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from an interior nondesigner

First, a disclaimer: I am not a design professional. I cannot draw realistic images in a Pictionary match (I win by shouting louder than everyone else). I never took a course on anything design-related, unless of course anatomy counts. I am a certified doctor currently working as a writer. Zzz.

And I’m writing for Design Folder because … ?

I grew up with and am still surrounded by friends and family who design and build and decorate. My personal living space has been invaded by multiple makeovers and countless renovations, many of which happened without my consent. So that’s my best excuse for guest-blogging.  I am a happy victim of design.

Longest introduction ever.

In my own blog (orangeexpress.blogspot.com), I write design-related anecdotes every now and then. For this df entry, let me share an old orange express piece (slightly revised, not that anyone would care to compare) to give you an idea of what’s to come.

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Living in a house with a resident architect has weird perks.

To make life three times stranger, my dad is an architect, my younger sister is an architect and my older sister is an interior designer. They’ve made our residence a life-size dollhouse of sorts.

Each time I look at the living room, the chairs are in different positions. Our furniture has been moved around so much, each piece must be suffering from positional vertigo by now. It’s fun, yes, because it’s like coming home to a new house every time, but YOU try getting new bruises every time you try to enter your room without the lights on.

For one of my birthdays, my family – inspired by watching too many episodes of Queer Eye – rearranged my room into a totally unrecognizable space, complete with a corner chair and lamp, in case I have to interrogate someone using a bright light.

Another time, I came in and saw that my room was rearranged yet again by Dad (Mr. I-have-too-much-creative-energy-after-retiring-please-let-me-do-something). He hung old framed paintings and random pictures on my walls. I took one look and laughed out of sheer amusement at how my room was so involuntarily dynamic.

And speaking of my Dad: if there’s one thing not everyone knows about him, it’s that he has a thing for lanais. Of course, you’d just have to take one look at our house and it will hit you like a Vigan tile.

Our original house had one porch — a simple outdoor area that led to the living room. Then he added another one (lanai harder), this time on the OTHER side of the living room. Because really, you need two of those in case you have guests who can’t stand each other, right? (I will carefully avoid mentioning at this point that we don’t have what you would call a sprawling estate, so lanai harder is two hops away from the first).

BUT we had a second floor . . . and dad said (to himself, presumably), “It is not good for two lanais to be alone. So then there were three. And dad saw that it was good.

That is, good enough until the next lanai.

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As Design Folder is already proving, design doesn’t have to be technical or serious or boring. In my case, it can get pretty amusing. I don’t mind it one bit.

how do i live: a priceless christmas

If I had all the money in the world, I would indulge in buying ornaments and have my Christmas tree look like a Rustan’s centerpiece. Hmm … then again, maybe not. I would probably feel guilty having a lavish tree that I would enjoy for just a month or so. I am not “Practical Princess” for nothing.

Here are my personal Christmas tree decorating do’s –

As with makeup and structures, you need a good foundation. Fluff up the tree well. Check for “bald spots”. Bend each stem upward to make your tree’s stems simulate the real thing.

Start lighting your tree from the bottom, working your way from the outside, then towards the inside of the trunk, then out again. Wrap the lights around the tree branches for an evenly lit tree. This is the most important step so I take my time in making sure there are no areas left unlit. This year, it took me all of 3 hours to do this – I take Christmas tree lighting very seriously. I used rice lights this year instead of the generic ones – it gives a more subtle effect.

Recycle and add. This is my trick for changing the motif, as I don’t want to overhaul ornaments every year. Last year, we had a blue, green, silver and gold theme. I recycled the glittery gold balls this year and added the red and orange ornaments. I reused the green balls and silver stars, and arranged them in clear vases as table pieces (I got this idea from DF’s Christmas balls article!) Maybe next year, I’ll do a blue and orange theme.

Want those gorgeous, giant bow tree toppers like the ones at the mall? No need to buy a ready-made bow. YouTube it. I watched a couple of how-to’s on YouTube and voila! I made my very own bow tree topper!

