Part 2: Create Visual Interest
A.) Update your space with a fresh coat of paint. Some would love the white / minimalist theme, but one must also not be afraid to make a bold statement and have an accent wall, or even a wall mural.
A new coat of paint can add that bold accent to your kitchen or room.
B.) Mix materials and textures to create depth and contrast. Wallpaper is an amazing decorative material that you can use for an instant upgrade. Another inexpensive approach is to use patterns and texture on soft furnishings such as curtains, pillows and sheets.
A right mix of fabrics and textures gives an earthy color palette that sophisticated feel.
C.) Setting up a coffee station, bar carts, vinyl corner, or workstation seems to be a trend to the young professionals nowadays. Add functional pieces that serve as décor at the same time.
Your personal work space can show off your favorite items and will be your inspiration to be productive.
IDr. Christa M. Cañizares, piid
Founding Member, Philippine Institute of Interior Designers – Cebu Chapter
Principal Designer, CMC Interior Design
Specializes in residential and commercial design.
A homebody and renovation aficionado.
by Shari Quimbo
photos courtesy of Alexandra Public Relations
With the azure sea on one side, the verdant mountains on the other and picturesque towns in between, the Italian Riviera is certainly a dream destination. More than its natural beauty, the region seems frozen in another time—a simpler one, when the days seemed long and the people keen to enjoy the moments.
It is here that La Mer Veille sits, a beachfront cabin that epitomizes the simple summer escape. Nestled between Bordighera and San Remo, its stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea are complemented by its predominantly white palette, down-to-earth décor and delicate materials.
The house is the creation of French architects Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet, the personalities behind the firm Humbert & Poyet. Since they decided to collaborate in 2007, the firm has worked on various projects around the world—the Wine Palace at the Monaco Yacht Club, the curated fashion store 55 Croisette in Cannes, and fashion designer Alexis Mabille’s first shop in Paris are just some of the projects the two have worked on together.
“We communicate constantly throughout a project,” Christophe explains. “Our symbiosis forms the foundations of our projects and ensures the space that we’ve imagined works.”
The result is elegant and timeless spaces that meticulously bring together various design elements—the choice of materials and lighting, for example, are carefully thought out to make the most of a space and to ensure the client’s needs and personality is reflected in the final design.
It’s understandable then why La Mer Veille sits at a perfect vantage point where it surroundings can be admired. The seaside cabin is simple and relatively small, but is put together to exude an unassuming luxury that dares not to compete with the views outside.
The living area, shared with the dining room and kitchen, is done in shades of white with earthy tone accents. The Carrara marble counters are complemented with brass fixtures, including a brass sink that was custom-made by Humbert & Poyet. The firm also specially constructed the sofa that sits opposite the wooden table, a find from a market in England. Straw-wrapped lighting, an old-fashioned fireplace and a brass backsplash for the stove just add to the overall rustic appeal.
The bedrooms also have that effortless charm, with various nautical details to remind its occupants they are by the sea—just in case they forget the views beyond the picture windows. The master bedroom features a mattress sitting on an elevated wooden platform, topped with an Ancient African throw purchased from an antique shop.
“We communicate constantly throughout a project,” Christophe explains. “Our symbiosis forms the foundations of our projects and ensures the space that we’ve imagined works.”
La Mer Veille is a space that celebrates its location, and its location is best enjoyed from the terrace. The creamy white palette is carried over to this outdoor space where distressed wooden floorboards and a cushioned seating area invite you to put up your feet and settle in. The mood is set even further with a hammock chair from Etsy hanging easily from the ceiling and some relaxing music from the piano.
Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet
Beyond its architectural details, it is the finishing touches that give this dreamy cabin its character—bunches of baby’s breath and other flowers tucked into pitchers and vases in various niches around the house, wooden stools with rounded seats, antique-inspired knickknacks like an old fan sitting on a shelf and a swinging love seat. These details make the house come to life in an interesting way; and with a view such as this, what a life it is.
(This article had already been published in Zee Lifestyle’s May 2016 Home Issue, “By the Sea” on pages 72-77.)
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The house’s L shape is arranged around the backyard and the pool, with many of the living areas opening up to the outdoors. (Photography by John Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
The foyer’s high ceilings give guests a grand entrance, and its neutral walls serve to ground the collection of antiques and furniture. (Photography by John Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
Our hostess welcomes us, ushering us through the entrance’s antique double doors that were bought in Manila. Beside her a large dog named Emmy gives its own greeting before running across the tile floor to the patio. “This is why we have these floors,” Liz explains as Emmy frisks from room to room. “These tiles are nice and cool, and they can survive all the dogs running around.”
