Forty minutes from Chiang Mai airport and secluded in the Mae Rim district sits Secret Window, a one-story home inspired by a writer’s cabin and filled with literary easter eggs. 

 

The project started with a group of book enthusiasts, including “Bad Genius” director Nattawut “Baz” Poonpiriya, Preaw “Jaja” Poonpiriya, Amorn “Mann” Nilthep, and Silpee “Maewnam” Kobkijwattana.

 

Stephen King fans may have already made the Secret Window connection, coming from the horror novella by the same name that follows a writer who moves away to a lakeside cabin. But unlike King’s horror story, it’s all peace and serenity rather than multiple personalities and shovel murders. 

 

Photo: Secret Window / Facebook
 

The venue houses up to six guests and comes with a separate living room, kitchen, and toilet. Although the spot is slightly off the beaten path, there’s no shortage of good food and amenities. 

Breakfasts are delivered to your door and massages are available to order.

 

This spot encourages visitors to take advantage of the natural surroundings with their outdoor bathtub, campfire site, a biking route, and a splash by the local creek that cuts through the middle of the residence.

 

Taking a page from Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” and German Philosopher Martin Heidegger’s years in his secluded writer’s cabin, the common area boasts of well-loved, curated literature in Thai, English, and other translated works. 

 

Photo: Secret Window / Facebook
 

Overseen by Maewnam, the “Writers in Residence” project invites twelve authors to stay over at the Secret Window and write a short story inspired by the surroundings. The collection of novellas will be collected into a book, aiming to print around March 2024. 

 

“All the writers that we’ve curated are very diverse and we believe that they can craft distinctive stories across genre and styles,” Maewnam tells BK. “The way they incorporate the resident into their tales is up to their interpretation, we just want to show that many stories can come out of this one storey space.”

 

Aside from writers, the residence is open for everyone who wants a sweet escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. “It’s for people who are into literature and people who aren’t, we just hope guests feel inspired to get back into reading or feel refreshed after their stay,” says Maewnam.

 

Two guests can reserve for B7,500 on weekdays and B8,500 on weekends, and three-to-four guests can grab the spot for B8,500 on weekdays and B9,500 on weekends. For more information and reservations, visit here.