Executive Lounge- BGC

Hi, friends! It's been a while since I've posted here, but I wanted to share with you a project I did in BGC (Philippines). 

This space was really meant to be an executive lounge - a space for meetings, and more like a gathering place for our family. We each have our own office and thought this was a good, central location to work together and meet clients once or twice a week.

The reception served as a holding place for deliveries so I kept it small. The entire (silver) shelving system is a privacy screen and was really meant to be full of potted plants. I opted to do that instead of a solid wall so the space doesn't seem too closed off. Right now it just has some decor so it’s low maintenance while nobody is using the space.

You are greeted with an open plan, with workstations for 11 people and 4 guests. We also have a daybed for lounging, which in my case served as my son's corner when I used to work out of this space. 

The entire floor area is in marble, so to help with the acoustics we used lots of wooden furniture, upholstered seats, and an area rug. Roller shades are also being installed this week. 

These glass tables and partitions help to make the space feel lighter. Office spaces tend to feel so cluttered because of all the stations and partitions, so I knew from the start that I didn’t want any solid walls. For storage, we have a credenza behind the 2 executive tables, the overhead cabinets and the shelving system in front. 

warm elegance in Roslyn, NY

Renovating!

FLOR area rug, Crate and Barrel Lounge II, Vito Selma Geo Table & coffee table, Herman Miller Bolster Club Chair, CB2 Silverado dining table, CB2 Rouka dining chair, Blox 50" bench

Here are some before and afters I did yesterday for the living room...

Pangulasian Island by El Nido Resorts (Part 2)

[Read part 1 HERE]

Pangulasian Island by El Nido Resorts (Part 1)

We needed time to de-stress after our wedding reception in Cebu so we planned a mini honeymoon (minimoon or #FakeHoneymoon) immediately after that. We wanted to book a place with good food, beautiful interiors and great service. A lot of people suggested Pangalusian Islands by El Nido Resorts (their newest one) so we took everyone's advice and set aside a 5-day trip after unloading our things in Manila.

Fall 'Fits + the NoMad

Boots & coat - Balenciaga, accessories - HRH Collection, jeans - Zara, bag- Givenchy, shirts - Urban Outfitters

First month in New York [via iPhone]

Hi, I'm alive! Here's a mishmash of iPhone photos since I don't have my computer yet and I just recently got my camera's charger in the mail.

Enjoy the lack of structure in this post- just wanted to share a bit of the nicer things during my crazy first month in the city... 

My broker suggested Stone Street and it was actually my first time here. Enjoyed some of the cute & quaint restaurants lined up! 

I also went on a Literary Pub Crawl around Greenwich Village with my cousins Beatrice & Mikey. Learned about most of the writers and artists who used to live in the village as well as the history behind these brownstone houses. This was a fun tour so I'd recommend it to all of you bookworms! Check out their tours here.

Milan photo diary [part 3 of 3] - Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2014

A mandatory photo of me at the venue just so this trip grants me points for my CPE booklet (we need it to maintain our Interior Design license, haha!) 

Milan photo diary [part 2 of 3] - Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2014

The Salone del Mobile was the main reason why I traveled to Milan a few months ago [view part 1 here]. I don't really travel out of the country unless it's business-related or if I know I can attend a convention in the city [Instagram is deceptive]. This was my first time to attend Salone and I think every designer should go at least once or twice!

Welcome to my home!

Two years after the completion of my condo, it's still a work in progress. I've recently replaced my desk and I thought it would be cool to take some photos of it so I could finally show you guys. Obviously I did the interiors and the construction was done by our company. We also did all the furniture except for the ones I'll be mentioning along the way. I had to work with a budget so this was what I could come up with...
[you can view my concept board/post here]

BLIMS window display by Empire Designs

These are photos of the actual display we set up last Monday at BLIMS Greenbelt 2. All furniture pieces are from BLIMS, except for the antlers and stainless steel trees which are from Empire Home.

This was the original perspective I came up with using Sketchup and rendered with Kerkythea.