That practicality seems to be the underlying philosophy throughout the entire residence, where Liz, her husband Montito, and two sons have been living for two years. The family used to live in a smaller place in the city until they decided it was time for a change. “Traffic had been getting really bad, and the city started to feel crowded,” she admits. “We thought it would be nice to have a place away from all of that.”
Consulting with architect Pilar Streegan, Liz was clear on the feel she wanted for the place. “I didn’t want it to look like a showroom, like you weren’t allowed to touch anything,” she recalls. “We wanted to go for a Spanish mission-style home, because I wanted that welcoming old-world feel.”
That old-world feel certainly permeates through the house. The foyer enjoys a high ceiling where exposed log beams are a rustic accent to the chandelier. The stairs curve around the wall, the red tiles giving way to more colorful patterns for the risers. “The clay tiles we’d just sourced locally, but the colorful ones are from South America,” Liz points out.
This hat rack that belonged to Montito’s mother is a focal point on the landing. (Photography by John Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
The rooms are furnished with various pieces that have been collected through the years—a mirrored hat stand on the stairs landing that once belonged to Montito’s mother, the patio’s round wooden dining table that were bought from an English couple living in Cebu, and even some Restoration Hardware pieces that looked like it had some history to them.
Among the vintage items in the home, the most remarkable is Liz’s collection of linens she had amassed from estate sales, fairs and other sources. “That’s why I have a linen closet—I have so much to store,” she laughs. From delicate lace tablecloths to the patterned quilts in the bedrooms, they are thoughtfully scattered throughout the residence to add an nostalgic touch to the rooms. “I buy them from different places and then restore them,” she says, sharing in a few tips. “I’ll wash them then put them out in the sun, because that helps linens become white again. In fact, what’s even better is to lay them out on the grass. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about the grass and the sun that causes a reaction in the linens. That’s why in the more earlier periods in Europe, you’d see linens laid out all over the meadows.”
Here, they serve as delicate accents to the weathered wooden furniture and earthy tones of their home. The tile floors continue throughout the first floor’s common areas, making for a seamless transition through the entrance’s arched doorways and into the patio. An iron chandelier watches over the outdoor furniture, while the tiles eventually give way to the vibrant green grass that leads to the pool. At the other end sits a cabana, where the yellow wall is punctuated by a mural of a horse. “My husband loves horses, so there are elements of that around the house,” Liz explains.
The living room’s paneled wooden walls are complemented by white furniture and the greens of the outdoors. (Photography by John Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
Tucked behind the open air sitting area by the pool is a bathroom shower, and rock garden. (Photography by John Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
The dining room is a chance for Liz to display her collection of antique jars and lace, complimenting the larger furniture pieces. (Photography by John Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
The patio is adjacent to an indoor sitting area, which opens up to the outdoors on two sides. Here, there’s a slightly more masculine feel with its wooden walls, plush sofas and a pair of leather chairs, although it never feels overwhelming. A nude sketch by Ben Cab hangs on one wall, flanked by photo prints of different cities.
Next to it is the dining room, where a large table sits amidst antique furniture. One armoire holds a collection of jars, its doors draped with one of Liz’s vintage linens—this one is delicate lace in shades of white and powder blue. The kitchen follows the country theme, with wooden stools, decorative plates and paneled cabinetry.
On the house’s other wing is the more private master’s suite, beginning with Liz’s office. A secretary desk sits in one corner, looking beautifully weathered. More feminine elements can be found through the room—from the delicate crystals that seem to drop from the chandelier, to the religious figures in various corners.
The guest bathroom’s all-white palette is given a rustic touch with wooden accents in a natural or weathered finish. (Photography by John Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
This leads to the master’s bedroom where wooden shutters give its occupants the option of opening up to the backyard or keeping the view private. A delicate Japanese screen is folded into a corner. Here, Liz proves it’s all about the details—one night table is a converted Singer sewing machine for that quirky touch. The bathroom is spacious, with a wooden vanity decorated with accessories, old photographs and even a vintage brush and mirror set.
Upstairs, the bedrooms have their own personalities. A study is converted into one son’s bedroom whose focal point is an antique wrought iron bed that was bought from the same English couple they’d gotten the patio’s table from. The other bedroom has a freestanding tub in the bathroom that looks out onto the sweeping views behind the house. A four-poster bed sits in the guest bedroom with a faux fur carpet from Ikea that come together for a take on luxe country living.
