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space matters: dr. arsi’s studio

How do you pack a small space with big style? Keep it simple, but multiply the look with mirrors! This was the game plan for Dr. Arsi Balisacan’s executive studio. 

Dr. Balisacan, a faculty member of the UP School of Economics and the former director of SEARCA in UPLB, has a natural inclination for a kind of aesthetics that has an organic flavor. Together with his interior designer, he went for a laid-back, clean, and contemporary design to avoid clutter in his compact space, but added a hint of Asian character through the materials and decorations used.

One interesting piece is this egg-shaped woven wicker droplight from DL Design, a shop of custom-made lamps (check  tomorrow for a separate feature on it). It gives the rather simple living space a punch of rustic texture. The window treatment, a combination of canvas roman shades and pleated draw curtains, also add to the visual texture of the room.

This studio is primarily meant to be Dr. Balisacan’s research hub, therefore storage, especially for his books and references, is one major requirement. A set of 3” thick cantilevered shelves is built-into the wall, connected to the protruding column by the window. Aside from the additional storage space, the shelves added some form of dimension to the room while softening the appearance of the column which could have been a possible eyesore.

Interesting tricks were incorporated into the design that made the unit seem larger. One common trick is the use of mirrors, but in this case, the designer used a large (1500mm x 2100mm) framed mirror that seem to appear like an entryway leading to another room. Because the dining area has a tendency to look cramped, the furniture used are sort of “transparent” – glass-topped dining table with a tripod-like base and dining chairs with a cutout back – to maintain the element of depth and the appearance of layering.

The cubist, harvest-themed painting above the sideboard is by Adrian Morales, a parting gift from his staff in SEARCA when he stepped down as the director early this year.

This table lamp from Keystone is consistent with the modern Asian theme with its sleek chrome stand and woven, banig-like shade.

Like what was done in the dining area, a large mirror was installed beside the bed to reflect more light from the window and to make the room look spacious. Except for the small plant by the window and the beige-white-blue beddings, everything in the bedroom is kept plain and simple to eliminate any chance of visual clutter.