A Personal Journey Sparks a Design Platform
In a digital age where mass production and fast furniture dominate the interiors market, Surround Living emerges with a refreshing and thoughtful counter-narrative.
Founded on a deeply personal journey, the platform was born from the lived experience of its founders who, while decorating their dream home, encountered the challenges that many discerning homeowners in Thailand face: quality design items were hard to find, often overpriced, scattered, and inaccessible.
“We searched for both vintage and new pieces, but the options felt limited, scattered across various locations, often overpriced, and disconnected from the rich stories and craftsmanship we were drawn to. We realised that many other design lovers—or anyone embarking on a home renovation or decorating a new space—likely faced the same challenge, especially those seeking pieces with character and cultural depth”.
The process revealed a fragmented market—a space where truly special pieces were either out of reach or hidden in pockets of the country known only to insiders.
A Hidden Network of Design Enthusiasts
In their search, they ventured beyond Bangkok into Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and other cultural hubs. As they moved through vintage warehouses, antique collections, and artisan studios, they found more than furniture: they found a community. Dealers, restorers, craftspeople, and collectors welcomed them into a rich network of design enthusiasts, guardians of history and culture, who shared a deep respect for storytelling through objects. It was this moment of connection that sparked the idea for Surround Living: to create a platform where others could discover and source unique, meaningful decor as effortlessly as if they had access to that very network.
“Our platform bridges the gap between discerning buyers and skilled local artisans and sellers, making high-quality, one-of-a-kind pieces accessible with just a few clicks”.
We’ve done the hard work working with of scouring Asia’s hidden gems—so our customers can comfortably browse and shop these unique finds from home.
A Curated Marketplace with a Creative Mission
Surround Living is now a curated online destination for vintage, antique, and contemporary design objects sourced from across Asia and beyond. But it is also much more than a marketplace. It is a conduit for preservation, storytelling, and slow design. The platform brings together the soul of a flea market, the selectiveness of a gallery, and the convenience of modern e-commerce, making it possible for discerning buyers to shop intentionally from a community of trusted artisans, sellers, and independent creators.
Guided by Core Values
From its inception, Surround Living has been guided by three core values: craftsmanship, community, and curation.
• Craftsmanship ensures that every piece, whether vintage or newly made, is created with integrity and technical excellence. “Every piece we curate entails high level of craftsmanship. Whether it’s hand-carved woodwork or intricately woven textiles, many of our items take days, sometimes weeks, to complete. These are often one-of-a-kind or produced in extremely limited quantities—true testaments to artisanal skill”.
• Community Instead of ” brands,” Surround Living refer to our partners as our “community.” This reflects their belief in shared values—passion, integrity, and purpose. Its not just a platform; it’s a growing network of makers, creatives, and collectors who share the same vision
• Curation means that each piece is chosen not for trends, but for its beauty, provenance, and compatibility with Southeast Asian design sensibilities. carefully vetted by our team for both quality and craftsmanship.
Every piece featured on the site — from traditional hand-carved wooden pieces to eclectic modern decor by emerging Thai designers — is selected not only for its aesthetic merit but also for its integrity. It is this holistic approach that makes the platform stand apart. Rather than prioritising what is new or trending, the team at Surround Living lets the quality of an object, its story, and its provenance dictate its place within the collection.
Sourcing as Immersive Practice
The sourcing process is at the heart of Surround Living’s operation.“Our sourcing journey began quite organically, through our own home project. We were on a mission to find both old and new furniture that reflected our style—something well-crafted, meaningful, and unique. Beyond online searches, we relied heavily on word-of-mouth. Once we connected with sellers who aligned with our aesthetic and vision, they introduced us to their collector networks. There’s an entire underground community of vintage and antique dealers in Thailand, and being welcomed into that circle has been both exciting and incredibly rewarding”.
What began as an individual pursuit of unique items for a dream home has become a methodical, immersive practice rooted in relationships. The founders travel regularly throughout Thailand, particularly to Chiang Mai, where they have established meaningful ties with vendors, restorers, and dealers. Their partners are fellow design lovers and collectors who frequently travel across Asia and Europe to find one-of-a-kind treasures that stand out. Many of the pieces have global roots—from Chinese Ming Dynasty furniture to Anglo-Indian trunks and Italian lamps—but they are selected for how their craftsmanship & how they harmonise with Southeast Asian sensibilities.
Transparency and Trust
Every item listed on the site is accompanied by detailed information about its history, technique, and condition, and buyers have the opportunity to request additional information and pictures of the items that catch their eye. Transparency is critical to the Surround Living ethos. It is not just about selling beautiful things, but about helping buyers develop deeper relationships with the objects they bring into their homes.
Supporting Contemporary Creators
In addition to rare vintage and antique finds, Surround Living is also home to a growing roster of creators who are well-versed in the Thai design scene and embody the values of slow, intentional design. These collaborators sometimes don’t have an online presence and produce in limited numbers or one-off batches. Under “Creators” Surround Living functions as a digital gallery space where their work can be discovered by a wider audience.
Vendors and Creators: Dual Offerings
The platform distinguishes between its "Vendors," which are Brands that offer collections of rare and unique items, and "Creators," who offer original, often bespoke and one-off pieces. Whether it's a bespoke lamp made by a Thai ceramicist or a handwoven bench from an independent furniture maker, each item is treated as collectible. The creator program not only gives voice to underrepresented artisans but also aligns with Surround Living’s mission to build a more human, transparent, and soulful design economy.
White-Glove Delivery and Peace of Mind
One of the key pain points the founders aimed to solve with Surround Living was not just curation, but accessibility. The site streamlines communication with sellers, verifies the quality and condition of each piece, and provides clear information about pricing and provenance. It also ensures a secure and polished delivery experience. Surround Living has partnered with Allied Thailand, a white-glove logistics provider known for handling art and museum-grade furnishings. Every purchase is fully insured and delivered with meticulous care, no matter how fragile or rare.
A Circular Marketplace
For those looking to sell rather than buy, Surround Living also offers a "Sell Your Furniture" feature, opening the door to individuals, collectors, and designers who wish to pass on exceptional pieces, after they have been professionally vetted. This aspect of the business fosters a circular, community-driven marketplace that encourages reuse, resale and recirculation of preloved items and celebrates timeless design with sustainability in mind.
A Design Movement in the Making
Though still young, Surround Living has quickly built a following among homeowners, designers, and collectors who are seeking more from Thailand’s interior marketplace. It offers a rare alternative to algorithm-driven commerce and mass-produced decor, and in doing so, is redefining what it means to live with intention.
Slow, Soulful, and Personal
Surround Living does not follow seasonal drops or trend cycles. Its model is about patience, permanence, and emotional resonance. The homes it helps build are layered over time, shaped not by what is popular, but by what is personal. In a landscape saturated with sameness, Surround Living offers something rare: access to objects with soul.
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