A Christmas tree looks naked without a tree skirt. I went to SM to find one, but only saw the usual bright green and red skirts, with some poinsettias and Santas frolicking near the hem. I needed a more mature-looking skirt so I took matters into my own hands. I bought 2 yards of rich gold upholstery fabric and draped it around the base, careful not to expose the unhemmed edges. If I get tired of using it as a tree skirt, maybe I’ll convert it into a table runner.

Lastly, and most importantly, brave Divisoria! Seek and you shall find … the most fabulous Christmas ornaments within your budget!

12 large metallic orange balls – Php 300

24 medium metallic red balls – Php 290

12 metallic orange icicles – Php 300

12 two-tone (red/orange) poinsettias – Php 180

10 yards 3” wide, autumn-print, wire-edged ribbon – Php 250

10 yards 1.5” wide, metallic red, gold wire-edged ribbon – Php 120

6 dozen small gold and lacquered pinecones – Php 240

2 bunches of twigs – Php 100

2 bunches of large metallic two-tone (red/green) holly – Php 70

2 yards gold printed fabric – Php 400

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T O T A L   =   P h p   2 , 2 5 0  

conscious living: cool spaces 06 – elevate, ventilate, insulate

A green space is a space that is built with the local climate in mind. Our country is a tropical climate. And one of the major difficulties of tropical climates is cooling interior spaces.

 Cooling a space mechanically generally takes up as much as 50 percent of the electricity bill. By cutting down on your use of the air-con, not only do you save energy and money, but also any greenhouse gases that may have been emitted by the production of electricity. This series looks at the various ways of being comfortable without turning on the energy.

 ELEVATE, VENTILATE, INSULATE

We can learn a lot in designing for the local climate by looking at our own vernacular houses. Design elements from these houses are perfect examples of how to passively cool your own space.

Bahay Kubo: Illustration by Arch. Stanley Fernandez

Elevate

The most famous of these vernacular houses (at least in Luzon) is the bahay kubo. The bahay kubo has an elevated flooring. Air is freely allowed to pass through underneath and in between the bamboo slats of the floor, ensuring interior circulation.

The elevation also ensures that the floor will not have the same temperature as the ground (in those cases where the ground has absorbed the heat of the entire day).

Ventilate

Ever wonder what the vents on the roof eaves are for? Their purpose is to remove the heat accumulated underneath the roof. The space between the roof and the ceiling serves to trap the heat and prevent it from directly entering the rooms beneath. Conversely, the bigger the space, the bigger is the capacity to absorb more heat. That excess heat has to be ventilated.

Old houses have high-pitched roofs (and high ceilings) for that function. Indigenous tropical houses from around Southeast Asia, including the very popular Balinese style, call for high-pitched gable roofs (inverted V). At both ends of the roof, vents are placed to allow the wind to pass through completely. The steep slope also prevents roof leaks during heavy downpours.

Insulate

The bahay na bato (typical houses found in Intramuros and Vigan) has a ground floor made up of thick adobe walls. The walls kept the temperature so low that the space was sometimes used as cold storage for perishable items.

Adapting to modern times, the thicker and denser the wall material, the better it can absorb and prevent the heat from entering the space. Try using a thicker section of concrete hollow blocks. Other cladding materials such as adobe or bricks are also ideal due to their abundance, and if lucky, can even be quarried and produced from the site itself.

Previous: proper orientation, maximize openings, cross ventilation , stack effect, sunshades

diy tips: how to create a five-star-hotel bed

I never liked matchy-matchy bedding sets, with the sheets, pillowcases and duvet all in one color and print. They look too “department store-ish” if you ask me. So, in order to create a more sophisticated look for the bedroom while keeping things very simple, I apply my penchant for whites when I style beds. For me, a comfortable bed should look clean, soft, and relaxing. And white bed linens are my best friends when I want to achieve just that.

