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Upmarket Home Department Stores (for furnitures and fixtures)

WorkingTourist

By WorkingTourist
in Chiang Mai

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WorkingTourist Senior Member

WorkingTourist

Posted
Posted

Say you were about to renovate your bathroom, kitchen, or living room, and you have no budget, where would you go for well-designed quality items?

I am already aware of Baan & Beyond, HomePro, and Index Living Mall.

Puwa Gold Member

Puwa

Posted
Posted

Different people have different definitions of quality, but in general, if you want really, really good stuff, you'd want to work with a designer who knows where to procure what you need, rather than stick with whatever is on the shelves at big box stores.

That said, I might humbly suggest that once you get into it, you should never, ever give anyone the sense that money is no object. Start with an unrealistically low budget, and force the designers, vendors, and workmen to justify every increase. Good luck!

fang37 Advanced Member

fang37

Posted
Posted (edited)

Boon Tawan is the #1!

Do you have a link? I’m having a hard time finding more info about this.

Sorry.

My best directions. From Huay Kaew area, turn right @ Maya. Go along the superhighway a fair way. It is on the left.

As are a few majors, everything is sold on consignment.

Two floors.

About 15km from Maya.

That is the best I can do.

Other members of TVF should be able to supply clearer directions.

Edited by fang37
pgrahmm Platinum Member

pgrahmm

Posted
Posted

Boon Tawan is the #1!

Do you have a link? Im having a hard time finding more info about this.

Sorry.

My best directions. From Huay Kaew area, turn right @ Maya. Go along the superhighway a fair way. It is on the left.

As are a few majors, everything is sold on consignment.

Two floors.

About 15km from Maya.

That is the best I can do.

Other members of TVF should be able to supply clearer directions.

Go down the 108 past Kad Farang (RimPing Starbucks McDonalds).....The road will narrow with no divider....Turn left at the next light and 3-4k down are two arches....Turn right at the second arch....If you like good wood furniture or teak built to spec that is the place....Probably 100+ shops....There's a cafe there that's an open second story deck....If you follow the path/soi all the way back there's a lot of nice furniture....There's a lot there and it will take a day to brouse and note everything....Even a shop for hinges springs & handles/latches tucked away....Mostly wood/teak .....

CMKiwi Silver Member

CMKiwi

Posted
Posted

PG, you must be given directions to Baan Tawai correct? I agree its a very good area for furnishings and that coffee shop restaurant on the second floor is very good.

Unfortunately there arent as many shops as there once was but there are still a lot that will take up your time for a least a day. I once asked a shop owner why the down turn in business. He pointed to a certain Asian clientel whom arrived by the bus load. He say the no buy anything but take lots of photos. Now China copy everything although very bad materials used. Possibly why the remaining shop keepers have sign saying No Photo.

On the upside it means that as a buyer you can haggle a bit on prices and there are a lot of very well made pieces out there.

Definitely worth a visit

pgrahmm Platinum Member

pgrahmm

Posted
Posted (edited)

PG, you must be given directions to Baan Tawai correct? I agree its a very good area for furnishings and that coffee shop restaurant on the second floor is very good.

Unfortunately there arent as many shops as there once was but there are still a lot that will take up your time for a least a day. I once asked a shop owner why the down turn in business. He pointed to a certain Asian clientel whom arrived by the bus load. He say the no buy anything but take lots of photos. Now China copy everything although very bad materials used. Possibly why the remaining shop keepers have sign saying No Photo.

On the upside it means that as a buyer you can haggle a bit on prices and there are a lot of very well made pieces out there.

Definitely worth a visit

Kind of an odd tour bus stop (wooden items not too packable) but they line up there....And flood the coffee shop....

That's one of the very few places I LIKE to browse around and take my time.....

As opposed to the torture of going along when the wife is shopping for something - while looking at Everything....

Edited by pgrahmm
Puwa Gold Member

Puwa

Posted
Posted

Let me clarify that Boon Thavorn and Ban Tawai are not one in the same.

Boon Thavorn is a large home furnishing mall on the Superhighway.

Ban Tawai is an area of Hang Dong with many shops selling locally made furniture and decorations, for retail and export, of varying quality.

LivinLOS Star Member

LivinLOS

Posted
Posted

of varying quality.

There does seem some quality items, but at less that amazing pricing.. But theres also a lot of poorly made cheaper stuff..

My initial perception that it was furniture made to last, didnt quite measure up to some of the stuff I have seen delivered.

Still looks nicer than index melomine nasty stuff.

bangmai Silver Member

bangmai

Posted
Posted

Just avoid the places where the tour vans go at Ban Tawai....the shops on the road back to 108 can be 50% less. Many of the shops have "no photo" signs up, so maybe they've had their fill of the strictly lookers. There are some great designs in there. There is also a nice furniture store above Tesco on HD Rd.. Less than 20,000 for a table and 4-6 chairs..solid wood...I would say about 1/4 the cost of the same thing in the US.

pgrahmm Platinum Member

pgrahmm

Posted
Posted

Just avoid the places where the tour vans go at Ban Tawai....the shops on the road back to 108 can be 50% less. Many of the shops have "no photo" signs up, so maybe they've had their fill of the strictly lookers. There are some great designs in there. There is also a nice furniture store above Tesco on HD Rd.. Less than 20,000 for a table and 4-6 chairs..solid wood...I would say about 1/4 the cost of the same thing in the US.

I think that store in Tesco Lotus is empty now....Looked that way last time we ate upstairs there....

  • 3 weeks later...
WorkingTourist Senior Member

WorkingTourist

Posted
  • Author
Posted

A minor follow-up, as I have visited most of the stores suggested, thanks guys!

For kitchens/closets, I have found http://www.kitchenette.co.th/ in Bangkok, they do real wood frames, if they do high-gloss they also apply it on the inside, etc. I.e. that is the “quality” I am looking for and it’s not something I have been able to find in Chiang Mai.

I am still looking for bathroom fixtures, but I will visit Bangkok today, hopefully I can find something there. If anyone have suggestions, please let me know.

As for Puwa’s suggestion about working with a designer, I already have an interior architect, and she does import from abroad, but getting the aesthetics right is a challenge, which is why it would be ideal if I could just go to some showrooms myself and point out what I want, rather than having to explain it to a Thai and have them try to find something I like.

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