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.