SLOW BEAUTY IN THE CITY OF CHAOS
From Antwerp to the Orient.
A postcard from Bangkok: the Belgians behind P Tendercool. There’s something magnetic about Bangkok – a sprawling metropolis humming with contradictions: past and future, calm and chaos, elegance and grit. It’s here, in the heart of this heat-soaked city, that Belgian couple Pieter Compernol and Stephanie Grusenmeyer made their second life. Formerly antique dealers in Antwerp, they now helm P. Tendercool, a boutique furniture atelier revered by design insiders and discreet collectors from Manhattan to Milan.
“We used to come here several times a year to source antiques,” recalls Pieter. “Bangkok was our hub for exploring the region. Over time, it charmed us enough to stay.” So they did.
What began as a life of collecting – art, objects, and stories – quietly evolved into a philosophy of making. And what they make is exceptional: bespoke tables, chairs, daybeds and more, crafted from ancient wood and hand-cast bronze, exuding a rarefied sense of timelessness.
Designing Against the Grain
Unlike the churn of seasonal design trends, P. Tendercool’s work is deliberately slow and deeply personal. Their pieces aren’t just furniture; they’re heirlooms in waiting.
“We make furniture that ages gracefully,” says Pieter. “Our focus is on reclaimed or antique materials – woods that have lived many lifetimes already.” The pair’s design DNA fuses classical Asian aesthetics with mid-century European modernism: think Ming minimalism meets Le Corbusier poise, finished with a Japanese reverence for imperfection.
Their signature material is Jichimu – or “chicken-wing wood” – a dense, whorled timber once reserved for Chinese scholars and emperors. They first stumbled upon it during a sourcing trip to northern Vietnam: slabs of it were leaning against the back wall of a dusty antique shop. “We couldn’t believe our eyes,” Pieter laughs. “We tried to act casual. Inside, we were ecstatic.”
That single discovery led to a multi-year hunt through remote villages near the Chinese border. Eventually, they amassed a hoard of over 200 slabs, some as old as 400 years. “We were sitting on a treasure trove,” Pieter reflects. “And we had no idea what to do with it.”
Bronze, Wood, and the Soul of Craft
A POSTCARD FROM BANGKOK: THE BELGIANS BEHIND P. TENDERCOOL
Enter Armando – an 86-year-old Italian bronzemaster whose past includes casting works for Dali and Henry Moore. Together with P. Tendercool’s Thai craftsmen, Armando helped perfect the lost art of sandcasting bronze for functional furniture. The resulting fusion of bronze and wood – raw, heavy, elegant – defines the brand’s aesthetic.
“Each piece is a collaboration,” says Pieter. “Not just between us, but between the past and present, east and west, nature and man.”
A POSTCARD FROM BANGKOK: THE BELGIANS BEHIND P. TENDERCOOL
The company operates out of a lovingly restored warehouse in Bangkok’s Chinatown – a once-sleepy district now buzzing with galleries, creative studios and mixology bars. Their studio sits just down the street from the thriving Warehouse 30, and around the corner from the Thailand Creative & Design Centre, the epicentre of Bangkok Design Week and now known as the city’s ‘Creative District’. It’s a fitting location for a brand so attuned to heritage and reinvention.
Karma and Craft
Sustainability isn’t a sales pitch at P. Tendercool – it’s the origin story. The company only uses reclaimed hardwoods, often salvaged from demolished Thai homes, and nothing goes to waste. Their approach is more Buddhist than business.
“This wood was once part of people’s lives – they ate on it, slept on it, prayed beside it,” Pieter says. “We’re giving it a new purpose. That’s karma.”
And while the brand’s reputation grows globally (their pieces are now available on curated design site 1stDibs), the operation remains small, hands-on and human. Their team of 20 artisans, including sons of the original craftsmen, are trained across disciplines. “They all learn everything,” Pieter explains. “So they become true makers, not just workers.”
Bangkok: Muse and Backdrop
Despite their deep roots in Thai craft, Pieter and Stephanie don’t consider their style to be “Bangkokian.” Instead, the city acts as a canvas – eclectic, vivid, endlessly surprising.
“Bangkok’s creative scene reminds me of New York in the ‘70s,” says Pieter. “Young designers are hungry, resourceful. There’s still space to make things happen.”
Their advice for visitors? “Explore Chinatown’s side streets. Go to Potong for Thai-Chinese fine dining. For cocktails, hit Tropic City or Smalls. Shop at Central Embassy or get lost in Chatuchak Market. And always, always take the public river boat – it’s the best way to feel the city.”
The Future is Bespoke
With more clients giving them full creative freedom, P. Tendercool is shifting from furniture to full-scale interior design. Their latest collaboration involves Italian marble giant Antolini, with a new collection launching at Bangkok Design Week 2025. Meanwhile, their son Aeneas, is joining the team, ushering in a second generation of artistry.
“We’re not trying to follow trends,” Pieter says. “We’re trying to make things that matter. Furniture that will be around long after we’re gone.”
A POSTCARD FROM BANGKOK: THE BELGIANS BEHIND P. TENDERCOOL
POSTCARD NOTES
Where to see it:
Visit the P. Tendercool showroom in Bangkok’s Creative District near Charoenkrung Road. Call ahead for a private tour.
What to bring home:
If you can’t carry a bespoke table in your luggage, their Instagram feed (@ptendercool) offers a stunning peek into their world – a virtual gallery of enduring craftsmanship.
Want more?
Bangkok Design Week (Jan/Feb) is the best time to experience the city’s booming creative scene. Don’t miss the exhibitions at TCDC and the indie pop-ups at Warehouse 30.
Fused Tip:
P. Tendercool isn’t just a brand. It’s a philosophy. A meditation on beauty, patience and purpose. And like Bangkok itself, it’s a place where old souls can be reborn.
A POSTCARD FROM BANGKOK: THE BELGIANS BEHIND P. TENDERCOOL
