Gemstone Collector's Small Japanese Inspired Condo, Bangkok 32sqm-344sqft

Inspiration came from the owner's love of Wes Anderson's movies, in particular the composition and color palette. She wanted to blend it with the simplicity of Japanese interior. The design idea was to make the owner feel like she's living in her own cozy refuge, a place where she can rest and escape from the chaos of the big city. Once she steps into the room, all the noise fades away to be in her own world. I'm Katanyu and I designed this apartment for my friend. This condominium is located on Sirom Road in Bangkok. Sirom Road is the business financial district surrounded by many interesting places for travelers. The building was completed in 2019. It's a large building with 48 floors. The owner is a gemologist. She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and trekking, so the condo needs to have a lot of storage for her equipment and also space for cooking. During the renovation, the owner showed me her mineral collection which she had in a box, so she really get to see them. I thought it was a shame to have such beautiful objects hidden away, so I created a circle shelf that was inspired by the Japanese Tsukimida. The original layout had a sliding door separating the bedroom and the living room. What's interesting is that the bathroom was in the middle of the condo with a corridor surrounding it. This created many awkward places and was difficult to furnish. The first thing I did was remove the old sliding doors that divided the living room and bedroom. A platform was added in the bedroom area to help zone the open space. I added a sliding door between kitchen and living room. The laundry was placed inside a new pantry since there was already a water supply there. In the corridors, we're adding a dressing table and storage and a large wardrobe. Issue two of our magazine is all about finding ways to slow down in the city. Take a cue from our sloths, but don't go slow in getting your copy because this baby is loaded with all the good things. Gentle and joyful urban art that invites us to pause, ponder and smile. Wild and wonderful architecture and design full of optimism and a determination to do things differently. There are more small homes to explore and get lost in too. Inspiration for living lighter and finding poetry in the everyday and a sh**load of bricks. Get your copy now. Visit nevertosmall.com slash store. When you step into the condo, it opens into a small entryway and kitchenette. As the entrance is quite small, I add a pastel purple cabinet in the kitchen to be used as a bench for shoes and place to put keys. The color of this cabinet add a bright and fun feeling to the space. On the wall, I use a painting technique to create a rough bevy texture. A small rounded shelf for a vase was added as a feature. I wanted to keep the kitchen as original as possible and only modify the certain parts. We cover the backsplash with an oak laminate which makes the kitchen feel soft and warm while also being waterproof. The space above the sink was opened up and changed into a dish rack. It also visually opens up the space so it feels more spacious when using the sink. I added lights above for better visibility when cooking. On the wall next to the kitchen, I added a pegboard so the owner can hang her apron and the kitchen equipment. I added some vent drawers for dry items. This was something the owner had requested. To maximize counter space, there is a cover that goes on top of the sink. It's nice to have some extra room when preparing meal. The condo has space and plumbing for a washing machine under the electric stove. But the owner didn't want to see the machine so I create a new storage space next to the kitchen for the washing machine. It also has storage above for laundry products and a basket. We added a sliding door in the kitchen to prevent cooking smells from spreading into the living room and sleeping area. The living area was designed as a multifunctional space that can be used as a dining area, exercise area, and entertainment area. The custom table and wooden chairs are lightweight and can be folded up and stored away in this own storage when small space is needed. This narrow storage also has space for the owner's wifi router. A gap above the door was left to improve the signal. From the living area, there is access to a small balcony with a great view of Bangkok. I created a circle shelf that was inspired by the Japanese Tsutsukimida or Moon Gate. The symbolic meaning reflects the Japanese way of thinking which see beauty and depth in the simple things around us. The owner is able to swap out the gems and display them how she likes. The bedroom was designed to feel like you are sleeping in a wooden cabin. It feels like you are in a Japanese ryokan. We raised the space by about 20 cm. This platform helps to zone the space without using the room dividers. Using some space under the platform, I added a hidden drawer for storing exercise equipment and other household items. The low bed around the room to feel more spacious and it also double as large sofa during the day. Along the windows and the back wall, we continue the platform to create a straight head. It tapers to the corridor to create a transition throughout this space. I added integrated storage along the walls for the owner's clothes and for storing household items like mugs and vacuum cleaners. For the hiking and travel gear, I utilized the ceiling height and added a cabinet above. It's used to store less commonly used items such as her carry-on suitcase. The integrated storage also features a dressing table with a mirror and light that is also spaced underneath to store the stool. Pegboards are great because they can be configured and reconfigured to suit your needs. Around the other side of the corridor, I added a large wardrobe. It has sliding doors with glass panels so it doesn't feel heavy in this narrow space. The bathroom is compact but has everything you need. I changed the backsplash to the same wood as the kitchen and applied the same texture to the wall. I feel like this small change really helped to tie the whole condo together. I add a circle mirror with a backlight with also double as storage. When deciding a small space, it is important to consider how to store things so that they look neat and organized. It's also important that they are accessible and easy to clean. Furniture should have more than one purpose so that the space can be adjusted for different activities rather than have a fixed use case. Thanks for watching. If you're an architect or designer with a project we could feature, please share it with us at nevertosmall.com submissions.