Design Folder: Your Online Design and Decorating Resource

in good taste: breakfast at antonio’s

I’ve been meaning to visit the newly renovated Antonio’s restaurant in Tagaytay. Good thing a friend of ours invited us to have breakfast there during the long weekend. I’ve been to the old Antonio’s restaurant and Breakfast at Antonio’s, and both were very successful in creating a wonderful ambiance for its customers. Naturally, I had high expectations for the new one and it did not disappoint me.

Reception area of Antonio’s

The interiors of the dining areas were very easy on the eyes, making use of only white and black paint. I love how the designer was able to include key elements to make the space look fresh and inviting. Apart from using intricately designed tiles and lamps, wooden pieces were also into integrated creating a very homey atmosphere.

Big vases in bold colors were also used as accent pieces

We ate at the ground floor, surrounded by big windows, perfect for the cool Tagaytay breeze. Of course the food was fantastic! You can choose from a wide variety of Filipino and Continental dishes. In case you plan to visit, order the french toast and the beef roesti - ana

style shopping: wine story

Because of their taste and the immediate dizziness that I get from them, I’m not a fan of alcoholic beverages except for the sweet and highly diluted mimosa (with lots of orange juice). In spite of that, I have always been intrigued by the culture behind wine. You can count me as a wine ignorant until I got the assignment to cover Wine Story, a new wine shop in Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

Established by the same company behind Healthy Options, Wine Story is definitely not your usual wine store. Unlike other shops that simply sell wines, Wine Story is like your one-stop shop for everything about wine. On top of their wide selection of wines, they also carry crystal wares, wine books and tasting diaries for those wine aficionados. 

What primarily sets it apart from other stores is that it only carries high-end wines with Bordeaux being their specialty. Compared to common table wines, I was told that the high-end ones boast of a more complex taste. Their bottles are displayed like how one would display diamond jewelries—showcased in a lighted glass case (bottom photo) which, in their case, also functions as a cellar.

Because their bottles are pricey (if I remember correctly, the least expensive bottle is at Php 5,000), they allow their clients to “preview” some of their selections before settling on a bottle. Their 32-bottle enomatic machines or automatic wine dispensers (top photo) make wine tasting look and feel so high-tech. A small LED panel (above) displays the characteristic of each wine and the prices per glass. For wine enthusiasts and wine newbies alike, this feature also makes it possible to enjoy different wines without spending a fortune.

To complement its high-end identity, the store’s interior, designed by interior designer Nicky Magcase, features top of the line materials and finishes to give the brand an equally luxurious image. -ardel

in good taste: caffe ti-amo

Maybe because of our warm climate, frozen and icy desserts are always a big hit in the country. There were the Magnolia Ice Cream Parlor in the 60s, Slush Puppy of the 80s and 90s (ok, this may just be limited to select schools, hehe) and Zagu and Quickly of the early ’00s.

Right now, the latest in frozen desserts is the fro-yo or frozen yogurt that let’s you indulge in ice cream-like goodness minus the guilt. But the “real thing” is not far behind. Gelato, that creamy italian ice cream, is recently giving fro-yo a good competition.

A couple of weeks ago, after our shoot at Recipes, the df team stumbled upon Caffe Ti-Amo in SM North Annex. With its brick-clad walls (above) that try to simulate the Italian old-world charm, Caffe Ti-Amo’s space looks warm and friendly. However, what really caught our attention was the display of gelato in front of the shop (below).

They all look so good! Because we cannot decide which ones to try, the girl at the counter let us sample their ice cream variants with tiny spoons. After trying 5 flavors, we settled on the very creamy (no exaggeration)dark chocolate gelato and the fruity blueberry gelato.

Another thing we love–their shovel-shaped spoons!

According to the staff, Caffe Ti -Amo is a Korean brand. This shop in SM North is their first in the Philippines.

Caffe Ti-Amo is located at the upper ground floor level of SM North Annex.

in good taste: recipes

The familiar white and concrete interior of Recipes restaurant is now in SM The Block!

