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​Zhu used to run an antique shop called  "​Ancient Times" ​in Bangkok,
​using her maiden name
“Somporn Trakarnboonchai" 
​together with her late husband, Dirk Naumann, they shared their passions in launching "Gallery@444" in Bangkok and then " Jiunkseilon " in Phuket.

" Live Life with Passion."

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"Ms Somporn Trakarnboonchai, better known as Zhu, simply put, is passionate about Asian antiques and silver. Her zeal comes naturally as she was born into a Chinese family who specialised in both.

Some of her global clients may remember her first shop, Ancient Times since 1996, at the River City Complex, Bangkok. In that tiny shop, her mainstay was high quality decorative silver, old and new from talented artisans throughout Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Nepal.

Zhu states that, “I personally select and inspect all items offered in my shop. The silver content (genuine 92.5%), craftsmanship and design represent hand-crafted pieces. Each item is distinctive.”

Following this, Zhu and her late husband who, besides a successful businessman, was an expert in fine, old prints and maps, soon opened a shop together, first in Bangkok "Gallery@444" and then, in Phuket "Junkseilon". He shared his passion in the art of cartography with Zhu and the pair, both being connoisseurs in antiques and fine art were coveted by worldwide collectors, museums, galleries and art and antiquity enthusiasts.

Zhu’s formal education included interior design, however her trained eyes and attention to successfully synergising Asian and European styling is beyond the classroom. Visiting important art and architectural treasures in Europe and America combined with her travels throughout Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Thailand adds to her real design strength. Sourcing rare and hard-to-find pieces, while working directly with artisans and tradespeople, Zhu acquired great knowledge and experience.

Discovering within herself that she was ‘good at arranging stuff in spaces’, and her lifelong appetite for art and design, Interior Designer became her profession.

“Interior design is not dissimilar to a good painting – one should have a main focus, good proportion, structure, and a working colour combination,” says Zhu, and continues, “To design an interior is to design the function for a space by creating the relationship between human beings with such space - Design for Behaviour. My design is very much human-oriented; it has to work with the human body and human psyche. For the project to be successful, I firstly learn lots about my clients and their lifestyle. The reward is that I am personally connected with my clients. To see them happy with their design resul tis another big plus.”

Visit Zhu at her newly opened Bangkok shop – you won’t be disappointed. Her antique, art and silver collections are vast.

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