Name: Supon and pets: Taylor and Cricket the dogs, and Logo the cat
Location: Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, DC
Size: 3,400 square feet
Years lived in: 10 years
Nestled on a serene street between bustling Dupont Circle and regal Embassy Row, Supon's live/work townhouse is as bold and unexpected as it is restful and welcoming. As a graphic designer who has also made waves in the product design world, Supon sees his dwelling as both a homage to his native Thai roots and international travels, as well as a rotating gallery of ideas and inspiration — a balance suited to the house's dual function as his private residence and headquarters for his business, Supon Creative.
Because of the personal/public nature of Supon's home, most rooms are designed to be both polished and comfortable, and nearly all are intended to wear many hats. The living room — inspired by Supon's time in London — sits just off his main office, and also serves as a conference room, idea lounge, and entertaining space for his clients and design team. The large dining room table doubles as a conference table. Same goes for the idyllic deck oasis, which Supon created as both a spot for personal meditation and a swank entertaining space complete with bar.
Hints of his travel experiences, interests, and inspirations are celebrated in every room through a constantly rotating mix of high and low decor, all arranged with Supon's distinctly pop-esque spin. Throughout his home, he has a lively interplay between bold accessories and deep, restful wall colors — making him a favorite in last year's Fall Color Contest. Many large key furniture pieces are IKEA, Welm Elm, and CB2, but he punctuates them with his own decor creations as well as other sentimentally significant pieces, such as his beloved Jonathan Adler pottery collection and George Nelson Marshmallow sofa. His expert flea-marketing and e-bay-hunting eye has also helped him fill his home with affordable finds that reflect his design vision. The result is brilliant: a home that simultaneously exudes peacefulness and excitement.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My/Our style: Modern with a twist.
Inspiration: The inspiration for my home came from my three favorite cities: London, Miami and Palm Springs. To me, these places are elegant, sophisticated and very chic.
Favorite Element: My deck. I turned my outdoor deck into something exotic, serene, and altogether my own. It has a spa-like feel and is also a great place to entertain. To me, it serves as a comfortable sanctuary, reminding me of my heritage.
Biggest Challenge: I keep changing the look every 3-6 months.
What Friends Say: They love it. My home is not a furniture showroom. I always like to keep things exciting. I wanted my living room to have a “wow” factor.
Biggest Embarrassment: Kitchen! Would like to redesign it soon!
Proudest DIY: The whole house.
Biggest Indulgence: My design taste has pretty much been the same ever since I was young which is simple and clean. Oftentimes, I don’t focus on an individual piece of furniture, but rather how they will work with my existing pieces. I won’t buy things for my house just because they are in fashion at the moment. I usually don’t care what’s in or what’s out. Everything that you see in my home, I can tell you the reason.
Best advice: Take Risks! There's no right and no wrong when decorating your home. People don't want to take risks. If you want your living space to be really bold and paint your wall in black, go ahead and do it. If you hate it, just repaint it. It’s your home!
Dream source: None! I won’t buy things for my house just because they are in fashion at the moment. Most of my items from my home range from high end brands to flea markets.
Other Inspiration: I think life is my inspiration and my desire to take something and make it in to something else.
Resources:
Furniture: Crate and Barrel, IKEA, West Elm, Georgetown Flea Market, Design Within Reach, BoConcept, Apartment Zero
Accessories: his own (nakeddecor.com), eBay, Georgetown Flea Market, flea market in Thailand
Rugs and Carpets: FLOR
Artwork: his own, Jonathan Adler pottery
To learn more about Supon's design work and home decor line, check out Supon Creative.
Thanks, Supon!
Images: Leah Moss
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I love that light fixture! Is there a source for it?
view katzamboni's profile
Absolutely gorgeous! Finally a house tour to make us here in DC proud. He clearly has a great sense of humor to soften the edges of a lot of the modern pieces and wow, the colors are so vibrant. And to second the above, that light fixture is stunning. Where, where can i find that?
view shukaide's profile
Love the lampshade on the white West Elm parsons desk. Source info?
view PhillyLass's profile
Great house. Great style. And yes, I'd like to know about the light fixture too.
Side Note: His website is distracting. It has so many beefy models I forget to look at the products!
view Heather C's profile
This is not at all my style, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this home!!!!!!
view jeffnyc's profile
Very trendy.
view Lisa (Montreal)'s profile
i die. over and over and over again.
view Lady J's profile
that wall of dog faces is amazing.
view hissingsissing's profile
I liked the office, the rest was a bit much for me.
However, as all have said great light fixture.
view CKBH's profile
I just realize that "trendy" could sound like an insult, whereas "on trend" is a compliment.
view Lisa (Montreal)'s profile
This house screams "trying to hard to me."
view ChicagoDesign's profile
deckbd, I see that you're clearly a fan of understated interiors. As am I.
