Decorating with intention: Chef Rose Chalalai Singh’s layered home and lab kitchen
Rose Chalalai Singh is a chef, and founder of hit restaurants Rose Kitchen and Ya Lamaï. She now works between her private dining space in Paris and traveling around the world.
FOR CHEF ROSE CHALALAI SINGH, change is important. When she is not traveling, Rose walks daily from her Paris’ 2nd arrondissement home to her lab kitchen and private dining space. She likes seeing the city evolve: from her light, airy, classic Parisian apartment in the middle of a busy street, to the quiet, vine-covered cobblestone courtyard in the bohemian neighborhood of Bastille.
Rose loves living in Paris. “It's the best place to live in Europe,” she says.
Originally from Bangkok, Rose has lived in France for over a decade.
Rose's classic Parisian apartment is a serene retreat in the heart of the bustling 2nd arrondissement. The vase is Muuto's Kink.
Having moved from Thailand to Paris with her son Gabriel more than a decade ago, Rose made a name for herself within the city’s fashion and art circles with her two restaurants Ya Lamaï and Rose Kitchen. After years of working in restaurants, the non-stop schedule made her feel something was missing. Despite its overwhelming success, last year, she decided to close Rose Kitchen to reconnect with her love for hosting.
This love is reflected in her new space, which is simultaneously eclectic and calm. Floor-to-ceiling shelves fill the central space, showcasing colorful pottery and glassware collected from her trips. A long, communal table with fresh flowers extends into the open kitchen. Here, Rose often gravitates between cooking and talking with her guests.
Filled with natural light and carefully chosen pieces, the home reflects Rose's timeless sense of style and love for thoughtful design.
On her daily walk to her new lab kitchen, Rose enjoys the contrast between her lively neighborhood and the quiet, bohemian Bastille.
Hi, Rose! How do you like living in Paris?
“I love Paris. My son and my friends are here. Every day, things are happening – so many people, so many restaurants – there is always something new to try.
I live right in the center of Paris, in the 2nd arrondissement. It only takes a ten-minute walk to cross the Seine. It is very touristy but with charm – old but still sophisticated. You are near places like the Palais Royale, the Louvre, and Opera. My lab kitchen is in Bastille, a popular area with fewer tourists, very residential and bohemian. So, I have both worlds.”
After closing her restaurant a year ago, Rose opened her lab kitchen, a space dedicated to experimentation and creativity in cooking.
The lab kitchen doubles as a space for entertaining. The green chairs are from Muuto.
The space is a blend of eclectic charm and tranquility. Floor-to-ceiling shelves display vibrant pottery and glassware gathered during her travels.
What made you decide to open your lab kitchen?
“I used to have a restaurant, Rose Kitchen. It was a big hit when we opened, and we always had a lot of people coming in. I loved it and thought I could do it forever.
But after a while, I began feeling something was missing. So, after working in the restaurant industry for ten years, we closed Rose Kitchen a year ago. It was sad, many people complained. But I felt I was choosing my freedom, and freedom is something nobody and nothing can take away from you.
After the closure, and with my son getting older, I had more time and was able to take on more international projects. I began traveling, cooking everywhere, and meeting so many people around food. That's when I decided to have a lab kitchen in Paris, where I could always go to experiment and cook. Right now, I feel I am entering a new chapter and that I'm just getting started.”
In cooking, there is always a risk of making mistakes, but accidents can often lead to something great. For Rose, this unpredictability makes the process exciting and enjoyable.
Rose is very content in her life. “I now have the luxury and freedom to do what I love. I'm very lucky to be able to do that,” she says.
How did your passion for cooking begin?
“When I moved to Paris because of my son Gabriel, I needed something to do. I always had a connection with food and cooking through my family, so I asked a Thai chef who lives in Paris to work with me. I learned a lot from him and started to cook every day, and then I just kept doing it.
I love cooking and bringing people together. My lab kitchen is also a private kitchen, where we can host dinners, too. I do it all the time.”
For Rose, decorating is a gradual journey, where things naturally come together rather than being rushed – whether at home or in the lab kitchen.
Rose's love for collecting is evident both in her home and in her new kitchen space. Many of the treasures are souvenirs from her travels.
How do you decorate at home and your lab?
“I like discovering unique objects and crafts. Whenever I travel, I seek them out, especially ceramics and glass. Some of the ceramics I own originally belonged to my grandmother, and I’ve cherished and kept them.
Little by little, you collect, and one day you realize you’ve gathered quite a lot. There’s no need to buy everything all at once – they find their way to you over time.”
Bringing people together is important for Rose. She enjoys the challenges that come with creating something meaningful through food.
Hosting is simply a natural part of Rose's life. "I do it because it's fun," she says.
Do you have any hosting rituals?
“I like to go to the market and see what's available.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes I just cook Thai curry with rice. It depends on what I feel like. There's no recipe, no menu – I go with the flow. In autumn, I can cook only mushrooms for two months if it feels right.”
Rose describes living in Paris as magical, saying, “Stepping out of my door and walking past places like the Louvre feels like a holiday in itself.”
What do you like to do to relax?
“I love to clean the house. In a way, when you clean the house you clean your brain. My home comforts me, and I relax by making it nice.”
See also:
• All products by Muuto >
• All kitchenware at Finnish Design Shop >
Text: Maria Paris Borda Images: Martin Bruno Edit: Emmi Ratilainen
Published on 20 Feb, 2025
