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Pattarawadee Saengmanee

The Nation

Publication Date : 10-03-2013

Furniture designer Wongwoot Sarplualai has put his government-approved talent to good use

Wongwoot Sarplualai's clever teak Niyahm furniture - a hit at the Bangkok International Gift and Houseware Fairs and a winner with the judges of the Department of Export Promotion's "Talent Thai" in 2011 - now has a brand and a showroom of its own.

Wongwoot and his elder brother Nirin keep the designs simple even as they incorporate friends' ideas and advice for their furniture and decor items. They gear is great for young families and others living in compact spaces.

"I only started designing furniture and lanterns for the government's 'Talent Thai' contest," says Wongwoot, who's studied both marketing and product design. "I realised afterward I'd made many mistakes, but it was good experience!

"We wanted to have our own business, and that was the beginning of the brand. I'm responsible for the designing and my brother takes care of promotion through the media."

Ash in its natural shades has joined teak in their furnishings, and more attention is paid to function. The idea is to fill every corner of a home or office.

"The focus is on simplicity, but there are details built in - like detachable parts - that allow customers to adapt the furniture to fit their own lifestyle," says Nirin. "We unveiled the first collection at the Baan lae Suan Fair in November and got some good feedback."

Occupying space in the family's rental building, Pen's House, the showroom demonstrates how to simply decorate a house. There's a Branch mirror with adjustable coat hooks, a smart Monkey clothes rack comes with drawers and rollers, and a cute wooden side table with magnets called Beside.

The cosy 360 sofa hides a bookshelf and movable tray behind it, the detachable Tactics cabinet is made of ash and steel, and the Fund bed has a headboard shelf with drawers.

One corner is home to L clocks and Stick lanterns, with magnets made from white-coated steels to which you add accessories.

"Everything is reasonably priced," Wongwoot says, "but it does fluctuate with the price of ash wood on the market. We make the furniture piece by piece, though, so customers can opt for their favourite kind of wood."

Next week's Thailand International Furniture Fair at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani will see the brothers launch a collection of TV cabinets and working desks.

COOL LIVING

- The Niyahm showroom is on the fourth floor of Pen's House on Soi Aree 2 off Phaholyothin Road.

- Make an appointment first at (081) 450 5140 or (081) 812 2470 or via the Niyahmdesign page on Facebook