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diy project: printable goodies for valentine’s day

Some of the most interesting and creative blogs that I have encountered so far are those by fabric and card designers, mostly from the US. Apart from the products that they promote at their site, they also have these downloadable & printable paper crafts to let you “sample” their designs.

To give you a head start for valentine’s day, here are some printable goodies from designer Natalie Jost which I just discovered through How About Orange.

Above are printable cardvelopes–a card that folds in thirds and tucks inside itself to form a semi-closed envelope. The patterns on the cards were designed by Natalie for her Love Collection. For the free download, you’ll get these three card designs. But if these three are not enough for you, there’s a full version of 12 cards [image below] available at her shop here.

If you want to give a gift together with your card, Natalie also has a sampler of pretty printable gift labels here.

Happy printing!

space matters: a swanky bachelor’s pad

For our male readers, here’s a modern design for a bachelor’s pad created by Frenjick Quesada and Hisako Hirayama of Design HQ. What makes this condominium space unique is the unexpected Filipino twist added into its design. This space shows how modern design can be both high in style and big in personality. Read on to know more.

This bachelor’s pad features a clean modern design. Although the condominium space is undeniably masculine, elements of warmth and comfort were consciously integrated by reflecting the owner’s personality and interests onto the design.

A dramatic palette of chocolate brown and warm grays renders the space. Complementing textures of wood and leather were contrasted with stainless steel and other metallic accents, creating a cozy environment for relaxing while, at the same time, being a chic space for entertaining friends.

The client is an avid reader and has a wide collection of books. So, instead of storing the books inside closed cabinets, we decided to showcase them as an integral part of the interior design. Different types of built-in open shelves were carefully added throughout the unit to keep the books organized while making them a part of the interesting composition of the interiors. 

There were shelves fitted above the windows, together with a customized step ladder, to maximize the space.

In both the entertainment area and the bedroom, there were drawers built under the ledges to further improve the functionality of the space.

An interesting feature of the design is the Filipino bone-and-wood inlay applied throughout the interiors. This detail was made modern by using customized linear patterns inspired by the client’s Arturo Luz painting displayed in the dining wall. The patterns, reminiscent of the art deco style, were applied to drawer faces, the coffee table top and key furniture pieces. 

Another unique use of the bone-and-wood inlay is its application as a monogram on select chairs, spelling the client’s initials in Braille. The same approach was used for the main bookshelves, whose decorative wood panels have inlays that spell “books”.  A star pattern was also developed for some drawer faces, since the client’s name literally translates into the word “star”.

*photos by Erik Liongoren courtesy of Design HQ

objects of design: granny chic

Last week, I mentioned how I got started with my interest in crafting.  At an early age, I picked up on my mom’s interest in crocheting. She taught me the basic stitiches and I just worked around them to come up with patterns. I made a table runner and a throwpillow for the house. In college, I also made myself a thick cream school bag and a mini red-white-and-blue hand bag.

But let’s face it, most people don’t consider crochet as cool or fun. In fact, ithe craft is often associated with mommies and grannies and with old Filipino interiors. That’s why I was so thrilled to stumble upon yvestown’s photostream over at flickr. Yvonne, from Lommel, Belgium, is one of those people who are changing the image of crocheted goods, giving them a fresh new look–granny chic!

What i love about her crafting style is the way she combines colors. Here palettes are light, bright, and pretty. Every piece looks young, fun and updated to suit our current aesthetic taste. Here are my favorite items from Yvonne:

Fresh and inspiring images to start the week!

For more about Yvonne’s works and musings visit her blog here.

* all photos by by Yvonne from yvestown via flickr

diy projects: pillows abloom

When i was young (like grade 3 young), instead of playing with my neighbors, i spent summer afternoons watching filipino DIY shows–channel 4′s TELEARALAN NG KAKAYAHAN and channel 7′s NEGOSYETE. Haha!

I know, my interests are so “granny”. But take note, because of these shows, I learned how to crochet like a pro at grade 5, making my first table runner (which i cannot find anymore). I also learned how to knit by following the tutorials of Negosyete using a pair of barbecue sticks in place of the real metal knitting needles.

I have to admit, now that i’m an interior designer, my unconventional childhood interests and skills come very handy. I actually miss those days when I have a lot of time (and energy) to make my craft projects. If only I have the luxury of time, I would love to make these pretty felt flower pillows.

This red-and-black chrysanthemum pillow is made by Amy of H is for Handmade. Follow her step-by-step tutorial for this project here.

Another version for this project is Molly’s felt flower pillow which has a more tailored design. Follow her detailed instructions over at The Purl Bee here.

Both projects use felt fabrics because the material doesn’t require you to sew and finish the edges anymore. Simply cut and assemble! You can also use other thick fabrics in making these pillows. You just have the additional step of sewing the edges for a neat finish.

diy tips: 10 ways to use the color of 2010

images from Pantone

Goodbye Mimosa yellow, hello Turquoise!

