Red tones dominate the living area, from the bold Mario de Rivera painting over the console table and the Gil Corcuera sculpture on the coffee table to the intricate prints of the carpets and the patterns on the throw pillows. (Photography by Steffen Billhardt/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
Maris Holopainen lounges at her home (Photography by Steffen Billhardt, makeup by Romero Vergara, hair by Jessie Egos/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
There’s something very light and affable about Maris, the force behind Qube Gallery and former chairperson of Southwestern University—and it’s reflected in her home. Tucked away in one of the more elevated residential areas (and we mean tucked away—we had to go through two guardhouses and an “I’m lost” phone call to get there), the house’s open floor plan, large windows and unassuming furnishings create an atmosphere of spaciousness.
“I’m a relaxed host,” she says, and it’s apparent in the way she easily carries conversations with the crew. Although she’d earlier confessed that she does not cook, she does occasionally have people over. “I love entertaining around the holidays, when I have more time to plan.”
Of course, relaxed does not mean unprepared. Maris already has the makings of a great party on hand: a stocked bar cart positioned in one corner of the dining area, and an assortment of craft beers in the fridge that could rival that of a small pub’s. Table settings, too, have quite a bit of character—the particular holiday set-up may feature minimal décor and a subdued color palette, but there are stories behind certain pieces. “The plates are from Thailand in the 70s,” she says, gesturing to the mint green set with delicate curved patterns.
The staircase is decorated with rounded sculptures (Photography by Steffen Billhardt/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
Considering Maris runs an art gallery, it’s no surprise that she has a penchant for collecting items that have more value than décor. Far from creating a stuffy space, though, she puts them all together in airy quarters that somehow complement the mishmash of artwork.
Walking into the foyer already introduces guests to several paintings hanging from both walls of the short corridor, and there are pieces in nooks you wouldn’t expect—a sculpture by Michelle Lua under the stairs, a pair of Indonesian wooden busts under the kitchen counter, a parade of wax sculptures on the stairs. “I hang the paintings I love at the moment, the paintings that speak to me at the time,” Maris explains. “Having said that, it is therapeutic for me to move paintings around and repaint walls. I love color on my walls.”
At the moment, one wall in the living room is painted bright red, mirroring the Mario de Rivera piece that hangs on it. But, based on how Maris describes it, it most likely won’t stay that way for long. “I rotate things whenever I feel like it. Or more accurately, when I have a new purchase that I just need to make space for, everything changes.”
The wall next to the staircase is filled with current favorites from Maris’ collection. (Photography by Steffen Billhardt/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
It’s not surprising then that Maris considers her house a work in constant progress. “My house evolves! It started off with just a few key items, and I wanted my place to have a minimalistic aesthetic,” she shares. “But I ended up consolidating my belongings from Manila to Cebu, so now I look around and feel my house is so cluttered! So many things I love that remind me of different phases of my life and countries I have lived in. Chapters, really.”
For all the things she’s accumulated over the years, she’s found editing down is not a strong suit. “My space is nothing like I originally imagined it to be,” she admits. “I realized I couldn’t find the strength to de-clutter. I’ve tried to be brutal with all my belongings but my furniture pieces all tell their own story. I have old pieces from when my family lived in Africa, pieces I picked up in Indonesia, and pieces picked up because of another major compulsion of mine—carpets from Kazakhstan and Uzbek fabrics.”
This wall in Maris’ bedroom is dedicated to pieces that have been given as gifts. (Photography by Steffen Billhardt/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
Art, however, remains the primary compulsion, and Maris knows each piece in her house by heart. She walks us through many of the pieces that speak to her, including a textured piece by Eric Guazon of toy soldier shapes that come together to form a child’s face, and yet another by Mario De Rivera with bright colored elements and graphic illustrations. “It’s suggestive, no?” she says, pointing out to a small tile that showed off a Kama Sutra-esque drawing.