“I really can’t live in a very modern house,” Liz shares later while enjoying merienda and a fresh mountain breeze. “Different people will like different things. For me, I like having old things and some history. It makes everything interesting.” Judging from the incredible number of photogenic corners throughout the residence, we definitely agree.
[unitegallery LizGarcia]
photography John Ong
]]>Sitting on top of the flourishing slopes of Busay is one of the most beautifully decorated homes in Cebu. Surrounded by a lush garden, fresh mountain air and a pond filled with water lilies, the house is almost synonymous with the word relaxation as it takes us home to nature.
The house owned by landscape architect Jaime Chua sits on a 1.7-hectare land, and has also been home to his plant nursery for over a decade. It was only in 2010 that he decided to take residence in his vast garden in the mountains. His architect-cousin Alex Medalla designed the structure, while Jaime took care of the interiors himself.
An oasis from the concrete jungle that is Cebu (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2015)
Wooden furniture to keep up with the home’s earthy theme. (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2015)
He describes the house design as Asian fusion—a portmanteau of different Asian designs, from Filipino, Balinese and Thai. From this incorporation, he created a beautiful mix that’s an oasis from the concrete jungle.
A grouping of granite boulders provides a welcoming accent and functions as a decorative sitting area before entering the house. As the solid wooden doors open, the fragrant smell of orchids fills the air. The house is T-shaped, with only the kitchen and bedroom enclosed in four walls.
From the door, a path of granite slabs leads to the living area, an oversized gazebo that faces the pond, the vegetation and the landscape of Busay on three sides. Fenced in with wooden railings that work as both seating and planters, it is an ideal space for gatherings where guests can relax and feel one with nature. Fresh butterfly orchids are laid out on a 20-foot long hardwood table top positioned on gigantic boulders in the middle of the area. On the left side hanging from the trellis is a breathtaking display of dendrobiums, rustling in the cool breeze and filling the room with its sweet scent. Throughout the space is foliage of various kinds, placed in a variety of pots and planters.
Flowers go all the way into the house. (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2015)
The architect’s airy bedroom (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2015)
Antique furniture and customized pieces tastefully decorate the house. Some are Chinese heirlooms, like the red drawers with intricate gilded details. Jaime fills the house with an assortment of flowers and plants all year round, depending on what’s in season. White butterfly orchids, dendrobiums and a variety of vandas are in bloom in April and May.
Jaime’s garden home is a refreshing place to unwind and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city with its simple home design and mishmash of furniture pieces becoming a subtle backdrop to the profusion of flora on display. One can’t help but sit back, relax and revel in the beauty of nature’s finest.
- photography Robo Formacion
- Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, May 2015.
- For back issues, subscribe via Magzter
Add a dash of class to your abode with DEDON’s 2016 collection. From iconic new loungers to sculptural side tables and more, discover outdoor living at its most luxurious.
MBRACE by Sebastian Herkner
DEDON MBrace in Spice
MBRACE takes a joyfully unconventional approach to outdoor furniture, bringing DEDON Fiber seating and a solid teak base together for the very first time. The result is an eye-catching, instantly likable collection of chairs — wingback, lounger, rocker and optional footstool — that captures the spirit of barefoot luxury while extending the DEDON design language into new, more Nordic territory.
Conceived by one of Europe’s most talked-about young design talents, Sebastian Herkner of Germany, MBRACE fully lives up to the welcoming gesture invoked by its name. One experiences a warm, secure, cocooning feeling when being embraced by the chair’s extra-wide back, especially after a cool dip in the pool. Herkner designed the seat to be invitingly comfortable even late in the season, after MBRACE’s luxurious seat cushions have been stored away.
One of the collection’s most distinctive features is an open, mesh-like triaxial weave consisting of three different fibers, each with its own profile and color. Working in close collaboration with world-renowned colorist Giulio Ridolfo, Herkner and DEDON developed three unique colorways for the collection — Spice, Pepper and Atlantic. With their resonances of travel, trade and adventure, the colorways perfectly support Herkner’s aim of addressing the wide, international audience of DEDON, including “young and sophisticated explorers”.
From beautiful Capitone to comfortable weaving, MBRACE comes with optional cushion sets for every taste. By bringing solid teak and DEDON fiber together, expressing subtle but joyful new colorways and — let’s not forget! — bringing rocking chairs to the poolside, this captivating collection opens new possibilities for creating the outdoor living room of your dreams. Get embraced!
