Tul & Em

On the outskirts of Phrae, I went to meet Tul and Em, the couple behind Kum.tem House. Surrounded by greenery and open space, their home feels as if it stepped out of an interior design magazine. I was welcomed not only by them, but also by Monet and Dali, two of their eight cats, each named after an artist.

Tul and Em have been together for seven years. After studying and living in Bangkok, they moved to Phrae in 2022, exhausted by the city’s pace and wanting to be closer to Tul’s father during his illness. They returned to Tul’s grandfather’s house, built over fifty years ago, and slowly transformed it into a haven of calm and intention.

The name Kum.tem carries layered meaning. “Kum” comes from Tul’s grandparents’ surname, Kumnak, while “Tem” echoes เติมเต็ม, to fulfil, and also merges their names, Tul and Em. The name reflects the way they complete each other, in art and in life.

Since moving back, life has noticeably slowed. They meet fewer people, but the connections feel deeper and more deliberate. Back in Bangkok, their relationship grew while exploring restaurants together. In Phrae, that shared curiosity turned into something tangible. Em transformed cooking into a profession, creating intimate, casual dining grounded in care and detail. Tul focuses on service and the guest journey, while tending the garden that supplies edible flowers and herbs for the kitchen.

Their intention is simple: guests should feel like they are visiting a friend’s home, where even the cats are part of the experience.

I photographed Em by the dining table, then followed Tul through the garden toward a wooden door built by his grandfather, a craftsman whose presence is felt all around the house. As I took my final image of them sitting quietly on the floor, I wondered if their project felt complete. But in their mind, Kum.tem House continues to evolve, always seeking balance rather than perfection.