They are also among Watananun’s favourite neighbourhood spots. Others include Zinme Teahouse, which serves Burmese food in an old teahouse; Khna Coffee Brewers; and Baan Orapin, a Lanna-style heritage bed-and-breakfast that she often recommends to visiting friends.

“There are also small textile and craft shops nearby like Karma Local and Nusara that I really love because they reflect a side of Wat Ket that still feels tactile, local, and quietly creative,” said Watananun.

She also enjoys walking across the pedestrian bridge towards Warorot Market.

“The view from there, looking across to the market and the older commercial part of town, always feels like a particularly Chiang Mai moment to me.”

Wat Ket rewards those willing to explore it slowly. For Watananun, however, its lanes are also filled with childhood memories.

“I used to spend a lot of time around the land where Little House Chiang Mai now sits. I’d run around with my cousin, play explorer, cycle through the small lanes, and stop at a small neighbourhood shop for sweets and lollipops. It still exists, by the way!” she said.

“That’s probably why working on the house never felt just like a design project,” she added. “It felt more like returning to something familiar, and trying to care for it in a way that still makes sense now.”