Arranged around a family villa built in 1942, the Ariyasom offers boutique luxury accommodation in a tranquil suburb of Bangkok.

We don’t often get truly excited at a central city hotel, but Englishman David Lees and his wife Pariya have created something quite remarkable in this family-run hotel, which is located at the far end of one of Sukhamvit's less congested streets.

The property has been the family home for over 70 years, and is filled with the decades worth of David’s Asian artefacts collection. Its newer wing was thoughtfully designed to match the historic aesthetic of the original building; it’s evident that throughout the construction, completed in late 2008, not a single corner was cut, and the attention to detail is quite staggering. The result, however, does not leave you scared to touch anything, as you might be in a gallery; instead, you immediately feel at ease, and the sense of calm that radiates throughout the property is very welcome after a hectic day in the city.

Rooms are each individually designed and all have their charms. Interiors are decorated in a rich heritage palette, with colourful textiles and traditional carved wooden furniture, including a number of gorgeous four-posters. Bathrooms are likewise pleasingly quirky and individual, with stained glass, ornate brass mirrors, marble surfaces, and the occasional jacuzzi.

The hotel’s restaurant (with David often heading up the kitchen) serves mainly vegetarian meals and some fish, but no meat, with all dishes freshly home-made from organic ingredients. Many of the rooms have views over the nearby canal (‘klong’) or onto the hotel’s pool, which is set within an attractive patio garden. Alongside it, a pleasant spa offers relaxing traditional massage and herbal steams.