White does great wonders. Take a cue from luxury hotels. Most, if not all, dress their beds in an all-white ensemble. It’s a foolproof way in creating an inviting sleeping space. If plain white sheets are too boring for you, consider the patterned ones like the striped beddings above.

Remember, the higher the thread count, the better. When I shop for my clients, I usually go for 100% cotton with a 300 thread count. It feels soft and luxurious enough without going over the budget. But for situations when the budget is really tight, my lowest limit is a 210-220 thread count.

In spite of our warm weather, some like to snuggle under a comforter and turn-up the air-con. Just be sure to use a duvet cover, the comforter’s “pillowcase”, for easier maintenance. For those who want to be more practical without sacrificing the snug feel, a micro-fiber blanket is a better option. For both the comforter and the micro-fiber blanket, you can go monochromatic and match it with the rest of the sheets, or go darker and opt for beige or grey.

To make it more personal, add in one or two of your favorite colors to the palette. You can also layer in some coordinating prints through your pillowcases and accent/throw pillows to vary the visual texture.

design trail: metro manila street art

For his thesis, UP Fine Arts graduate Ariel Santillan made a coffee table book called Art Avenue: The Manila Street Art Revolution. In it, he documents the evolving style of Filipino graffiti artists. He gladly shares with us some images of the visually interesting street art he found on walls, lampposts, and waiting sheds in different parts of Metro Manila.

We agree with Ariel – some forms of graffiti are more than vandalism. Obviously, these artists have put a lot of effort, time and thought into their works. But, of course, this topic is highly debatable (especially in the context of vandalism and public spaces) and I know a lot of people will disgaree.

Have you seen any interesting street art like these lately? 

*Photos by Ariel Santillan. Check out his great illustrations at his portfolio site here.

quiz: what’s your interior color personality?

I’m currently procrastinating. Blame it on the gloomy weather.

So, while “waiting” for myself to be in the mood to go back to work, I searched the web for interesting design and decorating quizzes.

Here’s a quick one from Pratt and Lambert Paints that identifies your interior color personality.

According to the quiz, I’m a raffia. I agree with the color choices. I’m just not crazy about the matching interior picture (especially the lamps).

How about you? What’s your interior color personality?

i saw design: parasol magazine

The Design Folder team is always looking for fresh ideas and inspirations in the design field. And that’s Ms. CFO’s additional task, hehe!  

We’re happy she stumbled upon PARASOL, a free downloadable magazine showcasing independent artists from the different fields of design: fashion, furniture, arts & crafts, graphic design. The magazine itself is an art piece created by Manila-born graphic designer Yasmine Surovec.  So far, Parasol has already released 5 issues. The latest one features Filipino artists Lala Gallardo, Gerry Alanguilan and Lawrence Valencia (Pinoy pride!).  This certainly has a lot of potential and, for sure, every issue is something the Design Folder team will look forward to.

You can download Parasol magazine at www.parasolmag.com

objects of design: chalkboard paint

I’m sure most of you have seen [500] days of summer. If you haven’t, all three of us recommend it! Apart from the interesting “story about love” (not your usual romantic plot. It’s the type that cynicals, like me, can appreciate ), the film had really nice sets. If you’re a “dainty practical princess” or a “free-spirited diy girl”, you’ll love Summer’s apartment.

If you’re a modern, straightforward individual, you’ll appreciate Tom’s space, especially the chalkboard wall over the bed (green guide loved it!).

We like the idea of a full chalkboard wall, although, I don’t think having it anywhere near your bed is such a good idea (dust=asthma+pimples!). Good locations for this stylish and functional feature are beside your study and near the kitchen or pantry where the whole family can see the day’s ”to do” list.

Now, we are no longer limited to the usual black or green chalkboard paint. Ms. CFO learned from cookiemag.com that there’s already a colored chalkboard coating from Hudson Paint.

I’m just not sure if this is already available in Manila. I know that there’s a distributor of the brand here. Hopefully, they’ll make it available locally. This line has 24 different color choices! Yay! Perfect for kid’s rooms and colorful design concepts.

