The Art of the Table

Use traditional items to spark elegance in your home.

TEXT BY VANIDA PHIMPHRACHANH & DOMINIQUE LE ROUX PHOTOGRAPHS BY PHOONSAB THEVONGSA SCENOGRAPHY & STYLING BY BIRDS FOLLOW SPRING AT ISLAND APARTMENTS

BUCOLIC CELEBRATION Handwoven rugs from the Luang Prabang Night Market

Naturally dyed placemats and napkins from Gaebi Studio (gaebi.co.kr)

Here in Laos, we are inspired by the pleasures of convivial gatherings with guests and relatives around a simple but generous table. Local markets provide us an array of extremely affordable everyday objects such as woven rugs, wooden trays used for cooling sticky rice, and the ubiquitous sticky rice baskets.

Go ahead and use them a little differently, especially in combination with unique pieces of crockery crafted from raw and sensuous materials and the understated radiance of local cotton textiles in natural colors.

A set table not only elevates the pleasures of our own everyday meals but ensures we are always ready to welcome surprise guests.

REPURPOSED EVERYDAY OBJECTS above: Wooden tray sold in local markets or along the road in open trucks Tea set with unique baked earth bowls from Amazingworx (facebook.com/ amazingworx)

left: Try new uses for common items to bring a sense of wonder and inspiration

THE SIMPLICITY AND SENSUALITY OF RAW MATERIALS right: Terracotta tableware traditionally used for preparing papaya salad from Amazingworx

Cutlery made from recycled bombs from TaiBaan crafts (taibaancrafts.com)

Glasses from Le Comptoir de Vientiane (facebook.com/LeComptoirdeVientiane)

Natural hued placemats from Gaebi Studio

below: Traditional handwoven bamboo table basketry from The Little House (facebook: The Little House Vientiane)

Enamel tableware from Le Comptoir de Vientiane

Indigo apron from Gaebi Studio

OPEN BAR above: Ceramics from Le Comptoir de Vientiane

Set of bowls braided in silver from Caruso Lao

right: Hand lacquered wooden boxes from Birdsfollowspring X MDOstudio

The intricate hem of a Lao sinh from Oudone precious silk (facebook: oudoneprecioussilk) to dress the stool

THE ELEGANCE OF NOBLE MATERIALS Local crafts can be used in contemporary interiors as a patchwork of precious woods mixed with the silky taff eta eff ects of handwoven and traditional techniques. Try blending antique objects with local handicrafts to create a unique luxurious style.

above: Candleholders and ebony containers with silver rings from Caruso Lao (carusolao.com)

Book lamp by toineinbangkok (toineinbangkok.com)

Decoration in handwoven silk from Oudone Precious Silk

WARM AND PLUSH right : Spice set from Caruso Lao (carusolao.com)

below: Aromatic candles inspired by wine notes from Wine Haus Laos (facebook: Wine Haus Laos)

Wooden tray in recycled wood and triptych mirror from Birds Follow Spring (facebook.com/birdsfollowspring)