The minimalist design has been their signature look even with their first restaurant in SM Megamall (then known as Cafe Metro) which was done in wood and polished concrete. The stark simplicity of their interior creates a sharp contrast against the rich color of their modern Filipino dishes. 

For their other locations, visit their facebook fan page HERE.

in good taste: z bar, cebu

Z Bar was one of my friend’s highly recommended places to visit in Cebu because of its unique and impressive design. Because bars are always dimly lit, their interiors seldom have very detailed designs. But Z Bar is different.

After our first dinner in Cebu, Ana and I went to check the bar together with Ian (our impromptu photographer for the night, with his ever dependable Lumix camera) and our new-found friend Chito (our unofficial sponsor for the night, hehe).

I have seen photos of Z Bar before, but it looks way more amazing in person. Its design is a collaboration between modernist architect Ed Calma and designer Kenneth Cobonpue. Kenneth is internationally known for his organic furniture designs. Z Bar is, if I’m not mistaken, his first design applied on a full-scale interior. From what I gather, the primary motivation for the design was the small size of the space. So, to make the space look bigger, instead of highlighting the walls and ceiling, they were made to sort of disappear!

Those little wishbone-shaped stuff that seem to be floating in mid-air are bamboo twigs tied by hand onto a randomly welded metal frame. It is a blown-up, warped version of Kenneth’s Kris Kros screen which uses the same concept. Down on the floor are lighted onyx (translucent natural stone) tiles whose natural grains complement the overall organic look. This is the same material used for the lighted staircase (first photo). Apart from the lighted floor, there were also hanging accent lamps made from salago fibers, such as the round Moon lamp.

The bar felt and looked like there’s an abyss above you. Actually, I don’t know which is a more fitting association—a galaxy/outer space, an interior of a glowing beehive, or some scene in Avatar. You just have to see it for yourself.

Z Bar is located at the second floor of The Tinder Box, Archbishop Reyes Ave., Banilad, Cebu City.

*Photos courtesy of Ian Santos

giveaway!: biksa coffee

Remember our feature on Biksa Coffee last October? It’s the laidback, not-too-commercial coffee shop that’s making a buzz in Marikina. This afternoon, I dropped by Biksa for a cup of almond mocha coffee. Yum!

It’s definitely Christmas in Biksa! After being submerged under the chest-deep flood of typhoon Ondoy, it’s good to see that the coffee shop is back in it’s usual “happy and creative” self.

What’s even more interesting is Biksa’s effort in going green for the holidays–all of their Christmas decorations are made from the coffee shop’s ”trash”. This just shows that one man’s trash SHOULD ALSO be his own treasure, hehe

They have a paper mache Santa Clause using Biksa’s old newspaper,

… a colorful Christmas tree made up of empty Torani bottles,

… a relief wall art using painted milk cartons,

… and poinsettia trims made from cut softdrink bottles.

After being one of the hard-hit victims of the flood, it’s very inspiring to see that Biksa still has its creative drive to put up wonderful handmade decors, rendering the place with a warm Christmas atmosphere.

Here’s another good news. Biksa is giving away two (2) P500 gift certificates to our df readers! Yey!

To join the draw, just leave a comment on this post with your email address (will not be published). This giveaway will end on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 8am (manila time). Two winners will be drawn through a random number generator, announced on this post, and will be contacted via email.

For their complete menu and contact details, visit Biksa’s website here.

UPDATE 12/29/09: Giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who joined and gave their wonderful comments! Congratulations to the winning commenters: #7–Daniel and #3–Lesley. The Design Folder Team will contact you through email on how to claim your gc.

in good taste: charito’s delights by heidrun milan

[I know Tacloban, Leyte as the home of Imelda Marcos. I also love their delicacies, especially that suman that has a chocolate-like filling. Yum!

I have been to Tacloban once, last year, when I was invited to be a resource speaker for a design seminar. Apart from being rich in history and heritage, Tacloban is also rich in design talents. In fact, this is the hometown of noted interior designer Leo Almeria.