Now, are you in the mood for…  scribbling? Hehe!

*Interior photos from www.cookiemag.com.

conscious living: cool spaces 05 – sunshades

Bahay kubo in CELL, Cavite

A green space is a space that is built with the local climate in mind. Our country is a tropical climate. And one of the major difficulties of tropical climates is cooling interior spaces.

Cooling a space mechanically generally takes up as much as 50 percent of the electricity bill. By cutting down on your use of the air-con, not only do you save energy and money, but also any greenhouse gases that may have been emitted by the production of electricity. This series looks at the various ways of being comfortable without turning on the energy.

Sunshades

One of the most efficient ways of preventing direct sunlight from entering spaces is providing sunshades.

Sunshades are horizontal or vertical elements that are strategically placed at windows and other openings to directly block the sun’s rays at any given time of the day. Sunshades can also protect the exterior face from added heat gain, keeping the interior cool. There are certain structures that even placed them on the roof!

Window overhang. Photo by Jacob Termansen from Tropical Style by Gillian Beal (2003)

Sunshades come in all shapes and sizes. They can be large fins at the sides of a window or a group of flat louvers covering it entirely. They can also be a lattice or mesh covering the entire structure. They can be made of steel, aluminum, concrete or wood. Plants, specifically vines and hanging varieties, can also be allowed to creep over exterior supports (and if it’s a fragrant, flowering kind, can generate a nice scent inside when the wind passes through).

Vertical louvers. Photo by Jacob Termansen from Tropical Style by Gillian Beal (2003)

Here is the rule of thumb for the use of sunshades. For north or south-facing windows, use horizontal sunshades due to the vertical position of the sun. For east or west-facing windows, use vertical sunshades due to the low angle of the sun at mornings and late afternoon.

The size and design of sunshades can be computed based on the orientation, location and size of the window. Just ask your capable designer (make sure he/she knows the formulas). Or you can download The Solar Tool from the internet (http://ecotect.com/products/solartool).  Try the trial version for free!

Wide roof eaves of the Manosa house

If you have a limited budget, think about redesigning the biggest sunshade you may already have – the roof eaves! Lengthen the roof eaves to at least two meters. Consider lowering and extending the roof line (if your roof is sloped) to at least eye level and partially protecting your windows. That way, even while standing up and the sun is low on the horizon, you will not experience glare.

Previous: proper orientation, maximize openings, cross ventilation , stack effect

Next: elevate, ventilate and insulate

how do i live: art is always in the budget

Getting your own place requires some serious decision making in the finance department. I have had my place for three years, yet my walls were still untouched. I checked out my neighborhood art fair – and everything was so expensive! I decided to take matters into my own hands (literally) and customize my walls with fabric wall art. Here’s a step-by-step:

You will need:

A wooden frame – A Design Folder insider tells me you can get custom sized frames made at the U.P. College for Fine Arts for a low price. You could also channel your inner carpenter and make it yourself with 1” x 2” lumber.

Printed fabric – Pick a sturdy fabric that can withstand stretching. Make sure to leave 3-4” on each side of the frame when cutting it to size. Iron it to get rid of creases.

Staple gun, Scissors, Hammer, Pliers, Screw eyes, Wire for hanging, Nails/hooks for hanging on your wall

Place the wooden frame on top of the fabric. If your fabric has a big print (like mine), make sure you get all the pretty details within the frame.

Staple the fabric into place, stretching it as you go around the frame. Leave the corners for now.

Fold the fabric neatly so it doesn’t bunch up at the corners. Think gift wrapping. Staple.

Cut the excess fabric.

Install screw hook about 3” from the top of the frame. Do the same for the other side. Thread the wire through the screw eye and twist it securely. Do the same for the other side.

Hang anywhere you please.

Fabric wall art looks best when hung as a set. Pick prints and colors that go well together to make an interesting pattern.

Here’s a great tip – Use a lint remover to dust off your fabric wall art. It works wonders.

Share your fabric wall art pictures with us!