Pantone, the global authority in color (ok, this is debatable), announced last December that Turquoise is the big hue for 2010. From what I’ve read so far, people have mixed reviews over the new color-of-the-year. Some, especially those who love Turquoise, are raving about it. Others, who are probably unsure about the trendy-ness of the color, are not so enthusiastic about the announcement.

“Now, what is a little odd is that Turquoise was a big color for fashion LAST year and many lines have discontinued items in that color for this 2010 year (like Apple, Gucci, Beirn and HeysUSA). Perhaps Pantone was picking up on last year’s trends? “ [via ifitshipitshere]

While last year’s Mimosa carried vibes of optimism and positivity, this year’s Turquoise is all about the message of hope and better beginnings.

“There was no runner-up to turquoise in my mind because people crave escapism and freshness after a tough year. The shade is on the cusp of blue and green, which makes it both inviting and serene — characteristics associated with blues — and invigorating and luminous, which come from green. The public is shifting gears as the economy shows some improvement: They are ready to fantasize a bit about the beach resort,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, explains. [via PSFK]

Whether you think it’s hot or not, expect to see a lot of this color in fashion runways, furniture stores, and designer shops. I guess, the more important question is this: how do you use this color in design and decoration? The great thing about Turquoise is that it can be paired with a whole lot of colors because of its blue+green mix.

To help you out, here are my T E N   T U R Q U O I S E   P A L E T T E S   F O R   2 0 1 0.

1) Evoke the freshness of spring with BLUE + GREEN.

image from decorpad.com

2) Go vintage with RED + ORANGE.

images from freshnestdesign.com

3) Get glammed up with BLACK.

image via houseofturquoise.com

4) Create visions of restful getaways with bold turquoise against ORGANIC NEUTRALS.

image via houseofturquoise.com

5) Embrace summer fun at the beach with WHITES + DISTRESSED COLORS.

image via houseofturquoise.com

6) Childlike innocence is unmistakable with PINK+YELLOW.

image via houseofturquoise.com

7) Establish sophistication with CHOCOLATE BROWN.

image via design-ties.blogspot.com

8 ) Clean modernism is evident with SILVER + GRAYS.

image via decorpad.com

9) Revisit the interiors of Western period styles with CREAMS + RED + BROWNS.

image from atlanatahomesmag.com

10) Render your space in vibrant tropical colors with ORANGES + MAGENTA.

image from willowpoppy via flickr

Can’t get enough of this vibrant color? Visit houseofturquoise.com and everythingturquoise.com for more inspiration. 

space matters: southbay home

A couple of weeks ago, my googling directed me to the website of Frenjick Quesada and Hisako Hirayama, principal interior designers of Design HQ. Their portfolio is impressive! I particularly appreciate the fact that their works feature a range of design perspectives—from traditional Filipino interiors to modern minimalist spaces—demonstrating their ability to come up with interesting design concepts instead of simply altering popular styles.

Their approach could be attributed to their design philosophy that acknowledges the important role of the client in the whole design process. “We believe in listening to the client. We recognize that each project has its own unique design and functional requirements. Our emphasis on communication results in a true collaboration between the designer and the client. We make every effort to design with a fresh look reflecting the client’s taste and individuality.”

For our next Space Matters features, Frenjick and Hisako will share with us three of their residential projects here in Manila. First up is their east-meets-west design for a home in Southbay, Paranaque. Enjoy!

[Because the family enjoys spending as much time outdoors as they do indoors, the interior was laid out in an open plan, minimizing room divisions to maximize the verdant views outdoors. Even the main entrance is  partially screened off by a set of 6x6-inch posts functioning as a see-through partition which sets the foyer from the rest of the interior space.]

[The interior space at the ground floor includes the living area, dining area, and the kitchen, all offering views of the garden.]

[The house’s 260-square meter floor area feels much bigger because of design’s use of an open plan layout, a continuous visual flow from the interior space to the outdoor garden, and the double-height ceiling at the living area.]

[The den/guest room behind the living area also has sliding doors that are kept open when no guests are occupying it, therefore allowing for additional cross ventilation.]

[The furnishings are an eclectic mix of modern western pieces with contemporary and traditional Asian furniture. Antique pieces, such as the mid-century lounge chair and the traditional Chinese cabinet, make great conversational pieces in the living area. Their similar colors allow them to exist harmoniously in spite of their contrasting styles.]

[The design incorporated a lot of wood components throughout the house, such as the custom made front door with kamagong wood inlay, the wooden staircase, and the solid wood furniture pieces, all of which help tie the different design elements together.]

[The large masters’ bedroom consists of an ante room with a lounging area and an entertainment system, and the sleeping area which has a view of the garden below.]