Our friend, and df reader, Heidrun Milan is another talented young interior designer from Tacloban. Ms. Creative Director and I met him during our review classes for the board exam (Heidrun finished fourth!). Apart from his design practice, Heidrun also teaches interior design in Eastern Visayas State University.

Today, he shares with us his design for Charito’s Delights, a delicacy shop in Robinsons Place, Tacloban. Using indigenous materials in non-traditional applications, he gives the rustic Filipino country style an updated look, making it more relevant and appealing to today’s contemporary taste. ]

 ************

Charito’s Delights is a delicacy shop that sells cookies and pastries. Pili nuts are the main ingredient for most of their products.

When I designed their shop, one of the major considerations that we had is to create a cozy home-like ambiance. The owner wanted to adopt the appearance of a home interior as a reminder of its humble beginnings as a cottage industry. The look is rustic with an old world Filipino charm to preserve the brand’s identity as a homegrown product. However, the design gave the traditional look a modern twist by integrating unconventional applications of indigenous materials like bamboo and coconut shells. These are not typically seen in most commercial spaces.

The circular bamboo sections add an interesting pattern to the counter front while its countertop is finished with polished coconut shells.

These are also used for the open display shelves on the wall. To promote regional identity, Ticog mats, a major product of nearby province Samar, were used to clad the door fronts of the cabinets. They also serve as the inspiration for the flooring, with the tiles following a woven banig (mat) pattern.

Instead of using harsh exposed fluorescent lamps, indirect lighting fixtures are designed to make the interiors “glow”. Panels of laminated skeletonized leaves with back lighting are used for the ceiling to illuminate the whole space. Large droplights and wall lamps, also made of skeletonized leaves with abaca, provide accent lighting.

*Photos courtesy of Tricia Ann Ramirez Pagpaguitan

in good taste: biksa coffee

Going to coffee shops has recently become an integral part of our lifestyle. Coffee shops have been a favorite hangout among friends, a relaxed venue for small meetings, and a more accessible place for relaxation. Now, with laptops and the wifi technology going mainstream, these spots are now a favorite extension of the workplace.

Biksa, from a play of the Tagalog phrase “saBIK SA coffee” (excited over coffee), is a new coffee shop in Marikina. Its design is centered on creating a relaxed environment with a special attention to providing an alternative setting for work. Managing partner Dr. Ephraim Brizuela has always been a patron of coffee shops. Together with his wife, Dr. Grace Brizuela, they frequent coffee shops and treat them as an extension of their workplace. This personal relationship with these places became their starting point for the concept and design of Biksa Coffee.

From the beginning, they told their designer that they envisioned the shop to be an alternative office—a relaxed space that encourages productivity and creative thinking by allowing their customers to work while enjoying good food and good coffee. The goal was to come up with a functional yet creative space, which has a simple design to minimize potential visual clutter and distractions.

The interior is quite different from your usual coffee shop. It is bright, white, and spacious.

The curved lines on the floor and ceiling, and the round form of the lighting fixtures and accent chairs soften the rectangular shape of the space.

The floor is an interesting combination of polished concrete and wood planks. Also, instead of applying them onto the walls, color is introduced through the upholstered furniture.

Various indigenous materials, like capiz and wicker, lend the interiors with a familiar Filipino character.

Unconventional artworks in the form of framed photographs and mounted “junk art” set a creative and inspiring atmosphere.

These relief art by the talented Jun Tolentino are made of cut pieces from several phone cards he gathered from Dubai. The interesting color combinations and detailed patterns of the cards were pieced together to create new patterns in 3-D abstract forms. 

Their dining tables are big enough to let you work on your laptop while eating or drinking. On top of that, they have fast (and free) wifi, as well as strategically located convenience outlets near every table so you can plug your computer (for free) when you run out of battery.

Biksa was one of the establishements in Marikina affected by the flood during typhoon Ondoy. After three weeks of cleaning and putting the whole place together, the coffee shop is now back in business!

Biksa Coffee is located at 18 Gil Fernando Ave. cor Dragon St., Marikina City. Check out their website here for their menu and other information.