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The full use of teakwood, marble tiles, top-of-the-line bathroom
and kitchen fittings and many other premium products culminate in
an interior that has power, elegance and modern style.
Mr. Vernon (Vern) Frieson and Khun Nit undertook the Palm House
project in 1998 as an investment scheme with the intention of selling
the house for a good profit. However, as the totals of time and
money invested into the house mounted, so did Khun Nit's affection
for the place. In designing the interior of the house, Khun Nit
poured her attentive creativity into seeking out excellent products
that would positively affect the energy and vive of each room, while
at the same time, having a positive relationship with each family
member occupying that space. The result is an interior that pulses
with positive energy stemming from vibrant painting and unique decorative
finishes. Although the personal touches were installed for specific
people and personalities it must be said that each area of the house
might easily be modified into conveying a variety of different moods
to suit the new owner. Personal attachments aside, Vern and Nit
are proceeding with sale of the house and today's buyers market
will surely see this property sell for a bargain price.
Set upon two-and-a-half rai of park-like land, the walled-in property
is comprised of two houses separated by an appealing central dark-blue
swimming pool. A circular driveway, one of three entrances to the
grounds, leads up the hill to the main house. Double-doors of solid
teakwood lead to an expansive entertainment area that immediately
conjures images of fantastic parties. The room contains a Thai-style
kitchen with a cleverly disguised heat extraction system to clear
those powerful odours of garlic, chili and other Thai herbs. The
water flowing into this kitchen is pure enough to drink having been
syphoned three times through filtration units necessary for the
solar-powered hot water system. Also located on this floor is a
guest bedroom with a wonderfully decorated ensuite bathroom. Khun
Nit took particular interest in the decor for all bathrooms; stylized
pewter cabinet handles in the form of starfish caught Nit's
eye and thus everything in the guest bathroom was selected to match,
including a special mirror that is bordered by skillful etchings
of sea life. Also on this ground floor are a convenient storage
unit, an office and access-ways to the swimming pool, second house,
outdoor maid's kitchen and the side entrance gate.
The mezzanine level is both Vern and Nit's favourite part
of the house. Here a well-equipped Western-style kitchen is located
toward the back corner of a room that is as large as the downstairs
entertainment area. The family has opted to install a home theatre
in this room endowed with natural light from a skylight fixed into
the high wood-panelled ceiling. A modest dining area leads out to
a colourful terrace and wrap-around balcony that is inlaid with
cerulean ceramic tiles. Large potted plants twist in the ever-constant
breeze adding a pleasant rustle to the peace and quiet of this space.
The land looks out to Chalong Bay in the distance and if it were
not for the tall rubber plantation in front of the property, the
sea-views would be panoramic.
The split-level second floor is home to the master bedroom and
what was Vern and Nit's daughter's room. Their daughter
has subsequently moved to the separate house, to what must a 14-year-old's
dream home. Both bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms that have been
finished with attractive imported tiles that lend distinct themes
to each bathroom, one Italian the other Spanish. The Spanish bathroom
has unique printed tiles that form a world map so that you can plan
your next vacation while soaking in the jacuzzi. The mirror in the
Italian bathroom was custom-made with etchings of stallions that
Nit's daughter sketched for the artist. The motley marble-like
tiles adorning the walls are likewise useful in giving this bathroom
a thematic sense of Italian grandeur.
The second unit, which houses Vern and Nit's daughter is a
two-storey structure comprised of a maid's quarters downstairs
and a warm, colourful and highly inviting apartment upstairs. The
living room and kitchen areas are painted with soothing pastels;
each wall a different colour, mauve, yellow, pale blue and orange
cast an energy about the room. The neat piles of young ladies'
trinkets add personality to the space and cause one to realize how
pleasantly one might spend time here. Two more embellished bathrooms
are located on this floor; one off the living room, the other attached
to the bedroom.
Almost all the furniture has been custom-made with teakwood, an
extravagance that neither owner regrets, "teak is such a strong,
warm material and its durability and attractiveness add significant
value to the property, "Vern asserted. Throughout the house
the ceilings and walls are joined by classic plaster coving, wooden
skirting-boards meet the floors and all the doorways are rimmed
with Victorian beading. The light fittings are in many places similar
to famous designer pieces and the superior kitchen and bathroom
fittings from Grohe add a stainless steel shine under well positioned
lights.
The location of the house near Wat Chalong, while not a seaside
one, is highly convenient being equidistant from Phuket
Town and the Southern beaches of Rawai and Nai Harn. The advantage
of this site according to Vern is that "whatever is here already
is a "known"; meaning that no one is going to build unattractive
rows of high-rise buildings or shop houses in the area. "Surrounding
Palm House are a few other stately homes owned by people who prefer
the convenience and quiet of this area to the bustle of Patong
or the isolation of the northern areas.
Palm House is a stand-alone property that will appeal to people
who enjoy colour, style and volume.
Interested parties should contact Blaauw &
Nassau
Tel: +66(0)76 263 737-8,
Fax: +66(0)76 224 113,
Website: www. blaauw-nassau. com
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