*photos by Erik Liongoren courtesy of Design HQ

conscious living: how green is green? (part one)

One of the difficulties encountered by designers in green design is specifying green building materials. How does one classify a material “green” in the first place? How does one measure the “greenness” of the material? How does one choose one green material over the other?

Luckily, a measuring system was developed to determine the “greenness” of materials – THE CARBON FOOTPRINT.

The carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions of a particular product. For simplicity’s sake, the greenhouse gas most referred to is the carbon dioxide (hence the term – carbon footprint).

To find out the carbon footprint of a particular material, one has to add all the CO² byproducts emitted during the extracting, harvesting, processing, transportation and installation of the building material. Fortunately, you don’t have to compute for yourselves, as most common building materials have already been derived. These figures can easily be found in the internet.

Next to wood, bamboo is the greener alternative.

One rule of thumb to gauge the amount of carbon footprint of a material is to discern the amount of energy used to process and transport it. The more energy was expended to create it, the higher is its carbon footprint number. That’s why wood is seen more as a greener material than steel. The amount of energy to smelt, shape and form steel is tremendously higher than harvesting wood. (Then of course, we’re talking about cutting trees. But that’s a topic for a different time.)

Also, the more distance the product has to travel from the factory to the site, the higher is its carbon footprint number. Say you found imported floor tiles from Europe that markets itself as green. It does not necessarily make it greener than local floor tiles, because it had to travel so far (and consume more amounts of fuel) to reach your space. Thus, one of the advocacies of green design is using locally produced materials. Most local materials have inherently lower carbon footprint due to their proximity to building sites.

The carbon footprint can also be used to assess one’s lifestyle.

Cascio’s cheeseburger footprint–do you eat green?

This carbon footprint calculator here can compute how much you’re consuming against the world’s average. Check it out and see if you’re really living a green life.

diy project: make a clock out of old cds

As per orange’s request, here’s a great idea on how to re-use your old CDs–make them into mini-clocks!

I found this cd clock tutorial over at youcanmakethis.com. The project is so easy, even kids can make it! Maybe with a little help from the adults on installaing the clock parts.

youcanmakethis’ design (images above) is more on the pretty side, using colorful scrapbook paper to decorate the face. But I’m so sure you can come up with other designs.

To get you started, here are some more ideas for inspiration:

a scratched/crackled surface from geek-ware ,

… an industrial concept combining the shiny side of the CD + a cut circuit board from greensmartgifts,

… and a more challenging version from blisstree using clock parts with a pendulum and a painted CD clock face.

If you have a lot of old CDs, tons of creativity, and enough free time, you can make several clocks as gifts for family and friends.  You can even turn this into a business, making customized designs for sale as giveaways, souvenirs, or personalized gifts.

objects of design: philippine antiques

As proven by yesterday’s post, preserving things from the past can be very rewarding. The term “antique” used to be associated with “old” or “outdated”. Today, it’s synonymous with “priceless.” Depending on the item and how you display it, an antique piece can add great value to your home.

Last month, we took you to a uniquely Filipino home – a recreation of a 19th century Vigan-style bahay na bato. The home had so many interesting antique pieces that we couldn’t fit them all in last month’s post.

The homeowner has been an antique collector for years. His collections range from big pieces of antique furniture to small accessories like candleholders and oil lamps. He says that anybody can be a collector but advises there are certain guidelines in collecting antiques:

1. First, you have to have the passion to collect.
2. Be guided by books and friends who have an eye for design.
3. Look beyond what is there – see the potential in everything.
4. Map it out and plan ahead. You should know how to use the item and where to place it.
5. Collect one piece at a time. Save up for the great pieces – the pieces you really want.
6. In a modern home, antiques work best as focal points or accent pieces.
7. Proper maintenance is key. Wax or wipe every so often.

There are a lot of places where you can buy quality Philippine antiques. You just have to have the patience to dig and hunt. Go to garage sales and junk shops (especially those at Laong Laan, Manila). Bohol, Bulacan and Pampanga are also great places to find one-of-a-kind collectibles.

design trail: sariaya, quezon

The ancestral houses in Sariaya, Quezon have always fascinated Joyner Nuera, a UP Fine Arts graduate. For her thesis, she took photographs of these interesting homes in the place where she grew up and decided to share them with Design Folder.

Joyner says that what make these houses more interesting is how different they look from the rest of the houses in the area. Their designs were by the best architects of that time like Juan Nakpil and Andres Luna de San Pedro and are “showcases of the opulent lifestyle of old moneyed Sariayahins during the heyday of the coconut industry in the pre-War years.”

We’re glad to have discovered another town in the Philippines where architectural masterpieces are preserved. We hope we can visit Sariaya soon!

*additional info from sariaya.net, photographs by Joyner Nuera