separate from the sitting room without using any kind of solid room divider. The bed itself is an antique item combining intricate woodwork with woven rattan crafts.
The L-shaped house plan keeps the bedroom separate from the sitting room without using any kind of solid room divider. The bed itself is an antique item combining intricate woodwork with woven rattan crafts.

On open-concept interior design, Thongma humbly said he felt more content with a simple way of living. “It’s good enough as a shelter protecting him from the elements. It’s warm, inviting and enjoyable here, thanks to plenty of chic décor ideas.”

The unpaved center court covered in pea gravel provides easy access to all parts of the property. Houseplants, including cactus, thrive on the edge next to the exterior walls.
The unpaved center court covered in pea gravel provides easy access to all parts of the property. Houseplants, including cactus, thrive on the edge next to the exterior walls.

It came as no surprise that Thongma preferred spending time in the open air to being indoors. The natural beauty of the environment was just irresistible. It has all the features to take him straight to nature – the stream, the mellifluous sounds of leaves rustling in the trees, and the lacy canopy of fully grown trees.

[Left] The guest bedroom boasts the beauty of antique French furniture. / [Right] A sundeck with rattan furniture is designed for relaxation at the water’s edge. It is set on a pea gravel patio with retaining walls crafted of brickwork.
[Left] The guest bedroom boasts the beauty of antique French furniture. / [Right] A sundeck with rattan furniture is designed for relaxation at the water’s edge. It is set on a pea gravel patio with retaining walls crafted of brickwork.
The building set aside for guest accommodation has a huge window that lets natural light shine into the interior. It’s made of steel and glass panes. Thongma’s very own residential unit can be seen in full view from here.
The building set aside for guest accommodation has a huge window that lets natural light shine into the interior. It’s made of steel and glass panes. Thongma’s very own residential unit can be seen in full view from here.

Thongma wrapped it up nicely. “Nature and our lives are inextricably linked. It is cool to be able to live in a nature-inspired environment in order to create works of art.”

And that’s exactly what he’s been doing from the start. The studio home best describes who he is and what he is about.

Chamnian Thongma Studio Home


Owner/Designer: Chamnian Thongma


Visit the original Thai version…

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