Having lived in Hong Kong for the last 35 years, American entrepreneur Michael Roth decided it was time for a change of environment. “I wanted a more relaxed lifestyle as well as cleaner air,” he explains. However, Michael was sure that he still wanted to be situated in Southeast Asia so he decided to look into the potential of moving to Thailand instead. “Bangkok is a great place to live in because the cost of living is lower (compared to HongKong) and it’s cheaper to to start a company here,” he says.
Michael spent three months looking for and deciding on this new apartment is situated in Chong Nongsi, which is the main CBD in Bangkok where all the financial and accounting institutions are located. “This apartment is in an old building but comes with larger space and in a quieter part of town,” Michael points out.
Contrary to the cramped spaces he used to live in HongKong, Michael's main quip with this 1,300 sqf duplex is that there's too much space between him and his pet cat Patsy, "Sometimes it feels a bit spooky being alone here so I try to invite my friends from other countries in the region to visit, I have a nice guest room too."
Even though the apartment's interiors looked dated and old when Michael purchased it, he wasn't daunted and looked forward to transforming the spaces.
Used to moving and renovating new homes, Michael immediately embarked on redesigning the living spaces in the apartment, “I have renovated or built over 20 homes so for me it’s easy. The challenge lies in determining how reliable the contractor is and if he follows a schedule and of course if his quality of work is up to standard.”
As the owner of a packaging design studio in Bangkok, selecting the colour theme for the home also came easily for Michael. His past experiences in renovating other homes also helped to sharpen his skill in knowing what to do with the space.
“My design style changes with each home I design, but I certainly have an eye for all styles and I can also walk into a space and see its potential within five minutes. I can totally change the space and make it into something special.”
In addition to designing the home, the capable homeowner also took on the duties of managing the contractors and was hands on with all the real construction and renovation work, “I would say this style is sophisticated contemporary, not completely modern but it certainly feels warm.”
Michael’s eye for detail led to the choice of artworks on the walls. The artworks are mostly purchased from the Weekend Market in Bangkok, also known as Chutuchak Market.
Although his new office is just a walk away from the apartment, Michael still spends much of his time working from home. This home office area on the second floor is situated next to a wall of windows, allowing plenty of natural daylight to fill the space.
Michael handpicked the artworks for the home. This understated three-dimensional sculpture becomes an instant focal point in the sleeping zone.
“My favorite spot is the living room and the big open kitchen as well. In the evenings I also spend a lot of personal time in my master bathroom. I like it because it really came out exactly as I’d planned,” Michael says.
Michael offers three tips for homeowners who want to design their own homes:
- Choose a good space and look at the options to maximise the layout and your vision on where the furniture might be positioned.
- Keep the walls light, white or light grey with perhaps one or two highlighted walls with textured wallpaper.
- Choose wood floors for sure, I used stone-looking tiles as well but overall I prefer wood, it’s a lot warmer and easier to sell too.
And remember to keep your key design rooms to the kitchen and bathrooms.
Images courtesy of Michael Roth.