There is a tendency with residential projects of the well-to-do to express luxury and opulence with blinged-out furniture, extravagant chandeliers, elaborate architecture and all round showiness. But ‘less is more’ can be equally expressive, as seen in the home of Sirot Setabandhu, managing director of private investment company Exformat, his wife Orawan, fashionista and founder of Olivia Diamonds and Leila Amulets, and their two sons Oscar and Finn.

The two-storey L-shaped home was constructed on a 1-rai plot of land tucked away down an alley in the Rama IX area. Four years in the making, the project was successfully completed with the help of Swiss architect Philippe Volpe. “I gave him only three requirements,” says Sirot. “First, I wanted privacy and seclusion from the outside world, which is why we only have two windows facing the roads outside. Secondly, I wanted the house to feel timeless so that in another 50 years one would find it hard to guess the era in which the house was built. And finally, if someone were to see a photo of the house, they should not be able to guess its location.” Volpe followed these instructions to the letter. In addition to the large wooden entrance gate, thick opaque walls frame the entire property making it a challenge for passers-by to get a glimpse.

Despite its modest-looking exterior, the residence boasts enviable features, particularly for contemporary architecture and natural material aficionados. Terrestrial limestone and travertine feature extensively throughout. A favourite in the days of the Roman Empire, this sedimentary rock has become an increasingly sought-after material for the home. The exterior façade, fully clad in travertine, especially exemplifies the rock’s natural splendours. Emphasis on bold, solid shapes and clean sharp lines for a stylish contemporary feel further complement the overall aesthetics. “We tried to really limit the use of mixed materials,” explains Sirot, “which is why travertine dominates throughout.”

This is a contemporary home and the interior shares the minimalistic elegance of the exterior, which isn’t surprising given Sirot’s admiration for simplicity. However, select bursts of colour, courtesy of Orawan, add vibrant contrasts to the generally muted tones of the interior. “To avoid arguments we decided that I would be responsible for the home’s architecture and Orawan would look after the décor,” laughs Sirot.

A stoned-flagged foyer welcomes guests to the residence. To the left is Sirot’s office, a personal cave where he spends much of his time. His wife on the other hand likes to move about the house and put the spaces to good use. Ahead is a corridor of stone adorned with a large painting. It leads to the open floor plan living area where warm wood tones from the parquet flooring, sepia hues and clean-lined furniture dominate. Brown and white sofas from Flexform and Living Divani are complemented by colourful throw pillows. Multi-coloured carpets and art pieces add liveliness to the space.

Combining minimalism with functionality, the wall to the right accommodates built-in white cupboards while the entirety of the left-hand wall is an expanse of sliding windows. Highlighted by non-contemporary house fans, the floor-to-ceiling windows do a wonderful job of opening up the room, allowing plenty of natural light into the space to connect it to the garden and inviting swimming pool outside.

The living area flows into the dining area where a chic 10-seater wooden dining table offers a great place for the family to gather. The table—tailor-made from ironwood—is the effortless focal point here. The furniture throughout the house is a blend of modern selections by Orawan and older pieces has Sirot collected down the years, which include his personal favourites: chairs by Le Corbusier, Marcel Wander and Carl Hansen.

Tucked discreetly behind a parti-wall is the pantry by German kitchen manufacturer Bulthaup. Choosing white for everything except the travertine floor makes the kitchen look clean and fresh. But then again, everything about this house shouts precision and attention to detail. For instance, as simple as they come, staircases can be a striking feature of contemporary design. The wooden stairway here seems ordinary, but a skylight gives it a more dramatic feel. It’s a simple touch that truly enhances the open aspect of the space, giving it the illusion of extra height.

The second floor accommodates four bedrooms off a landing-cum-family library area with a reading nook. “All the rooms upstairs are decorated in the same way and with the same materials,” says Sirot. “The beds are all similar. The only differences are the art on the walls and the choice of lamps. As I said, I am a minimalist at heart.” But as he jokes about his ‘boring’ taste, one could argue that this no-fuss approach is highly practical. The children’s rooms are kept simple and uncluttered with white walls, parquet floors and floor-to-ceiling windows. Each showcases minimal elegance with bathrooms that are, of course, adorned with travertine.

The master bedroom, while in keeping with the children’s rooms, also enjoys a walkway with one side enclosed by glass. Beyond is a small open-air courtyard with a single bonsai plant. At one end of the walkway is the couple’s walk-in closet and at the other their elegant bathroom boasting fittings by Italian brand Boffi.

Perhaps the most remarkable element of the house is its ‘green’ roof. “It is literally green,” laughs Sirot. “We decided to build it in such a way that layers of soil could be packed up there and used to grow grass and wild flowers. It is maintenance-free and way better than any other form of insulation. It does get quite heavy during prolonged rain but it has become a little sanctuary for birds and insects.”

This home evokes relaxed sophistication and quality. It has been a decade since the family moved in and the couple has done a great job at making the place comfortable, functional and aesthetically pleasing, perfectly balancing structural and functional elements with luxury and beauty. “I am all about logic and precision, Orawan is the energy and colour,” Sirot says. “I think that the house reflects us both.”

[This story first appeared in Koktail Magazine issue 1.]