The entrance to Philippe Lhuillier’s home
After serving as the Philippine Ambassador to Italy eleven years, Philippe Lhuillier decided it was time to come home with his wife Edna and settle for good. Though they had spent many years residing in Manila before his posting to Rome, their roots were very firmly in Cebu. Thus, for their new home, they chose a site high atop a hill in Banilad—in the Maria Luisa Estate Park—which affords them a 360-degree view of the city below, the neighboring hills, and the nearby islands.
The home’s facade
The couple agreed to build in the style of a grand Italian villa. After engaging an architect early on, Edna and daughter Angie Miranda took over the design and decorating of the home. Already they had an intimate knowledge of exactly what the concept of the house would be.
The ornate wrought-iron gates open to a driveway that leads to the front doors. These, in turn, open to a soaring living area where two antique European tapestries (inherited from Philippe’s mother, the late Angelina Lhuillier) hang. The main room with its formal seating adjoins a wood-paneled dining room with windows set high on the wall, close to the vaulted ceiling. At the far side of the living room is a generously bottled wine cellar.
All the public rooms flow out to a lanai that offers more informal seating. Beyond it is the elegantly landscaped courtyard dominated by a large Achilles’ heel sculpture that the Ambassador found in a flea market in Italy. A swimming pool is set in a classical garden complete with Italian statuary and topiary accents.
On the second floor, the rooms open to a corridor flanked by colonnades. From here, guests can share the welcome breeze and look onto the courtyard, too. Scattered throughout the property are the remainder of the Lhuilliers’ extensive collection of statues, bas-reliefs, and other objets d’art —mostly from their travels. In pride of place, right outside the master suite, is a sculpture by Rome-based Filipino artist Doodie Diaz.
The master bedroom.
Ornate chandeliers and heavy draperies complement the classical artworks and comfortable furniture around the house. Though the art collection ranges from the highly detailed baroque to the neo-classic, the décor is not overwhelming, its cohesive mix of design evoking both luxe and the lure of comfort.
With its wood-paneled ceiling and snug leather couches, the billiard room can be the envy of any gentleman’s club—quiet, relaxed, and inviting as it is.
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