Light Rolls, Sharp Eye.

Claire is chill in a way you notice slowly. Almost Zen. I first met her on the mat here at the retreat a little over a year and a half ago. She was a blue belt then, recently promoted to purple, and I was right at the start of my own jiu-jitsu journey. Like everyone who trains at Tree Roots, she was generous with what she knew. Rolling with Claire is always light. It is a good way to learn, and it tells you most of what you need to know about her.

Claire's interests run wide, so when I started looking for someone to help rethink the rooms, her name kept coming up. More than once. It did not take long to see why.

With her guidance and her eye, the rooms have changed, and we love what has happened. They are a little brighter now. A little calmer. The starting point was simple: make them work for longer stays, for the guests who want to settle in rather than pass through.

Then the small things, which turned out to be the important ones. Crystals. More cushions. New netted curtains that hold a little privacy while still letting the morning light through. Art from Rayong, chosen for a stronger sense of where you actually are. New furnishings, including handmade cushion covers. Candles out on the patio for the evenings.

The biggest change, for me, is the mezzanine. It was underused. Now it is a space of its own: somewhere to read and do nothing, or to stretch and move through some yoga when the room below is quiet.

More of her eye.

A few more corners of the property Claire touched.

Thank you, Claire. The rooms are better for both.

For the light rolls, and for the eye.

What's next

There is more to come from her. Claire is planning to open a deli with a guest kitchen down on Mae Ram Phueng Beach, about a seven-minute drive from us. We are excited for her. Watch this space.

Portrait photography — @mayaschuetzph