Faintly Chiang Mai in style

Faintly Chiang Mai in style



Review by Johnni Wong

Book: Chiang Mai Style

Author: Joe Cummings

Photographer: Luca I. Tettoni

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2006

Price: RM204

Chiang Mai Styleis one of those coffee-table books that follow a “formula” but with some winning points.


This bedroom of an interior designer's two-storey, wooden house mixes traditional aesthetics as in the windows with modern elements as in the berber wool carpet and TV set
As the years go by, and as more and more publishers jump on the bandwagon of coming out with books boasting “this style” or “that style”, many don’t live up to the promise of featuring interior designs that are distinctly identifiable with the title.

Almost all the most impressive or notable properties in the South-East Asian region have been highlighted.

Well, at least, properties of owners who allow their homes or commercial centres (spas, hotels, resorts and restaurants) to be featured.

The standard format Asian “style” books more or less touch on the history and culture of the indigenous community, the artistic motifs found in that locality/region as well as foreign influences (either Hindu, Buddhist or Islamic; India or China or a combination of the two dominant cultures).

Then it will move on to modern “innovations” or contemporary taste. Perhaps, featuring the creative talents of local style leaders, i.e. architects, designers, antique and art dealers or even, an aristocrat or two – hopefully with taste.

Towards the end of such a book, a sampling of local crafts will be highlighted extolling the virtues of the local artisans and style masters.


Old teak recycled from abandoned houses and barns is used throughout this house designed by top architect Ajahn Chulathat Kittibutr
This book on the Thai provincial capital of Chiang Mai, doesn’t veer far from what has been described. Thus, after the Introduction, the chapters are divided into:

* Traditional Houses

* Contemporary Lifestyles

* Hotels, Restaurants and Spas

* Chiang Mai Crafts

* Architectural Notebook

* Acknowledgements

Within the 232 pages of this book, you will be educated on the facts that shape Chiang Mai and its artistic life. Facts include:

* The city has over 300 Buddhist temples

* The original settlement can be traced back to the 5th Century A.D.

* Indigenous groups include the Lawa

* Two northern Thai kingdoms – Lanna and Sukhothai – dominated the region

* Influx of peoples from China, Myanmar and Laos


This house of a Bangkok physician was assembled from four abandoned rice barns
* The Thais blended their own ideas with the architecture of the Mon and Khmer cultures

* The Shan contributed to Chiang Mai art and culture

* The Chiang Mai home is the result of 1,500 years of expermentation and adaptation

The pictures by veteran photographer Luca I. Tettoni were what attracted me to the book.

But after having bought the book and upon closer inspection, some of the interiors were rather derivative and most undistinctly Thai – let alone, Chiang Mai in identity.


Comedian Udom Taepanich's house reflects his unconventional taste

For instance, as much as I love Chinese furniture, textiles and the colour red, some of the interiors turn out to be quite garish, namely, The House fusion restaurant and the Dalaabaa Bar and Restaurant.

One was designed by a Mat Salleh and the other by a “Bangkokian” so that explains why the two interiors fail to live up to the book title. Just because they are in Chiang Mai doesn’t necessarily mean they should be included.

Nevertheless, the book does have some gems, like the sleek homes designed by architect Ajahn Chulathat Kittibutr.

Of note too, is the rice barn home of a Bangkok physician, overlooking a lily pond.


The foreign owner of this Chiang Mai residence is fascinated with Chinese political pop art. His spirituality is probably reflected in the 19th Century Burmese standing Buddha which towers above the multi-purpose room

And the quirky taste of Thai comedian Udom Taepanich is reflected in his home. The design merges the industrial look matched with architectural salvage items like shophouse doors and windows with faded paint and all.

Of the hotels featured, The Tamarind Village and The Rachamankha (highlighted on the cover) – both created by interior designer Rooj Changtraku and architect Ongard Satrabhandhu – seem to represent the best of boutique or heritage hotels in Chiang Mai.

And sure enough, the Mandarin-Oriental Dhara Dhevi has to be featured.

The chapter on Chiang Mai crafts seems to suggest that some of the artisans or designers lack original ideas.

Some of the crafts are merely copy-cat items of traditional Chinese chairs, drumstools and saddle stools rendered in horrid colours in an attempt to “update” them.

But all is not lost in Chiang Mai, as the book also highlights the textiles of Studio Naenna which uses natural fibres and dyes to produce contemporary interpretations of traditional textiles. And the products of Sop Moei Arts do deserve to be featured.

Should you pay RM204 for this book? It depends on how much you like interior design or nice pictures.

Although some of the interiors chosen don’t really reflect the book title and not nearly as distinctive as those found in Thai Style, you may still learn a thing or two about what’s happening in Chiang Mai. If you have cash to spare, why not?