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Mr. Junchuvanichkul is Thai, but his family originally emigrated
from China. The Chinese are ardent followers of tradition and at
first the family was not too impressed with the Thai, come Chinese,
come Balinese style house that their son had built, but the strong
Chinese influence demonstrated in the interior decoration soon won
their hearts and now this house plays an important role for frequent
family reunions and religious festivities.
The house is located off Chalaumprakiat Road and sits on three
rai of fertile land set into the side of an abrupt hill. It is built
in three predominate styles, the house structure and layout being
Thai, and the interior decoration a mixture of Chinese and Balinese
designs. Dividing the property in half is a long winding driveway
that allows access to the main three car garage and continues up
to an intimate guest cottage. The upper portion of. the land has
an enchanting natural waterfall that runs right through the back
garden and pools into a refreshing pond. On top of the hill is a
quaint Thai sala.
It's a steep walk up and Mr. Junchuvanichkul admits that he
doesn't go up there often but adds that, with the fresh breeze,
it is the perfect place for reading or pure relaxation.
Walking back down the hill provides you with a wonderful view of
the cottage framed by the elegant waterfall and pond. Mr. Junchuvanichkul
has many visitors from around Thailand
and the guest cottage is an ideal accommodation for friends who
wish to unwind. It is comprised of two separate structures, the
first containing a spacious open-plan kitchen and living area. On
the balcony, furniture is already in place for relaxing afternoon
drinks, and to here, the master suite and one single room are attached,
but set a level above affording an even better vista of the mesmerizing
waterfall.
The lower half of the property holds more lavish gardens with every
kind of tropical plant forming a lush canopy, enclosing the entrance
to the house, giving it cool insulation. What strikes you first
about the interior is the fresh scent of wood; elaborately carved
screens and wall panels can be seen from every aspect. Mr. Junchuvanichkul
loves the rich, hardy quality of teak wood and so has recycled aged
pieces of this wonderful material wherever possible. Creatively
it takes the form of floor and ceiling in the gracious dining room
and intricate Chinese wood carvings are framed by teak wall panels.
The family reunite here weekly to dine together and take well-deserved
breaks from their busy lives. These family get-togethers generally
move outdoors after dinner, to Mr Junchuvanichkul's favourite
area of the house, an open barbecue and entertaining area, backed
by lovely gardens.
The ground floor has one superior bedroom featuring an antique,
hand-carved four poster bed of Chinese origin. The room opens onto
the garden and is usually reserved for Mr. Junchuvanichkul's
mother. Next door is an invigorating bathroom Balinese style, with
waxy green vegetation growing inside the shower enclosure. The comfortable
living room is decorated with oriental artifacts he has found along
his travels but the neighbouring room holds a very Western home
theatre.
Upstairs, Mr. Junchuvanichkul has included another tropical bathroom
for the use of his three children whose bedrooms are conveniently
across the hall. These charming bedrooms are located just down from
the master bedroom and connected by a large balcony which surrounds
the house. The master bedroom is cool, spacious and remarkably quiet,
with yet another sophisticated bathroom, this time of Western style.
The collective style of this house ensures that around every corner
you will find something remarkable to admire. Mr. Junchuvanichkul
is very proud of his home that took only two years to design and
build and looks forward to the future when he can spend even more
time relaxing in his distinguished home.
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