“I have too many favorite pieces—everything on my walls!” she says when I ask her which of the artwork on display is the most special. She enumerates the different reasons why a piece often makes its appearance in her home: “The paintings my mother gave me, although they do not necessarily reflect my aesthetics as of the moment, all remind me of her and the Cebu she knew. Those that I bought myself—I love too many genres to be consistent.”
More somber pieces, complemented by a gray wall, hang on another corner of the staircase. (Photography by Steffen Billhardt/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
A Michael Cacnio sculpture serves as a conversation starter in what Maris calls her ‘fake kitchen’. (Photography by Steffen Billhardt/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2016)
The home has also become a venue to showcase the work from local artists, an advocacy that she also pursues at Qube. “In the beginning, when I started collecting, I bought artwork in Manila, but now I am making a conscious effort to buy Cebuano,” she says. “For a collection perspective, I prefer being able to ‘follow’ the careers of the artists I invest in. Also, I think in general, Filipino artists just speak to my cultural identity more.” Of course, she also has pieces that reflect on her time spent abroad: “I have my Indonesian, Russian and Kazakh collections—they remind me of my story.”
It may be that Maris doesn’t play favorites with her art pieces, but a special spot is dedicated for those given as gifts. “I have a wall which is delegated to hanging the works that I have been given by friends and family. I have this in my bedroom to remind me of those people.”
The amount of art pieces that Maris has in her home becomes surprising when you realize that she has dogs—a Great Dane, included. “I spend a lot of time apologizing that my home is clearly that of a dog lover,” she laughs, pointing out to a pair of worn cans-turned-chew-toys on the coffee table. “But believe it or not, I don’t need to make any design allowance for my dogs—they seem to respect the artwork, except for my carpets. I love central Asian carpets and wish I could cover every inch of flooring with them. But keeping them clean with dogs? Impossible!”
It might be this lived-in quality that keeps the home from feeling like a gallery, as is its resident’s friendly openness. Maris brings together all these elements in a seemingly effortless way, to create a home that really reflects her personality—with comfortably diverse inclinations, cultured but in a casual, unpretentious way. There might be several art-related reasons to love the hilltop residence, but Maris’ opinion is a little more basic. “My favorite part of living in my home is the quiet! I close the door, birds are chirping, dogs are playing and—when I’m really lucky—my kids are visiting. I wish I could spend more time at home.”
photography Steffen Billhardt makeup Romero Vergara hair Jessie Egos
]]>Guests were pampered with beauty treatments from La Mer and MAC throughout the afternoon, until they had to dress up for cocktail hour. A five-course degustation by Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa executive chef Frank Bohdan and a raffle of exciting prizes including round trip tickets to the Maldives with a stay at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa preceded the main event of the evening—an exclusive fashion show featuring the A/W 2018 collection of Miranda Konstantinidou. Free flowing champagne, caviar and cheese kept the party going until the early hours of the morning.
The Zee Lifestyle Emerald Ball is presented by Arthaland, in cooperation with Mercedes-Benz Cebu, Rustan’s and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu. Special thanks go out to Dedon Island, La Mer, MAC, and Jo Malone London.
photography Oliver Echevarria and Ezekiel Sullano
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“There has been great excitement and buzz around H&M in this part of the country, and we are happy to finally announce the opening of our first store in the city on November 27th! The wait will surely be worth it as we not only bring three floors of fashion heaven to Ayala Center Cebu, but our biggest store in the Philippines to date. To our Cebuano shoppers, we will offer the same quality at the best price in a sustainable way,” said Fredrik Famm, Country Manager for South East Asia.
H&M Ayala Center is a full concept store, carrying ladieswear, menswear, kids and HOME. It will open featuring the brand’s stylish holiday campaign and will showcase an exciting selection of gifts and fashion for the season. H&M will also continue to feature its Garment Collecting initiative in this store, where customers can donate their used clothes and get a discount voucher to use for their next purchase at H&M.
