The finest silks from the famed Jim Thompson collection transforms the opulent Presidential Suite at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas.
The sweeping Jim Thompson Suite is nestled between the tropical Bill Bensley gardens and the shores of the Andaman Sea and covers a vast 389 square metres of private space. Set in its own expansive grounds, the vast two bedroomed villa boasts a seemingly floating sala and a 67 square metre swimming pool that is inset into a handsome wooden deck.
Interior artists, Abacus Design were drafted to conceive a sympathetic, bright and welcoming design that cleverly reflects the elegant traditional Thai style home of Jim Thompson in Bangkok. Abacus Design has been established in Thailand for over 30 years and specializes in exquisite interior design for fine hotels, resorts and restaurants across the region. Their main aim is to surprise and delight guests with creative ‘homes’ that afford a peaceful ambience, the upmost in comfort with a sense of elegance.
Samantha Lightbody, managing director of Abacus Design holds a master’s degree from the Pratt Institute, New York City, a school based on the principle of “Poetic Pragmatism,” and the number one destination for students interested in the arts. Academic programmes at the school emphasize the balancing of practical skills with an artistic vision with the hope of improving the world. Lightbody drew inspiration from the hues of the silks created by Thompson in the mid-twentieth century and from the surrounding jungles, beaches and shorelines.
“We have an ongoing project of enhancing our expansive collection of pool villas,” explains Mark O’Sullivan General Manager of Anantara Mai Khao. “The two bedrooms of the Jim Thompson suite offer a secluded retreat with luxury amenities and is ideal for families. It has been a journey of interest working so closely with the teams from Abacus Design and Jim Thompson and we are thrilled that Anantara Mai Khao has the first suite of this kind in Phuket.”
Inside the villa, the sitting room is filled with shades of blue and white fabrics and wall coverings that have been inspired by tidal marks on the picturesque beaches of Randall’s Island, New York. The design ‘Harlem’ mirrors the distinctive blemishes left by the tides of the Harlem River. Woodwork is painted in a light, white-wash tone which echoes the shades of the pale sandy shores.
In the master bedroom Heliconia is the main stimulus of design and is a vibrant and exotic embroidered design that takes inspiration from the ornamental Heliconia flowers that today, still bloom at Jim Thompson’s former home. The beauty of the tropical floral design contrasts charmingly with the neutral background which seamlessly runs through the rest of the room. The wood here is also painted in a light, white-wash tone.
The second bedroom in this glorious suite is a spacious twin bedded room that overlooks the gardens and the swimming pool. The accent of this room is the fine Floriental fanciful block-print that has been brought to life from the Jim Thompson archives. The design features blooming peonies and groupings of birds and butterflies which have been screen printed onto beautiful fabrics in contemporary colours. The bathroom gleams with a warm hued, pale terrazzo finish which has been used on the walls and floors.
The bronze-toned flooring throughout the villa is natural Thai Makha wood, a rare hardwood which is highly prized and used primarily for luxury musical instruments, outside furnishings and flooring. Pikul fabric accents adorn the internal doors and mini bar throughout the spacious villa. Fine Thai artwork and carvings are dotted throughout, leaving no question of its Thai heritage.
Guests can enjoy their stay at the Jim Thompson Suite by booking through https://phuket.anantara.com/two-bedroom-jim-thompson-villa/, contact reservations directly on [email protected] or telephone +66 76 336 100. An array of additional amenities are gifted to guests to enhance their stay and include; fast track immigration at Phuket International Airport, transfers to and from the hotel, two 60 minute signature massage treatments in the spa, an introduction to the legendary Thai sport Muay Thai for two, daily complimentary mini-bar refills, and a 10% discount on food and beverages. Terms and conditions apply.
