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space matters: a minimalist home

I’ve just started clearing off papers and junk that have collected in my bedroom these past few months. And I’m finding it to be very therapeutic – the perfect de-stressor after months of thesis work! As my space gets cleaner, I feel a bit more relaxed.

That’s the thing I noticed when I first walked into the minimalist home we’re featuring today. Everything was so clean, so light and airy that I felt very peaceful and very stress-free inside it.

That’s what the owners wanted their home to be – a calming space where people can breathe. That’s why they did away with any unnecessary decoration. With guidance from their interior designer, Apple Consunji, they opted for clean lines and a simple color palette to create that sense of tranquility. Obviously, the owners of this home don’t have horror vacui.

What makes this home even more like a sanctuary is the presence of lots of natural light. The light bounces off the warm white walls and makes the space even bigger and brighter than it already is.

I especially loved their bathrooms. I could live in these bathrooms! With their sleek surfaces and soft lighting, they blended seamlessly with the overall décor of the home.

product wars: department store shopping part two

For the second and last installment of our department store shopping series, we went to Crossings Shangri-la Mall and Landmark Trinoma.

I visited Crossings at Shangri-la and found lots of interesting items. They’ve upgraded their home section. Before, there were only a few furniture pieces displayed at Crossings. Now, they are really keeping their home section alive and bright – especially with the accessories. There were a lot of interesting vases to choose from! I think their theme now with the vases is “coral reef.” The downside is that there were more interesting accessories than furniture pieces. I guess it also matters that the space they’re occupying is very limited. They can’t really display many big items.

Overall, though, the pieces available at Crossings are worth a second look. They’re also very affordable and they have frequent half-off sales. Here are my finds:

clockwise from upper left: droplight, P2,698.00; table lamp, P1,238.00; dining set, P19,998.00; pillow, P349.75; metallic vase, P1,779.75; queen bed, P23,198.00; arm chair with ottoman, P11,800.00; green container, P1,108.00; green vase, P1,439.75

Ms. CFO was the one who visited Landmark and here’s what she found:

“There were a lot of great finds inside Landmark, but these were mostly home accessories.  You can choose from a wide variety of lamps, photo frames, and bathroom accessories.  I found the designs of the floor lamp and tray quite unique and affordable.  For the big items such as the sofa set, the bed, and the dining table, Landmark had very limited choices, most of them either had a similar color palette or design.”

clockwise from upper left: bed frame, P11,999.75 / bed (orthopedic), P10,719.75; photo frame, P259.75 (set of 3); floor lamp, P1,099.75; tray/organizer, P249.75; L Type sofa, P10,000.00; dining set, P9,900.00; bath organizer, P199.00

We hope you enjoyed our two-part department store shopping series. Don’t forget to answer our mini poll below:

product wars: department store shopping part one

I’ve spent a huge chunk of my life in malls. I’m a mallrat – and I’m not ashamed to admit it. What’s not to love about malls? They have everything you want and need. They have cinemas for the film buff, boutiques for the fashionista, bookstores for the reader, and a food court for the hungry. And of course, malls also have something for the homeowner – department stores with lots of nice and affordable furniture and accessories.

This is what I love most about the home sections of mall department stores. They offer a lot of choices. But the possibilities and options can be a bit overwhelming. So we, the Design Folder team, decided to do a challenge: find the best and most affordable pieces that mall department stores have to offer.

Let’s start with SM Megamall and find out if they’ve really “got it all for you.”

Ardel checked out SM Homeworld at the basement level of Building B, while Green Guide went through the furnishings at Our Home at the basement level of Building A. Here are their finds:

“There were not much interesting/stylish selections for the big items–dining set, bed frame, sofa, arm chairs, cabinets. Most of them look very typical.  So, for that part, it was quite a challenge for me. However, I’m still a big fan of SM Homeworld because of their good selection of accessories that are very affordable. Although it’s not included in the list, it’s worth to mention that they also carry a wide range of beddings, from affordable ones to high-end lines.” -Ardel

Clockwise from top left: two-seater sofa, P10,950.00; 21″x15″ frame with matte board, P469.75; ikhea drop light, P2,299.75; pillow, P149.75; four-seater dining set, P15,950; yellow green accent chair, P6,995.00; two-drawer side table, P4,995.00; table lamp, P3,249.75; turquoise molded plastic chair, P1,995.00; and red vase, P579.75.

“Our Home is packed with a range of really nice products, from basic items to trendy pieces. Unfortunately, the really good ones are quite expensive. They have a range of styles and price points for the main furniture pieces–sofa, chairs, cabinets, beds–so you have a lot to choose from. Similarly, Our Home also carries home accessories that are basic and affordable, as well as stylish but a bit more pricey (i.e. umbra line and their table lamps).” -Green Guide

Clockwise from top left: Eglo Fargo, P3,4999.75; pillows, P499.75 (blue plaid), P549 (gold metallic); quadro wall decor (mirror), P4,999.75; white bed frame (queen), P11,000; dining set, P24,950; Eglo sendo, P1,499.75; circk wing chair, P13,000; geneva coffee table, P8,995; small canvas bin, P299.75; and 3- and 2-seater sofa set, P24,950.

diy project: love-is-[almost]-blind tray

Last week, I had to get an eye exam for the renewal of my driver’s license. As usual, I did really bad. I think I only got the letters correctly upto the third line. So, I guess my astigmatism is getting worse. *blag*

That’s why I can totally relate to this tray project, which I stumbled upon at ink bloom. This project calls for a printed vinyl decal on a typical serving tray. You can also make this project replacing the tray with a large wooden picture frame and a similar image displayed inside it. Simply screw in coordinating cabinet pulls to function as tray handles. 

spacelift: from masculine to feminine

Today, I’m working on an article about “gendered designs”. The premise is that there is a noticeable difference between the design of a male architect/interior designer and the design of a female architect/interior designer. Many times (but not always), spaces done by female designers have a certain “softness” in them, while the designs made by male designers appear quite “structured”. Probably, these are natural and unconscious inclinations of both genders. I am not sure, but there must be some scientific explanation to this.

Here’s an example to demonstrate my point. My female friend re-styled this condominium unit originally designed by a male interior designer. The only requirement of the client was to give it an updated, clean look.

Originally, the interiors have a masculine character dominated by dark colors and rigid lines.

When the unit was re-styled, it was a given a brighter look by just adding lots of whites and creams, plus some fresh and personal details.

Together with fine textures and a few streaks of subtle colors, the spaces were given a softer new look without looking too girly or too dainty.

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[Have you given your space (or furniture) a makeover? Share it with us! Email us about it with before and after pictures at mydesignfolder@yahoo.com. ]