Taking a cue from the recurring use of wood and stainless steel in the latest collection of BLIMS, Empire Designs takes inspiration from these elements to create an INDUSTRIAL WILDERNESS vignette, mirroring the play between soft and hard materials often used in contemporary interiors. This creates a display of whimsy and modernity that is a favorite look in today’s trends. 

[Add us up on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Houzz] 

❤

Cebu weekend

the beauty of symmetry 

Okay, not from the hotel but it's too good not to post- Squid Ink Risotto with Oysters & Prawns from the Tinder Box

We celebrated mum's birthday dinner at Ibiza. 

I spent Sunday morning swimming and trying to transform myself into a lobster

4 hours under the sun and no sunburn - all thanks to Nivea's Protect & Refresh Invisible Cooling Mist (SPF 50). 

Sometimes I forget about the loot brands send me, but I just had to bring these to Cebu since I discovered mum swears by the Revitalift Laser X3 products... Also been loving the EverPure sulfate-free color care system, fall repair shampoo & conditioner ever since I dyed my hair black (thankfully these new formulas don't have those cancerous ingredients)! I have yet to try the 3-in-1 Extraordinary Oil (orange bottle)- it's a blend of 6 precious flower extracts and smells amazing. It can be used before shampooing (as a hair mask), before straightening or as a finishing touch! I'm a bit late but THANK YOU, L'ORÉAL! I have the simplest beauty regimen but lately I've been trying out these really cool products with better and safer ingredients. 

❧

Really happy and thankful that I was able to fly to Cebu last weekend! Mum chose to celebrate there instead of Manila for a change and our little family was complete. We decided to stay at the Mövenpick Hotel since we've never been and the white interiors really drew me in (as usual). Was a bit hesitant to fly in because of the aftershocks, but I really needed the sun and sand again. Experienced 2 earthquakes during my stay--nothing too scary but it's not the same for everyone. Got to see some of the damages caused by the first earthquake (magnitude 7.2) last Tuesday and it was just so eerie. Praying for Cebu and Bohol, two of the most beautiful cities in the country. 

❤

Bali photodiary [part 2]

[read part 1 HERE]

Had late lunch/dinner at a really cool beach club, Potato Head. We had to line up for a good 30 minutes outside to get a table but it was worth it! 

Bali photodiary [part 1]

BALI, INDONESIA

October 1-5

Our villa was just PERFECT. White on white is just so ME! 

See Music, Hear Design (Obra Para Sa Musika by PSID's batch 2013)

Kundiman, opera, tribal, zarzuela, novelty, Pinoy pop – the Philippines has a rich musical history showcasing various genres and styles. This is the highlight of “OPM: Obra Para sa Musika” the graduation exhibit of the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID) Advanced Class of 2013.

Marking the 46th anniversary of PSID, and co-presented by Glorietta mall, Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit (OPM), and the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP), this year’s exhibit aims to marry the interrelated fields of design and music by translating popular Filipino songs into aesthetically and functionally designed interior spaces.

The students were challenged to embody the tone and mood of their group’s assigned song and Filipino music in general and incorporate these into livable interior spaces. They researched not just on the basic design principles and ergonomics, but also on the background and story behind each song -- the characters, melodies, lyrics, composers and artists, and music genre.

Songs from different genres, traditional to modern, were used as inspiration for the different booths in the exhibit to showcase not just different design aesthetics but the richness and diversity of Filipino music. After visiting the exhibit, the audience is expected to have a renewed sense of appreciation for the beauty and exquisite musical heritage of our country as translated into the designs.

Slated on October 1-31, at the 3rd level of Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City, the exhibit showcases over 20 exquisitely designed spaces inspired by timeless Original Pilipino Music pieces.


MAMANG SORBETERO - Celeste Legaspi (ice cream shop)

This group had a dirty ice cream cart and gave away free ice cream during press day! So cool!

GROWING UP - Gary V. (teenager's room)


See the wall beside the bed? Those are actually stacks of magazines bound together and used as a soundproofing element for this space. Perfect for teens wanting to be in a band- they can rehearse with the band here. The grand piano study desk is also really cool! My sister would love this room.


KUMUKUTIKUTITAP - Ryan Cayabyab (candy store)


I felt like I was transported to Disneyland! This group took inspiration from a holiday store display in New York. Cute!