More to Jim than you think

JIM THOMPSON fabrics have adorned home furnishings sold internationally for more than three decades, but here at home the brand is still perceived as a maker of personal wear much more than home textiles.
To promote its home-furnishing fabrics among local designers and consumers, Jim Thompson’s flagship store on Bangkok’s Surawong Road has undergone a major renovation, ready to display the full range of products. Entire rooms have been set out so customers can see what’s possible.
“We hope to rejuvenate the brand and change how it’s perceived within the home market,” says Sasaya Buranastidporn, head of Jim Thompson’s Thailand Home Furnishings. “We want the refurbished showroom to not only inspire but also become a destination for interior designers and homeowners to make use of. 
“In addition to hotels, we hope our products can expand into residences.”

The brand has stores in Paris, London, Atlanta in the US and Munich in Germany, plus distribution outlets in more than 40 countries. Its big markets for home furnishings are the US, France, Britain, Italy, Spain and Germany – all places that have a history of interior designing with fabrics, used in curtains, wall coverings, furniture and bedspreads. 
Ironically, the Thai market, where Jim Thompson originated, represents less than 10 per cent of the total, since Thais generally haven’t yet explored this aspect of home furnishing.
The showroom previous occupied just one floor, but the renovation has spread the fabric collections (both Jim Thompson and other brands) over two more extended levels.
“This building is one of the oldest in the heart of Bangkok, more than 50 years old, so the renovation followed the concept of ‘old and new’,” says Thanawat Patchimasiri of PHTAA Living Design, which gave the premises its fresh new look.

The “Tropical Colonial” room mixes antiques and furniture upholstered in saffron silk with a playful vibe of safari in tiger and leopard patterns. /Courtesy of Jim Thompson

“We wanted to create ‘unpredictable’ aspects that would interest young designers, who tend to perceive the brand as appealing only to older generations.”
In a nod to the building’s history, a grey-marble wall on the third floor resembles fa pakon – the wall of wooden planks typically found in traditional houses. The ceiling is gone, clearing space for rotating exhibitions that can be viewed from above from the fourth floor. Large windows let in the natural light.
The third floor is solely for showcasing Jim Thompson Fabrics, including the classic silks and trim sold by the metre, and includes a workspace where clients and visiting designers can develop ideas.
“Decorating a home with fabrics isn’t part of Thai culture,” notes Noppadol “Ou” Baholyodhin, the creative director for home furnishings. “We’ve traditionally lived in wooden houses and leaned against cushions on a wooden floor. Using textiles as decoration wasn’t even considered. Here, though, visitors can get new ideas and the confidence to try them out.”
And new ideas do spring to mind while touring the five distinct rooms set up. Interior designer Vichada Sikatalin, who’s often used Jim Thompson fabrics in her projects, has decorated each one in a different theme, style and palette.
“It came naturally to me because I’m a long-time client,” she says. “I love the patterns, vibrant hues and rich textures. Jim Thompson has far more to offer than Thai silk – there’s a wide variety of fabrics to enjoy and have fun with.”

The “Opulent Vogue” room looks luxurious in silk velvets of beige, grey and celadon and furniture and accessories with brassy accents.

The “Opulent Vogue” living room radiates a sense of luxury, with sofas upholstered in sumptuous silk velvet of celadon and grey. The furniture and accessories show brassy accents. Antique mirrors form a glittering wall panel and drapery of hand-woven silk adds a classy look.

“The Hampton Dynasty” adopts a classic blue and whitewashed tonal scheme in a nod to chic beach houses.

The “Hampton Dynasty” room alludes to the posh beach estates in the Hamptons outside New York City. Classic blue and white predominate, offset with zesty lemon-yellow wall coverings. One wall holds blue-and-white ceramics to contrast with its linen Menagerie-print covering – a fantasy forest filled with animals from Chinese folklore. Menagerie is one of the prints from the recently launched Leo de Janeiro collection.
“We tried to cover every surface, including the ceiling, with the different wall coverings to show that, within the right setting, maximalism is never too much,” says Vichada.

The “Midnight Orient Odyssey” bedroom is chiefly decorated with black-and-white-striped fabrics, creating depth and drama. 

The alluring “Midnight Orient Odyssey” bedroom is mainly black-and-white-striped fabrics, from the panelling, lounge chairs, cushion covers and bedding to the curtains on the four-poster bed. Golden back-lit mirrors create depth, drama and glamour. 
The inspiration here comes from London’s Blakes Hotel, decorated by former “Bond girl” Anouska Hemple, who set out to demonstrate that there’s no need to shy away from dark tones, even in the bedroom.

The "Forbidden Colours" room evokes colourful palette. 

The “Forbidden Colours” room celebrates eccentric design with a colourful palette. A vintage wooden sofa is upholstered in a bright fuschia with its cushion covers in lime. A screen is covered with the new collection’s Heliconia series, for which Ou transplanted the tropical flower blooming at Jim Thompson House in Bangkok onto a neutral background of embroidered and unbleached linen.
“Forbidden Colours” was also the name of Ou’s debut collection for Jim Thompson in 2015. “The sumptuous colours come from the attire worn by Siamese nobility at a time when silk and velvet were imported from Europe, mainly Italy,” he said at the time. 
“Silk-weaving was of course already well established in Siam, but the hues were subdued, limited to what could be extracted from plants. Jim Thompson revived the Thai silk industry by adding vibrant colours like these.”

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The “Tropical Colonial” room

The “Tropical Colonial” room and adjoining corridor evoke “indoor-outdoor” living, as seen at the Jim Thompson House Museum in Bangkok’s Soi Kasemsan 2. Here Vichada has mixed-and-matched furniture from different eras, enlivening it with modern upholstering. Antiques abound.
Injecting a little panache, safari meets sophistication. A wall and sofa are done in saffron silk, while an antique armchair wears a tiger print on hand-woven silk and a lampshade is stalked by a leopard pattern. The corridor is lined with black-and-white marble and decorated with tropical flowers and ferns.
All of the furniture pieces, antiques and other decorative items are available for purchase.
Up on the new fourth floor, a selection of other labels can be viewed, including sister brand No 9 Thompson with its casual and playful prints. You can also see a range of simple yet luxurious eco-friendly textiles from Fox Linton, the British furnishings brand acquired by Jim Thompson in 2015. 
Jim Thompson is also the Thailand distributor of Spanish house Gaston y Daniela and French brand Elitis.

SEEING IS BELIEVING
Jim Thompson’s home furnishing showroom on Surawong Road of Bangkok is open daily from 9am to 7pm. 
Call (02) 632 8100, or visit www.JimThompsonFabrics.com.