Now here's a smack in the eye for the cynics who think that farang teachers all live in characterless shoebox apartments with powder blue walls and several interesting varieties of mildew. Teacher Steve Salyer has combined imagination with a bit of hard earned cash and turned his Sukhumwit 71 studio into the perfect Bangkok pad. Many thanks Steve for sharing the photos with us. I'm sure it'll inspire many teachers to ditch the zip-up wardrobe and the wobbly plastic shoe rack, and start rummaging around for nic-nacs at the Suan Lum Night Bazaar.

I'm convinced that having a nice pad - somewhere you can really call home - can save you a fortune in the long run. If you live in a room that you're not particularly proud of, it stands to reason you wouldn't want to spend a lot of time there. So simply put, you spend more money on outside entertainment. And that can cost you serious wonga. I bet Steve enjoys dimming the lights and curling up on the sofa with a good book just as much as he enjoys the hustle of an overpriced Bangkok bar. I'm not saying you should become a hermit and have all your friends forget what you look like, but staying in does keep your costs down.

A word of warning - always have a quiet word with the landlord before you start doing serious decorating in a rented apartment. Many landlords will charge you a fee for putting holes in walls and a host of other minor things. Even though you may have improved the property, it's a glorious opportunity for a landlord to 'nickel and dime' you when you check out and need to get your deposit money back. In my opinion, you should only make changes that you can literally pick up, pull off, peel off and pull down. And whatever you do - don't take a lump-hammer to any supporting walls.

Do you have a studio apartment that you'd like to show off on ajarn.com?
Let's see your pics! Who knows - perhaps it could be the start of a new career in interior design?