He is indeed a carpenter
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Nott Tongrow's furniture shop is a little different than his parents' store - he makes his own stuff
CALLING VACHIRA “Nott” Tongrow a “chip off the old block” is doubly amusing. For one thing, his parents run a furniture shop in Laos. For another, he’s become a woodworker himself. (His nickname should be “Knot”.)
“My parents have operated the furniture store for decades, so maybe I unconsciously absorbed that when I was young,” Nott says. His store on Soi Ekkamai 10 is called If I Were a Carpenter, the name no doubt inspired by the Tim Hardin folksong recorded by countless others over the years.
But that’s what Nott is, a carpenter. He does wonderful things with old hardwood, including ebony, Siamese sal and redwood and crape myrtle from Isaan.
He actually graduated in graphic design from the Chelsea College of
Art and Design, but a product-design workshop he attended in London steered him toward a career in something a little more rustic, closer to his roots.
On his return to Bangkok, Nott turned his home garage into a studio and spent two years learning all about woodworking. Established carpenters taught him which materials were best in terms of durability and function.
Nott began accepting custom orders via his Facebook page, and the good feedback inspired him to open If I Were a Carpenter last year. He offers handcrafted furniture and home decor, everything built according to his own ideas.
“Old wood is dryer and has unique textures, so it’s perfect for furniture,” he says. “I use mostly solid wood and let the original texture show through. I have some tables that have metal legs, steel shelving and even attached bottle openers.”
The range includes sofas, lamps, dining tables, stools, chopping boards and beds – all adjustable in terms of size and materials – as well as skateboards and guitars. One corner of the shop has such handicrafts as odd-shaped ceramics, hand-woven textiles from Laos dyed with plants extracts, and fashionable canvas bags a designer friend made.
Next month Nott will launch a collection of sideboards, chairs, cabinets and tables. And, if you have your own idea in mind for a piece of furniture, Nott will give it a go – just give him three or four weeks.
HAMMER TIME
>>> If I Were a Carpenter is in the Ekkamai community mall on Ekkamai Soi 10.
>>> It’s open daily except Sunday from 1 to 8pm.
>>> Call (02) 714 2459 or visit the “IfIWereACarpenter” page on Facebook.