Those shopping on opening day can expect great offers! Gift cards will be handed out to the first 300 in line – P5,000 Gift Card for the first, P2,500 Gift Cards each for the second and third, and varying amounts ranging from P300 to P2,000 each for the rest. The next 300 will walk away with special H&M umbrellas and tote bags. A special treat also awaits stylish shoppers – 5 of the most fashionable people spotted in the queue before opening will be chosen and given P2,000 Gift Cards each. All other fashion lovers can enjoy holiday deals of up to 50% off on select items.
The store will open on November 27th from 11AM-10PM, and regular operating hours from 10am-9pm on weekdays and 10am-10pm on weekends will resume thereafter.
Zee Lifestyle’s October 2015 Luxury Issue: Dina Arroyo-Tantoco and Catherine Tantoco Huang (Sittings Editor: Shari Quimbo/Photography by Filbert Kung/Production Assistant: Patty Taboada/Styled by Sheryl Songsong/Makeup by Byron Velasquez of MAC/Hair by Eddiemar Cabiltes/Clothes available at Rustan’s Department Store)
With the launch of a bigger and better Rustan’s Department Store dedicated to bring to Cebu the world’s most luxurious lifestyle brands, cover girls Dina Arroyo-Tantoco and Catherine Tantoco Huang show the family dynamics behind the premium brand.
To give the lowdown on luxury, Leslie Ann Reyes, Patrice Huang, Chin Onglatco, SJ Quitevis, John Franco and Preston Nicholas share experiences and purchases they consider their ultimate indulgences.
Similarly, this month’s Conversations feature pits together Maris Aznar Holopainen and Annie Chen, Denise Fajatin-Pegarido and Allen Zaldarriaga, John Rey Guadalquiver and Tasha Dixon, Kyle Uy and Michael Goho, Allen Tan and Lor Torres, Michelle Yu and Dr. Cecilia Ramos-Bernad, and Drs. Fremont Base and Peter Mancao to find out their individual luxury preferences.
Zee Lifestyle also sits down with Alexandra Seno, Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn, Leigh Carcel, Mia Borromeo, Yiouri Augousti, Gerry and Pamela Montanus, Derek and Mary Ann Arculli, and Butch Carungay for The Call of Luxe, a dinner discussion focused on defining luxury and figuring out its various aspects.
This issue also features a rundown on the latest indulgent trends in the world as well as the best luxury that Cebu can offer, including Amparito Lhuillier’s home, designs by Debbie Palao, and the most premium accommodations in town.
Read more in Zee Lifestyle’s Luxury Issue, out on stands this month. Grab your copies at National Bookstore and Fully Booked. For subscriptions, click here, or download the Magzter app on your device and search for ‘Zee Lifestyle’.
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Zee Lifestyle’s May 2015 Home Design Issue: Jamie Herrell (Photography by Jan Gonzales/Hair and Makeup by Jonas Borces/Styled by BLAQ Mafia/Locale: The Mactan Newtown’s beach)
Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell graces the cover. The beauty queen talks about her environmental responsibilities and how she shares Megaworld Corporation’s vision of preserving Mactan’s natural resources and cultural heritage.
Jamie joins in a roster of women who are role models in society. Cebu’s pillars of education—the University of Cebu’s Candice Gotianuy, Southwestern University’s Maris Aznar Holopainen, and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation’s Lourdes Jereza—share their dedication in raising industry standards and keeping up with technological advances in order to provide quality education to Cebuanos.
Meet Jamie Doran Webb, Yvonne Quisumbing and Happy Garaje’s Mark and Johanna Deutsch, who comprise the new wave of personalities in Cebu’s thriving design industry. Get inspired by the aesthetics of new restaurant Ampersand, the office of plastic surgeon Fremont Base, Rockwell Land’s Aruga Serviced Apartments in Manila, and more.
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