TOP OF THE WORLD

High above the busy streets of Bangkok, two talented designers have created a tranquil retreat that nods to chic 1970s style and makes the most of the views

- Emma J Page

What do you do when halfway through a modern-minimalist renovation your party-loving clients announce both a wedding and the arrival of a baby? It was quite a change of course for interior designers Paula Barrionuevo Paez and Joko Tandijono, but one they took in their stride.

‘The couple love entertaining at home, so we had created a karaoke room for them upstairs,’ recalls Paula. ‘The TV was already chased into the wall when we realised we’d be turning it into a nursery instead. But it was a happy challenge to take on.’

This Bangkok duplex, with its striking cityscape, had long been due an overhaul. Located in what Joko terms a ‘modern-tropical’ building, with a ground floor foyer clad in dark wood, it felt dated and cramped when the couple bought it as their first home.

‘The culture here is to live quite privately and discreetly,’ says Spanish-born Paula. ‘There’s not always a connection with the natural world, and interiors tend to favour dark finishes and screened-off spaces. We suggested injecting the apartment with a lighter, more European feel, which the couple favoured, having spent some years studying and living abroad.’