PORCINI by Lorenza Bozzoli
DEDON Porcini
The right accessory can bring a new dimension to any outdoor living room, adding a subtle twist, enriching the material mix and helping to complete the overall atmosphere. But what exactly is the right accessory? It has to be beautiful, of course. It has to be interesting. And it ought to be unexpected. In other words, the right accessory for almost any outdoor setting is PORCINI, by Lorenza Bozzoli.
Named after the beloved Italian mushrooms it casually resembles, PORCINI is a collection of sculptural side tables as practical and versatile as it is delightful to the eye. Available in three heights, two different base styles and two elegant colorways, the side tables integrate with any DEDON collection and make the strongest impression when displayed together in a mix of shapes and sizes.
All versions of PORCINI come with a tabletop of rich, smooth, scratch-proof, shock-resistant ceramic in a choice of Black or Taupe. The woven base, available for all three heights, comes in dark Marrone (for the Black top) or lighter Carrara (for the Taupe top). The all-ceramic base, available only in the short and medium heights, also comes in a choice of Marrone or Carrara.
While the all-ceramic version shows off PORCINI’s organic, sculptural form to full effect, the woven version presents an eye-catching mix of colors, materials and textures. In addition to DEDON Fiber, the masterful weave incorporates ropes of carefully selected, tone-on-tone and shiny yarns, woven in Italy exclusively for DEDON by one of the world’s leading traditional marine-rope weavers.
As artful and irresistibly charming as they may be, the PORCINI sides tables are also useful, offering sturdy tabletop-space at a variety of heights. The short, squat version even features its a hidden basket, perfect for storing towels or protecting personal items from direct sunlight. So what are you waiting for? Plant PORCINI and bring a whole new dimension to your outdoor living room.
TIGMI by Jean-Marie Massaud
DEDON Tigmi
Every so often, DEDON introduces a signature piece of furniture with the power to change the way we think about outdoor living. Now, in the tradition of the ORBIT rotating sunbed and NESTREST hanging lounger, comes TIGMI by Jean-Marie Massaud. Merging sofa and shelter into a new typology, aesthetically satisfying and supremely comfortable, TIGMI brings people together outdoors as never before.
The sofa structure underlying TIGMI is uncommonly wide and deep. Able to accommodate several adults with ease, it doubles as a daybed, sleeping two in intimate comfort. But TIGMI is at its best when paired with its matching woven roof (optional). A remarkably unified piece of microarchitecture, it offers the sense of being indoors and outdoors at once, recalling the relaxing atmosphere of a shaded bower.
Hand-woven by DEDON’s master weavers in an open, semi-transparent style, TIGMI’s roof evokes the improvised, thatched palm covering of a palapa or beach hut. As light and shadows play across the interior, users are transported to a holiday state of mind, as if gathered together at the beach bar of a rustic resort. Enclosed on three sides, TIGMI establishes a shared viewpoint that reinforces this communal experience.
One of the most comfortable pieces DEDON has ever created, TIGMI features two layers of cushioning all around—a thick outer layer covered in special waterproof fabric and a pillowy inner layer (the one that touches the skin) in DEDON’s luxuriously soft outdoor upholstery. The lightweight inner layer can be easily removed and stored, while the quick-dry layer underneath can stay outdoors. The convenience of the two- layer cushion concept is matched by the ‘no tools’ roof-attachment system.
Named for a Berber word meaning both “house” and “shadows,” TIGMI by Jean-Marie Massaud represents a unique combination of sofa and shelter, cosiness and communality, comfort and convenience. An icon in the making, it’s the next in a line of DEDON signature pieces that are changing the way we experience life outdoors.
LIVING INNOVATIONS
G/F Fort Victoria 5th Avenue cor. 23rd Street
Fort Bonifacio Global City
1226 Metro Manila
To see the full collections, visit www.dedon.de.
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The main foyer of the Dixon Residence (Photography by Mark Philip Dales: Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, February 2016)
It was a particularly hot January afternoon cruising through Bauhinia Drive, but the Zee Lifestyle team was in for a cool surprise upon arriving at the residence of James and Tasha Dixon. Nestled in an alcove just a short drive away from the entrance, the house which was built in 1947 is a treasure for anyone wishing to live a laid-back lifestyle in Cebu’s urban jungle.
The exterior brings a certain flurry of nostalgia mixed with curiosity of the history that has transpired within its walls. It has a seamless combination of contemporary and classic design with parts of the outside wall decked in frosted glass cutting and red brick walls that you can only find in houses with old Filipino architecture. The color of the house, however, is painted with reds, blacks and whites giving it a more up-to-date Tudor look.
