Happiness Beyond Living

“Beyond Living” is more than just the name of Ploenchan Vinyaratn’s studio—it’s a mantra. Nestled amidst lush greenery, her home doubles as a creative sanctuary. Inside, the ground floor is a vibrant workshop, brimming with looms and a treasure trove of recycled materials. From discarded bottles to old cans, Ploenchan (AKA Mook) transforms these everyday objects into stunning works of art, proving that beauty and sustainability can coexist.

The house is immediately captivating with its eye-catching red staircase that winds its way up to the second floor, framed by dark wooden louvers. Inside, a grand, open-plan living room with soaring ceilings and mid-century wooden beams welcomes visitors. This is the heart of the home for Mook, her husband Jack, and their triplets teenage sons. The space seamlessly blends a living area, dining area with a long wooden table, and a pantry leading to a full kitchen. This central living room divides the house into two wings: the parents’ retreat, complete with a bedroom, sitting room, and a private workspace; and the children’s domain, with bedrooms, a music room, and a shared living space. The house is surrounded by a swimming pool and a lush garden, offering a tranquil escape. Mook’s artistic touch is evident throughout the home, with her original artworks adorning nearly every wall.

This house holds a special place in the family’s history. It’s a 60-year-old traditional Thai house with two buildings and a connecting veranda. “We’ve been working here, weaving away, for the past two decades. My dad recently surprised us by buying the house and giving it to us as a gift. It’s a precious heirloom that we’ll cherish forever.”

Instead of demolishing the old house and building a new one, as many suggested due to lower costs, Mook chose to preserve the old house and give it a new life. 14 months of renovating a 60-year-old traditional Thai house into a modern home was quite a challenge. Thanks to the architect from V2IN Architects who paid attention to every detail. The architect’s brief was to maximize the use of existing materials. With the request that the original wood be reused and that nothing be discarded if it could be upcycled, here is a result, you’ll notice that the original wooden floor has been retained. The exterior, however, has a new floor because the old veranda was outdoors and the traditional Thai house had low ceilings and limited natural light. They decided to open up the space, making the house feel taller, wider, and brighter. What impressed us most was that the architect preserved all the trees by requested, and reused as many materials as possible. Since Mook uses the ground floor as a workspace and also live here, the family needed to create privacy. They used old 60-year-old roof tiles as partitions and repurposed old window net screens as artwork. Her goal was to minimize waste.

Mook has been enjoying her new home for about four months now. When QoQoon visited, she shared that the house feels incredibly personal and has brought great joy to her family. “This house is a place of happiness. It truly feels like home. It has everything that each member of our family loves, and it reflects our personalities. Some people have commented on the warm tones in the house, but to me, they feel more neutral and inviting. These colors are so soothing to the eyes.” She explained. The style that most closely resembles this house is mid-century modern. Given that it’s a 50-60 year old home, the architecture leans towards minimalism. However, the eclectic elements are a result of Mook’s personal style.

‘Miss Green’ or ‘Miss Sustainable’ as her friends call her, has been living a sustainable lifestyle for over a decade without even realizing it. She says, “For over a decade, we’ve been living this lifestyle without consciously thinking about the term “sustainability.” Initially, it was simply about not wasting anything and managing our resources. We’ve instilled these values in our children, teaching them to appreciate the worth of things. Now it’s become a part of everything we do, including my work. However, I don’t consider myself a sustainable artist; I simply view these materials as resources I’ve chosen to utilize. It’s been a fortunate coincidence that led me to this path.”

“For me, a home is a place where we never want to leave. Nowadays, I hardly go anywhere unless it’s absolutely necessary. We’re all happy here. Personally, family is the most important thing in my life. I often ask my child if they feel at home here. They always say they’re really happy. My husband is too, and he’s been involved in the design process from the start. As long as everyone is happy, that’s all that matters.”