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We tour a Hong Kong actor's Bangkok penthouse filled with Hermes furniture

Designed by Soil Studios, this holiday home in Bangkok for a Hong Kong actor has a panoramic view of the city.

 We tour a Hong Kong actor's Bangkok penthouse filled with Hermes furniture

Double-storey glazing lets ample light into the social spaces. (Photo: Edmon Leong)

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Designed by Hong Kong-based Soil Studios, this 5,000-sq-ft penthouse offers a spectacular 270-degree view of Bangkok city. In particular, it looks out toward Lumpini Park – a large open space filled with greenery and a pond in the heart of the bustling Asian metropolis.

The two-storey penthouse in a prestigious condominium in the heart of town belong belongs to a Hong Kong actor who declines to be named but is happy to share the work of Soil Studios whom he engaged to design his home. The owner stays in Bangkok three months a year for filming work and wanted a home away from home where he could entertain as well as seek respite after work.

“In the brief, the owner mentioned that he wanted a ‘French holiday home’. ‘Moody’, ‘dramatic’ and ‘special’ were the words that best describe the atmosphere that he desired,” shared interior designer Alex Ho, who founded Soil Studios in 2020 with life and business partner OJ Miu.

The selected furniture and furnishing follow a tan and cream palette. (Photo: Edmon Leong)
A Sellier sofa from Hermes provides a touch of subtle elegance to the living area. (Photo: Edmon Leong)

The owner said: “The combination of sleek, modern elements with the warmth and charm of a French getaway truly resonates with my aesthetic preferences. When I’m in this home, my goal is to unwind, relax and fully immerse myself in the atmosphere of a French maison while in Bangkok. It’s a sanctuary where I can escape the hustle-and-bustle of daily life and simply savour the joy of being in a tranquil environment.

To realise this, the design team started on a blank slate. They removed all existing finishes, even the original staircase. The final result has a fluid layout and grand atmosphere drawn from long sightlines and voluminous spaces.

Metiers chairs from Hermes are used in the formal dining area. (Photo: Edmon Leong)
The crystal chandeliers highlight the loftiness of the penthouse. (Photo: Edmon Leong)

The entrance leads to an open kitchen and informal dining area facing a 1,100-sq-ft outdoor terrace with a 12m-long private swimming pool. It is viewed through 6m-high floor-to-ceiling glazing that flushes the penthouse with abundant light during the day and a cosmopolitan picture of sparkling city lights at night.

Beyond the dry kitchen is a double-storey open living and dining area that is the highlight of the home. The design team’s intention was to create a space that exudes quiet opulence by combining a rich material palette with subtle bursts of colour.

(Photo: Edmon Leong)

This comes through in the cinnamon-and-fawn-coloured Sellier sofa trimmed in cane by French fashion house Hermes, designed by French interior designer Jean-Michel Frank. Above it, a 2.5m-tall chandelier made of intricate crystal leaves is set against an expansive backlit blue marble wall, accented with bronze niches. It catches and reflects the light to become a mesmerising floating sculpture that is all the more theatrical against the changing background sceneries of sky and clouds, and orange-pink sunsets come dusk.

There is also a second leaf-themed chandelier at the dining area, poised above the walnut dining table that is inlaid with black marble. Metiers Oak timber dining chairs from Hermes, upholstered with luxurious taurillon leather, encircle the dining table.

Montera Mas barstools from Poltrona Frau lend elegance to the bar counter. (Photo: Edmon Leong)

The chairs, designed by Italian architect and designer Enzo Mari, make a serene counterpoint to the pattern-play in the materials. Dark-grey porcelain floor tiles with red accents designed by Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli unify the living and dining while adding to the “moody” vibe that the owner requested for.

Plenty of other textures lend a sense of grandeur and richness to the large space. For example, a tall pillar by the window is clad in metallic mosaics. Across the room, the curved bar counter is covered in vinyl suede leather and matched with shapely Montera Mas bar stools from Poltrona Frau, which are wrapped in tangerine-toned leather. Tucked away behind this spot is a powder room and guest bedroom ensuite.

The kitchen is separated from the outdoor dining deck with sliding glass doors. (Photo: Edmon Leong)

“One of my favourite aspects of the design is how seamlessly the chosen materials harmonise with the furniture we carefully handpicked,” said the owner. “The attention to detail in selecting materials that complement and enhance the overall aesthetic is truly remarkable. It creates a cohesive and visually stunning ambience that I find incredibly pleasing.”

The owner, who is also a gourmet and wine connoisseur, loves to play host in this penthouse. “I love sharing the beauty and comfort of this space with friends and loved ones. The design has been thoughtfully crafted to accommodate social gatherings, ensuring that every guest feels welcome and is embraced by the inviting atmosphere,” he said.

The penthouse has a 1,100-sq-ft outdoor deck. (Photo: Edmon Leong)

Guests not only come to lounge and dine here; they also engage with other activities planned into the space. “To cater to the needs of my guests, we have an incredible entertainment room equipped with a karaoke station, a space for parties and even activities like mahjong,” the owner mentioned.

These activities are housed in an outdoor glasshouse at the terrace, which, together with the open kitchen and informal dining area, forms the heart of the penthouse’s entertainment corner. It is completed with a small spa that comes with a massage bed, sauna, and outdoor shower at the terrace.

The sliding doors makes it easy for guests to move between the interior and exterior spaces. Hexagon-shaped timber mosaics rise up the wall as a dramatic backdrop for the open kitchen, where Michelin-starred chefs are invited regularly to cook for the owner’s gatherings.

In contrast to the social spaces, the master bedroom is a cosy room with a dark palette. (Photo: Edmon Leong)

The private areas have also been treated exquisitely. For example, the guest bedroom on the lower level features a bed headboard with antique mirror finishes and a geometric, padded vinyl wall feature.

A marble staircase leads to the upper level, which is where the master bedroom suite and two more guest bedrooms are located. The former is both masculine and cosy, with trimmed dark oak flooring and wall cladding that evokes timeless European interiors. The sleeping area is complemented with a spacious study corner, a walk-in closet and minibar, also cladded with timber.

The timber-panelled walls on a study nook in the master bedroom ensuite add a sense of opulence. (Photo: Edmon Leong)
One of the guest bedrooms features turquoise fabric, adding a pop of colour to the space. (Photo: Edmon Leong)

The master bathroom is clad entirely in grey marble, with a chandelier made of crystal, glass and stainless glass. In the centre of the space, a Les Necessaires d’ Hermes bench made with solid Canaletto walnut, bull calf leather and Cravache fabric (by French designer Philippe Nigro) matches the elegance of the space.

A Les Necessaires d'Hermes long bench in the master bathroom. (Photo: Edmon Leong)
The master bathroom is clad entirely in grey marble. (Photo: Edmon Leong)

The other two guestrooms on this level are no less elaborately detailed. One has walls covered in turquoise fabric and the other features a bedhead with a dark purple-and-earth-toned palette. Throughout the penthouse, the layers of material, colours and patterns evoke a somewhat eclectic feel, but put together in an effortless way that makes the home cosy rather than stuffy. The best home – even a holiday home – is one that reflects the owner’s preferences and lifestyle while still providing comfort and ease of use. This is well showcased in this penthouse.

The outdoor deck boasts stunning views of the city. (Photo: Edmon Leong)

The owner affirms this by sharing that the home ticks all the boxes. “It encapsulates my vision of a perfect sanctuary where every detail has been meticulously [designed] to align with my desires and aspirations. This goes beyond just a physical structure; it is a symbol of the life I have always envisioned and a testament to the possibilities that can be achieved through thoughtful design.”

Source: CNA/bt

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