Before And After: This Couple’s Thailand Apartment Drastically Went From Dark and Dreary to Light and Airy
For couples, moving in together entails a lot of changes—from addresses to commute routes and daily habits and rituals. And if one of them just happens to be a designer or architect, their entire home can change, too.
Such was the case for lifestyle blogger Pear Junglin and her boyfriend Nont, who runs Thai construction firm Official Space. After developing a friendship in high school and dating for the last 11 years, the two decided to finally share a home together. So, in June of last year, they acquired an old 1,614-square-foot apartment in Bangkok from Nont’s family and set about renovating the place for the next eight months.
“Nont used his architectural skills to design the house that would fit the two of us,” Pear said, who worked tirelessly with her boyfriend to refine their concepts and come up with a vision they both agreed on. The result is a stunning contemporary abode called 1889 HAUS, which Pear describes as a “lovely and simple home.”
One of the most striking differences between old and new is the facade. The previous design featured two balconies with ornate railings. The renovation involved adding a wooden screen, concealing the balconies, and painting the walls with more natural colors. According to Pear, the house faces west which exposes it to high temperatures. The addition of the wooden screen serves as a buffer from the heat.
Also, notice how the addition of a few potted plants not only made the area greener but also served to hide the unsightly tubes in the front yard.
Inside, the pre-renovation interiors were dark and dingy. They remedied this by adding more light sources and tearing down not one, but two walls to let the sun in. What was once a wall separating the backyard and the living room is now one big continuous space ideal for light, movement, and ventilation.
For the other parts of the house, they applied the same principles to create space, opting for white walls, wooden floors, and minimalist, built-in furniture. If I didn’t know this was someone’s home, I’d say I had just stepped inside the MUJI HOTEL.
Pear, who espouses happy living on her blog, hopes that the before and after photos could bring a little joy and inspiration to others, especially those in places affected by the pandemic. Congratulations to the happy couple!