As managing editor of a Bangkok magazine, Gregoire Glachant has an eye for design and style. For this issue of Tropical Living, he walks us through his custom designed condominium in the heart of Bangkok to show us how personalisation is key when designing your living space from A to Z.

STORY : Stephanie RoyPHOTOGRAPHY : Nakarin Banjerdjin

LIVING INTERIORS

Seek and Find

“Everything had to be really slick”, Gregoire explains. Upon entering his home, one noticeable feature is that everything is strategically hidden. Along with his partner and third year architect student, Ekkasit Jaeng-Anghin, the two went for a look that is clean, organised and most importantly uncluttered. The ubiquitous air-conditioning units that usually double as eyesores on most apartment walls around the city are hidden away underneath specially built and colour coordinated boxes. The flat screen television hangs alone on the wall, as there aren’t any traces of cables for the speakers, DVD players or other electronics in sight. Near

the kitchen area are oversized dark wood cabinets, which after opening, are surprisingly storage units including a shoe rack.

Handmade Haven

Gregoire explains that the overall design is quite modern and angular. Apart from sharp angles, he describes his apartment as having, “Way more wood than I thought we could get away with.” Everything in the condo including the furniture and shelving is custom built. The main contractor for the project was highly skilled in working with wood,

Customised City Living

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which made designing the interior from start to finish a much easier task. He converted one of the two bedrooms in this 75 sq m condominium into an office area, which displays very futuristic and eccentric shelving.

Traditionally, many homes are usually built for a generic person with no particular personality in mind, Gregoire explains. Because most home and condominium owners design their living spaces by going shopping and matching pieces together, many will collect classic pieces such as the Barcelona style chair and other design magazine favourites, he continues. “It is kind of rare to create your furniture for a personalised look that is your own.” It’s also a great feeling to design your place for you and your own taste.

Less Is More

One of the most comforting aspects of a clutter-free and custom-built interior is the need to not go shopping. “It’s very economical when you decide you’re not going to have pieces and accessories in your house,” says Gregoire. He continues, “It’s also very relaxing when you are on vacation and there’s no urge to bring back souvenirs or other trinkets to fill the shelves.” As a photographer however, he admits the he does intend to add a bit more photography to the walls.

You Live, Design and Learn

If ever met with such a task again, Gregoire explains that he would be much better at designing his living space a second time around. During the roughly two months it took to create the look of the condo, he learned that it is normal to have a few bumps along the way. He explains that when things don’t come out the way you intended, you can work with the contractor to fix them or find a solution. In the end he tells us, “we are really happy here, sometimes we just sit back and admire it.”

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