By Frank Ross
Photo by Michael Paul
Thailand was never colonized. This surely saved the country from a lot of misery, but also caused it to miss out on some of the few benefits colonialism brought; one of them – the splendor of colonial architecture. And while there are some beautiful, western designed buildings in Bangkok and beyond, their numbers fade in comparison with such cities as Luang Prabang, George Town, or Yangon.
The Cabochon is here to change that, even if just a little.
There are two kinds of people – those who take things as they are and those who put up a fight and work hard to bend reality to their own design. The celebrated interior designer Eugene Yeh belongs to the second group. That’s why, when he resolved to open a small boutique hotel in Bangkok, he chose to design it in colonial style, despite the city’s lack of colonial past. His goal? To create a distinctive and personalized hotel experience in the heart of the city.
Stepping into The Cabochon hotel proves that goal was achieved. Its nostalgic, vintage aura makes it difficult to believe that the hotel was built as recently as in 2012. Discretely hidden at the end of the tranquil Soi 45 off the Sukhumvit road, The Cabochon is a proof of its designer’s lifelong adoration for the architectural legacy of the colonies of Indochina. The iconic ivory colored, four-story building is distinguished by its beautiful proportions and details, such as shady verandas supported by classical columns and enclosed by ornamental balustrades. Although a new building, it feels totally original as the hotel embodies the period features and elegance of yesteryear. This is partly due to its design, but also thanks to many beautiful reclaimed architectural features like old windows, vintage doors, antique wooden panels and antique furnishing, amassed by Eugene Yeh over the years.
On the inside The Cabochon offers guests an exceptional choice of stylish studios and suites -each combining old-world charm with contemporary comforts. All are furnished with reproduction vintage-style pieces, classical murals and montages beautify the white-washed walls while the Belgium linen bed sets and elegant soft furnishings create a homely and charming atmosphere.
In the spacious bathrooms, polished marble floorings are matched by classical white sanitary wares and taps imported from Italy and the UK, and vanity mirrors are set in vintage wooden frames atop classical washbasins. Step through the double-leave French doors onto a balcony and take a look at the front courtyard, which is framed by tall tropical palm trees – these balconies add a sense of space, and the balustrades, a touch of elegance.
Some might say that such a vintage style hotel built in modern times lacks authentic. But being right there, admiring each carefully crafted detail of the design, makes Eugene Yeh’s vision even more remarkable and its execution – awe inspiring. It’s not second best to the real thing, it’s perfection in a realm of its own.
Find out more on cabochonhotel.com
