Café Craft is an Ode to Craftsmanship

Luxury furniture importer Chanintr turns its newest Bangkok showroom into an ode to craftsmanship from Thailand and further afield, with a definite nod to the art of dining

What better way to introduce potential buyers to new furniture than to let them get up close with it in a restaurant setting? That's the key idea behind Café Craft, a new dining spot within Chanintr’s new CHANINTR CRAFT furniture showroom in Bangkok’s Thonglor district, where Scandinavian brands such as Louis Poulsen, Carl Hansen & Søn and Fredericia (many of which Chanintr is the country’s exclusive importer of) take centre stage.

‘Here in Asia, Scandinavian furniture is often still associated with mass-produced knock-offs and IKEA,’ says Albano Daminato, Chanintr’s creative director and principal architect at Studio Daminato. ‘You still have people asking “Why’s it so expensive?”’ But by showcasing these products in a homelike setting, he explains, Chanintr hopes to help people understand the superior craftsmanship and high-quality materials involved in their production process.

Working closely with Bangkok-based architecture firm Tierra Design, Daminato designed the showroom from the ground up to resemble a residential property. Two separate buildings flank a courtyard centred around an ancient tree that the architects wanted to preserve. Connecting walkways wrap around it, while a glass expansion on the ground floor slides right under its branches.

Inside, Daminato’s signature pared-back style and earthy tones prevail. Walls clad in natural cork from Portugal and ash wood from Danish brand Dinesen provide a backdrop for showpieces such as Japanese washi paper ceiling lights. An ash wood staircase connects the cafe to three white-washed showroom floors where large windows offer ample natural light and furniture is arranged in mock-living room setups. ‘We didn’t want the design to distract from the products we’re selling,' Daminato explains. ‘It’s a blank canvas.'

While the space has an unmistakable Scandi-Japanese character, a closer look reveals distinctively Thai details. The oatmeal-coloured terrazzo floor and bar counter, laid by a local artisan, are hallmarks of traditional Sino-Thai shop houses; terracotta-hued tiles, handmade in Northern Thailand, bedeck the cafe’s ceiling; and Thai basketry dots the bar and showrooms.

‘There’s a lot of great Thai craft around, but it’s often not harnessed for showcasing,’ Daminato says, ‘With its Craft brand, Chanintr really wants to celebrate the beauty and quality of it.’

And so, the showroom becomes more than just a place for deep-pocketed Bangkokians looking to furnish their villas. It serves as an accessible show space for craftsmanship from around Thailand and abroad. 'We’re not just selling things, it’s all about showcasing what we love,’ Daminato concludes. 'It’s a full story.'

Text by Chris Schalkx
Images by Pichan Sujaritsatit