Even though this home doesn't strike me as serene, it is lots of fun and engaging. I don't believe the owner is "trying too hard". They're simply going for something else and have achieved it.
view chairfetish1's profile
any idea where the bathroom vanities are from. Love them...love the whole place in general particularly the outdoors.
view missmay's profile
So colorful, imaginative, personal and unique! Can you please tell me the name of the beautiful golden sand color used in the stairwell?
view seabird04107's profile
That live sized E.T. has got to be one of the coolest things I've seen on AT, and I've seen a LOT of cool things here. That little pool is just perfect. The floating flowers are lovely- so refreshingly not DC.
view theinspiredofficedc's profile
i'm blown away how well that awful blue dog painting works in the space in one of the first few photos. overall, i love the dark rooms, but it's no surprise. good job.
view the polish chick's profile
i loved it! such a humorous house, if i were to visit i'd be giggling all around the house and its memory would bring a smile to my face even after a very long time.
view Cactina's profile
a wonderful balance of MCM, kitch, and Thai influences.
view Usbek de Perse's profile
Hi everyone, for those of you who personally wrote to me--the answer is YES, I will do an open house tour for you. (if you missed previous Dupont Circle House Tour and Kalorama & Embassy House Tour)...Most likely, it will have to be in Spring of 2010. Here are product info: The nesting light can be purchased at www.xydecor.com. The dark brown paint in my bedroom is Benjamin Moore (clinton brown). Queen pillows/ clock/ Pig Platter are my own products, please check out www.nakeddecor.com. Red bookcase- Ikea. Bathroom Vanities- Lowes.com. That's it for now. Best, Supon
view Supon 's profile
I used to live next door and I always admired the pool next door. What a treat to be able to see the inside too! The late summer plants on the balcony next door were mine!
view sarsour82's profile
Hey, Supon - wow-what a difference from the last time the girls and I were up!! A fantastic job. We need to come visit again - and 'we go chinese', too :-)
Donna (Marsha's sis in law)
view dellis4's profile
Refreshing and fun! What a talented eye!
view Papillon Linens's profile
Looks like Supon has toned down the bright colors that were seen in his last house tour on AT. Still, it looks fantastic, and that pool in the back is incredibly lovely. I would love to come home to this every night. Such a fun space.
view suzy8track's profile
Hi Supon,
I especially love your living room. I was unable to locate where you purchased your white living room sofa and chairs among the sources listed. Can you tell me where I can get them? Thanks!
view chinacapri's profile
Hi Chinacapri-- Sofa and Chair were from crate and barrel.
view Supon 's profile
AMAZING! I love everything about this place, mixing modern style with cultures, color and style. Really amazing work! I am inspired! Thank you so much for sharing your incredible home!
view leahshoes's profile
Still waiting for one comments section that doesn't include someone saying...
"I love love love this!"
...as if it were an original thought.
I think I'll have to keep waiting.
PS...now starting the Marshmallow sofa haters club.
view scoobydubious's profile
Wow, that staircase is just painfully beautiful.
view MisaL's profile
I always look at the hot house tours and this may be my favorite one so far. So, to try to not just say, "I love love love it" as one noted, I'll say that it moves me, it energizes me, I found spaces I wanted to go and sit in, I could see my kids playing there with me, I thought how I'd love to sit and watch the paint on the walls in a home like that.
Speaking of, what was the color of the dusty brown that seems to be throughout the home (it's in the office and LR I think) and also the sandy color next to it? I've been searching for a brown like that. I'm impressed you've answered so many qs already, but I'd be very grateful if you answered this too!
Thanks for your home!
view Aftonio's profile
Supon, you are very kind to answer so many questions -- but please don't go without telling us the name of the sandy-golden color in the painfully beautiful staircase! :)
view seabird04107's profile
oh feng shui house!
view bobejina's profile
I don't find this very inviting at all. I guess I'm not into modernism. Funny your neighbor posted about her plants, becasue I was going to say thank god there is greenery next to your lot, as the pool area is otherwise pretty sterile to me.
view wigglebutt's profile
Supon-- Your place is bsolutely stunning place. I am your fan! :)
view allan's profile
Clever and refreshing! Especially love the animal theme, particularly the little white dog in the bottom row... are those all by Jonathan Adler, or from somewhere else...?
Wonderful color choices too. The bedroom is surprisingly restful. Love that bedspread against the deep chocolate walls.
view thrace's profile
Kinda like the house the Zany Friend lives in, in a sitcom.
view biglinguist's profile
Love the whimsy and careful touches throughout this space, and think it's all very cohesive and has a very consistent energy.
I, too, appreciate Supon posting answers to some of the questions folks have had, but I really need the paint color for the living room. I love the bedroom -- clinton brown -- but it's too dark for my current space. The living room color, on the other hand? Just right.
So, Supon, I know that someone here is desperately seeking the stairwell wall color, but if you wouldn't mind providing the living room color as well, I'd be terribly grateful. Thanks in advance!
view sabine12's profile
I love the stairs in photo 11 but that open space is terrifying! Is that up to code?
view Shannon Ashley's profile
Hi, For those of you who want to know exact color of stairwell wall & Living room...I cant find any record on exact color...Only the brand which is Behr Paint. Sorry, but I tried..
Best,
supon
view Supon 's profile
It's lovely, and visually very appealing - although I can't imagine living in it!
view Rebekkap's profile