A Full-Time Holiday Home

Nitipattara Yensup designed this family home in Phuket by combining a relaxed but luxurious resort feel with the practical amenities needed for everyday life. Here the Thai designer shares more about his approach

How did you first meet the client?

Nitipattara Yensup: The couple were the neighbours of a previous client of mine and were impressed with his house. They were building a new home in Phuket, so they got my details from that neighbour and we met at my office in Bangkok to start discussing the project. 

Can you tell us about them and their lifestyle?

The clients describe themselves as a relaxed family who came to Phuket to focus their time on their family, happiness, fitness and health, and for a change of pace from their Vancouver lifestyles. According to them, they enjoy the simple pleasures but have an appreciation for certain luxuries in the design of their home. They wanted a perfectly curated and designed home that has a finished look that matches their lifestyle. The couple likes to host friends for dinner parties and loves having friends and family visit from other countries.

What was their brief to you for the project?

Considering their lifestyle, the couple wanted a house that had a resort feel and that was, as they describe, ‘a relaxed island beach house that still feels high-end and perfectly put together, with beautiful high-end finishes and materials.’

They didn't have a concrete idea for a particular style. They liked white and natural tones, and they had some images for references of furniture styles.

As this was going to be their full-time home rather than a holiday home, it was important that it functions as such for them and their daughter. Although it couldn't be a modern, urban design, it had to include all the amenities and comforts of a modern house. It was also very important that the home looked good, and it was this balance between aesthetics and practicality that was a big challenge on this project.

To make the best use of the grounds, the building is U-shaped to include a swimming pool in the central courtyard for an inside-outside flow.

Please tell us a little about the material choices for the space. 

Since it’s a full-time home, the practical aspect was very important. For example, the connection between the pool and the living area means the furniture and fittings need to not only look beautiful but be durable and long-lasting. Also, Phuket's humid, tropical climate brings its own challenges with moisture and heat. 

Which of the pieces did you custom design? Do you have any favourite elements in the interiors? 

Most of the furniture and fittings were custom made to my specifications in Thailand. My favourite piece is the marble coffee table. I had to go to the quarry to select the best piece of stone and then supervise the cutting process to ensure we achieved the most beautiful pattern. 

Another aspect that I really like is the mirror wall in the living room. Mirrors can be used to create the illusion of space, but here I included a custom wooden sliding partition that not only creates a sense of space but also gives the impression that there’s another room beyond the decorative wooden screen.

I also appreciated how much the clients trusted me. When I presented my perspective drawings and explained that we could furnish the house with ready-made furniture, they loved my drawings so much they wanted their house to look the same. It was a wonderful opportunity to see a project go from my ideas and drawings to custom designed furniture to a living home for my clients.

Images by Manoo Manookulkit