Render to reality: our drawings next to our finished buildings
A render is a picture of a building that does not exist yet. Here is how we show ours next to the finished thing, and what that comparison can and cannot tell you.
A render is a computer drawing of how a building will look before it is built. It is a promise, not proof. The fair test of any developer is simple: ask to see their render next to a photo of the same building, finished.
We post ours on our Instagram, with dates, where anyone can check them. Below are our pairs from Koh Samui: Portofino Village in Lipa Noi, Villa Miami in Laem Sor and MARS Eatery & Art in Lamai, then Villa Picasso in Tulum, Mexico. We say what each comparison shows, and where it stops.
What a render-to-reality comparison can tell you
A comparison answers one question: did the finished building turn out like the drawing? It shows the shape, the layout on the plot, the pool, the windows and the finishes you can see.
It does not show what is inside the walls. Drainage, steelwork, waterproofing and wiring decide whether a building lasts. For those, you need progress photos taken during the build, and a builder who will walk you round a finished one.
So we treat a comparison as one check among several. We post the render, the weeks of building in between, and the finished photo.
One plain-English note: builders also use "render" for the smooth coat of plaster on a wall. On a site you may hear both meanings in the same week.
Portofino Village, Lipa Noi: render first, then the build
On 25 November 2024 we posted 3D renders of our hillside development at Portofino Village. They showed the Pearl villas on the first level and Villa Emerald and another villa on the level above.
Then we posted the build as it happened:
- 2 December 2024: floor slabs set for concrete at Villa Emerald.
- 26 March 2025: a progress film, from clearing the land onwards.
- 14 August 2025: Villa Emerald's outside walls being plastered smooth.
- 25 October 2025: the first villa in the village completed.
- 4 February 2026: Villa Emerald reached completion and moved to furnishing.
- 6 July 2026: Villa Pearl, Plot 1 reached completion, with four bedrooms and a 10 m pool.
That gives you the render, more than eighteen months of dated progress, and the finished villas. You can judge the match yourself. See the full Portofino Village build record.
Villa Miami, Laem Sor: before and after
For Villa Miami we did not post a render. What we posted was a before and after, which is a different kind of proof.
On Instagram: See this on Instagram
In April 2025 we said the villa was in its final stages of building. On 25 April we showed the pool terrace before and after: a fountain, bubble jets and an underwater seat made from terrazzo, a polished stone-chip finish. On 7 May we showed Villa Miami and Villa Malibu next door, before and after.
The villa is built or rebuilt by us and now runs as a rental. It holds 4.85 out of 5 on Airbnb from 27 reviews, which tells you what guests think of the real thing. See Villa Miami's details and guest rating.
MARS Eatery & Art, Lamai: renders beside the old building
When we started work on MARS Eatery & Art in Lamai, we posted our renders beside photos of the restaurant as it stood. That was on 24 January 2026. On 3 March we posted updated facade renders, and in April we trialled exterior colours on the wall itself.
MARS held its soft opening, a quiet first opening to the public, on 4 July 2026. You can now compare the March facade render with the building on the street. Read how we renovated and fitted out MARS.
Villa Picasso, Tulum: the pair we asked people to judge
Our clearest single comparison is in Tulum, Mexico. On 5 July 2023 we posted the finished Villa Picasso with the render and the real photo side by side. Our caption asked: "What you think of the comparison between the render and the real photo?"
On Instagram: See this on Instagram
We did not claim a perfect match. We put both pictures up and let people decide.
In February 2025 we revisited it with a before-and-after film of the build. By then, we said, the villa had earned rental income every month for two years. It holds 4.73 out of 5 on Airbnb from 92 reviews.
Name check: Villa Picasso in Tulum is not Villa Picasso Ko Samui in Taling Ngam, a separate villa we built and sold.
How to use this when you choose a developer
Whoever you buy from or build with, ask for the same three things:
- The render and the finished photo of one building, both dated.
- Progress photos from in between, so you can see the parts that end up hidden.
- A visit to a finished building, or reviews from people who have stayed in one.
If you are thinking of buying off-plan, meaning before the building is finished, these checks matter most. Our guide on whether off-plan is safe on Koh Samui and how to vet a developer goes further. For the building side, read how to choose a builder on Koh Samui.
Want to see a render of your own project, then the real thing? Ask about building.