Peter Yuill’s The Dreadnaught Ships hangs in the Dixons’ spacious living room (Photography by Mark Philip Dales: Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, February 2016)
The two large wooden doors were opened and we were welcomed by a household member into the foyer connecting to a home office with two floor-to-ceiling glass walls presenting a wide view of the backyard. The first thing to greet us was a big brown, fluffy teddy bear lounging on a white chair, a sign that this was a child-friendly space.
Prior to moving to Bauhinia, the Dixon residence at North Town Homes, which was featured in this very magazine two years ago, was very modern and minimalist. Yet the couple longed for a house that had a much cozier feel and a more vintage look incorporating distinct Filipino character. This dream was realized in January 2015 when they moved into their current home along with their three children and four dogs.
The sprawling back yard is set up with picnic tables. This is also where the children play with their dogs (Photography by Mark Philip Dales: Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, February 2016)
While waiting for Tasha to arrive from the office, we were led into the living room where we easily found ourselves at home sitting on their huge comfy couch. Fronting the sofa is a flat screen TV on a custom-made console of wood and iron girders from the scrapyard with two plastic T-rexes waiting to pounce on either side. The dining area adjacent to the living room features the wall décor housing a variety of books and family pictures giving it a nice homey touch.
The Dixon’s love for art is clearly evident in the pieces found in their home. On one wall sits one of their favorites, a hand drawn piece entitled by their friend Peter Yuill who also designed the mural at Unos, the café and hub for motorcycle enthusiasts that Tasha and James founded.
The children’s play area on the second room is light and airy, and follows the theme of the entire home with touches of red (Photography by Mark Philip Dales: Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, February 2016)
“Though it’s hot outside, it’s surprisingly cool in here,” features editor Patty Taboada remarked and I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. The area where we were sitting had wide windows with sleek, black shutters opening to the driveway curving around a rotunda plotted with trees and a manicured lawn. Tasha’s car came into view and we stood up to meet her at the foyer. “Sorry for coming a bit late. But, welcome to my home!”
We went back into the living room where the doors accessing the lanai were drawn. The expansive yard was one of the reasons why Tasha chose this place. “The kids have more room to run around here compared to our house in North Town.” The children weren’t the only ones enjoying the spacious yard. As soon as we stepped out, two of their four friendly dogs were playfully running around us. One feature of the veranda which the couple loves is the woven ceiling that Tasha points out to us.
A Simon Birch painting adds a splash of color to the Dixons’ predominantly white master’s bedroom (Photography by Mark Philip Dales: Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, February 2016)
Tasha then leads us up the big wooden staircase going to the second floor. The landing mid-flight is the perfect place to view another much-loved art piece which the couple received as a wedding gift. The gargantuan oil painting called Scapa Flow filled up most of the space on the wall. Simon Birch, the artist and friend of the couple, was featured in the New York Times for his work ‘The 14th Factory’ which is the biggest art installation in the history of New York.
On the second floor, we immediately see an assortment of toys and books neatly arranged against a wall with a couch across it, a nook where the kids can read and play. Tasha strolls into the master’s bedroom where another Simon Birch painting is mounted on the wall above the bed. She opens the balcony windows and a cool breeze comes in.
I ask her how the kids felt about moving to this house and she smiles and says, “The kids love it here and they get to meet the other kids in the neighborhood too since they like playing in the rotunda in front of the house. I like giving them treats–we’re known as the candies and cookies house.”
A customized shelf set against the wall in the dining area hold books, trinkets and other knickknacks (Photography by Mark Philip Dales: Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, February 2016)
We step back out into the hallway leading to the other side where the guest room is located. This room is lined with windows that would be a haven for any of the Dixon’s visitors. The spacious bed sits in the middle of two pink lamps, an accent to the stark white paint in the room.
The last room that we checked on the second floor is the kids’ room. Tasha takes a peek inside and shows us her three lovely children having their afternoon nap in their designated beds. “They’re still asleep and I still have to go back to the office!”
As we headed downstairs, we noticed two more doors near the entrance and asked Tasha about them. “Well, one is the bathroom and the other one we still haven’t quite figured out yet.” The couple hasn’t decided whether it would be a guest room, a music studio or a baking room though they’re leaning towards a music studio since all of James’ music collection is stored there.
With its vintage style windows, stone walls and wooden furnishings, the Dixons have truly enhanced this house with a blend of the couple’s creative touch and plethora of art, making it their home and at the same time preserving its history and Filipino character.
by Korina Estrada photography Mark Philip Dales
Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, February 2016. For full access to our current and back issues, subscribe to Magzter.
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