In Bangkok, a family of four siblings along with their Mother, purchased a row of townhouses in a new development. Each unit features a carport, a rear patio, 3 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths, covered balconies, and an indoor/outdoor kitchen and food prep area, typical of most Thai households. The family asked Daedalus Workshop to provide design ideas and sketches for the various units and requested full design services for the Mother's house.

With no closets or built-in storage space, the challenge was to design and integrate custom built-in cabinets and furniture without physically dividing the rooms and spaces or diminishing their already small and narrow proportions.

On the Entry Level, a 30 cm. x 7 meter long backlit mirror, hung above a 7 meter long combination bench and sofa, unifies the entire floor. The mirror, along with the use of other reflective surfaces and an emphasis on horizontal lines, extend the interior spaces outward to engage the exterior courtyards at the front and rear of the townhouse.

Storage is concealed beneath the hinged seats of the bench and sofa, and standard, developer-installed lights were replaced with new fixtures on dimmers improving the overall quality of light within the space.

The rear patio was reconfigured into a more formal but functional Garden Court with pavers, planting and river rock. Various bamboo species, flowering trees and plants compliment the natural textures, fabrics and rich, vibrant color scheme used indoors, further unifying the interior and exterior spaces.

Different wallcovering and a 1.2 meter long mobile bench visually define the dining and living rooms without physically separating them. Equipped with storage below, the bench can be used at the custom designed dining table to seat up to eight people. For larger family gatherings the bench can be used with the sofa and integrated side tables to comfortably accommodate up to ten.

All of the custom-built furniture and cabinets on the Ground Floor are constructed from solid teak for durability and maintenance.

The media console includes a vertical panel from which a shelf and small cabinet are hung. Providing additional storage and creating a pocket for the door to the half-bath, this piece extends the media cabinet into a zone between the living and dining rooms that would otherwise remain awkward and unused. This vertical element is echoed in the panel that supports the TV, above which hangs another cabinet with doors, completing the composition.

The white lacquer-topped coffee table compliments the composite stone countertop of the media console. Matching custom floor-to-ceiling window treatments at the front and back of the house provide privacy, modulate the intense sunlight typical in Bangkok, and were designed to coordinate with the fabrics, accessories and area rugs all made from regional textiles and sourced from local markets.

On the Second Floor, the Mother's suite includes a bedroom and attached bathroom. Full width, floor-to-ceiling window treatments enhance the room's proportions, diffuse the intense sunlight, and moderate privacy and views to the adjacent park.

The custom platform bed has integral night stands with a full width headboard, drawers and concealed telephone and electrical outlets.

A 4.5 m. long wardrobe cabinet provides a variety of storage options including adjustable shelves, drawers, single hanging rods for dresses and gowns, double hung rods for shorter apparel, overhead storage for seasonal items, a section with hinged pocket doors concealing the television and A/C unit, as well as a vanity with drawers, an oversized mirror and recessed lighting.

The original plastic laminate floors were replaced with clear finished solid Maka wood flooring. All of the cabinetry is constructed from clear-finished oak.

Entered from the door on the left in this view, the Third Floor Master Suite originally opened onto a direct view of the bathroom. Reversing the door swing and installing a custom island cabinet with a composite stone countertop and full height shelving, created a more appropriate entry into the room without using solid partitions. It also provides additional storage for linens, toiletries and books.

A writing desk fills a small niche just inside the door to the Master Suite. A full height mirror behind the desk enlarges the space by reflecting light deeper into the bathroom and bedroom areas.

This view, taken from the bathroom side of the island cabinet, illustrates how the use of full width, floor-to-ceiling window treatments elongate the proportions of the room while diffusing glare and enhancing the overall quality of light in the room.

A custom built wall unit provides an enormous array of storage options. Measuring over 5 meters in length, this wenge wood cabinet has drawers, adjustable shelves, double and single hanging rod compartments, a linen closet and a section containing television, audio and air-conditioning equipment.

Beyond, the island cabinet and shelving partially screen the bathroom without diminishing the scale of the room.

Full height curtains at the door to the balcony beyond match the window treatment in the bedroom and unify the overall suite. The original plastic laminate flooring was replaced with solid Maka wood flooring in a clear finish.

The owner's black and white travel photographs as well as the overall quality of light penetrating and reflected throughout the space compliments the dark color scheme of greens, deep blues and deep browns used in the textiles and millwork.

The platform bed is flanked by integral side tables with drawers, shelves and concealed electrical and phone outlets. A gridded full-height headboard extends the lines of the bed vertically and is flanked by full-height mirrors which reflect light, curtains and adjacent walls, further enhancing the proportions of the room.