ART RESOURCES
x PERN BAAN
Known for their exquisite craftsmanship and signature Thai Art Deco aesthetic, Art Resources’ furniture is crafted in a variety of materials from parchment to cast bronze.
We recently had a chance to sit down with Pug and her father Pramote, the owners of Art Resources. Let’s take a dive into Pug and her Father’s journey as they evolve into the second generation of this beloved family business!
Pramote: Even though I graduated from law school, I quickly realized that I didn’t enjoy that path. After an unfulfilling internship, I decided to leave law and help out with my family business. Then during a trip to France my love for Art Deco design was ignited.
I really fell in love with the Art Deco aesthetic - if you had to compare it to a human body, I see it as beautifully intricate, like a strong man with defined muscles. When I came back to Thailand, I began making Art Deco picture frames and bronzeware which we both exported and sold to hotels here in Thailand.
As we grew, we continued to innovate, drawing inspiration from magazines like Architectural Digest and House and Garden. I would tear out pages to gather ideas, which helped us shape our own creations.
Pug: My Father’s interest has always been personal; he has a deep love for antiques and Art Deco design despite having no formal background in those areas. He’s incredibly dedicated to his work—so much so that he actually worked on his wedding day! That day, he had to install picture frames at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, where his wedding ceremony was also going to take place later in the evening.
Pramote: Yes, I went upstairs to complete the installation and then rushed back down for the wedding ceremony [laughs].
Pramote: I had been wanting to work with parchment for a long time, but it was challenging to find a reliable source for the material. Once I finally found one, I decided to invest in this project. The parchment we used to have was mostly in neutral tones like cream or beige, so we wanted to make it more vibrant by adding different colors. I asked our long-time technicians, who have been with us for over 20 to 30 years, to collaborate on this new direction for our company. We experimented, tested, and learned together and it took us quite a long time until we got it right.
Pug: My inspiration comes mainly from photography, especially the color combinations I see, as well as from cartoons and art books. I get a lot of inspiration from photographers like Guy Bourdin and painters like Mark Rothko, as well as classic cartoons like Tom and Jerry.
Pug: Pug: I was working as a photographer in London until five years ago, when I decided to return to Bangkok to help my father, just before the Covid pandemic hit. This move gave me the opportunity to create things I’m passionate about. Although I don’t have a design background, I love creating items for my home, so I started by developing my own color palette.
At the time I returned, Covid was impacting many of our normal hotel and hospitality projects. Since these larger initiatives were put on hold, I instead shifted our focus to bespoke products, mainly custom-made items for residential clients. Each customer had unique preferences for colors and dimensions, so we began doing a lot more tailored work than we had done in the past.
Pug: It’s been both challenging and fun. There’s definitely a generation gap between us; I want it to be more modern and bring a contemporary feel, but we aim to always keep it rooted in our original materials and techniques.
Pug: Pug: I was working as a photographer in London until five years ago, when I decided to return to Bangkok to help my father, just before the Covid pandemic hit. This move gave me the opportunity to create things I’m passionate about. Although I don’t have a design background, I love creating items for my home, so I started by developing my own color palette.
At the time I returned, Covid was impacting many of our normal hotel and hospitality projects. Since these larger initiatives were put on hold, I instead shifted our focus to bespoke products, mainly custom-made items for residential clients. Each customer had unique preferences for colors and dimensions, so we began doing a lot more tailored work than we had done in the past.
Pug: My inspiration comes mainly from photography, especially the color combinations I see, as well as from cartoons and art books. I get a lot of inspiration from photographers like Guy Bourdin and painters like Mark Rothko, as well as classic cartoons like Tom and Jerry.
Pug: It’s been both challenging and fun. There’s definitely a generation gap between us; I want it to be more modern and bring a contemporary feel, but we aim to always keep it rooted in our original materials and techniques.
is something we also embrace at Pern Baan and it’s why we were so attracted to their work in the first place. We are honored to distribute Art Resources' designs within the US. The 40 Side Table, which we debuted at ICFF, was featured in the September issue of Interior Design Magazine.
We also just finished up this custom triangular shaped parchment console table for an exciting interior project in Brooklyn!
If you are interested in ordering a side table, please inquire at info@pernbaan.com
Receive 10% off your first order and a first look at our new products.
