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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On the cover are Philippe Lhuillier and Carlos Yeung. As the visionaries behind new real estate company Diamond Hiland, Philippe and Carlos show what it’s like to live the high life with the 128 Nivel Hills, set to be an iconic addition to Cebu’s evolving vista.
Guest editor Kate Dychangco-Anzani puts together an extensive food and entertaining guide, just in time for the holiday season. Take inspiration for upcoming parties with themed dinner setups by Vito Selma, Tess Lampert, Rainier Grossman and Jaime Chua. Cook up the best dishes with top picks from Rustan’s Fresh and serve them in style with choice pieces from Allison Tyler’s home décor collection. Of course, the secret to a good party isn’t just about what’s on the table, as the charming hostess Nena Garcia proves.
Cebu has a fascinating mix of people who turned their passion for food and entertainment into something more fulfilling. Meet this year’s batch of foodtrepreneurs—Iñaki and Pepin Martinez of No. 9, Sarrita Pimentel of Café Sarree, and Michael Sanchez of Sweet Incantations Confectionery. Get to know Market Man and Zubuchon’s Joel Binamira, The Lazy Chef’s Chip Lopez, Cebu Trivia Night’s Alexis Yap, Leica Cruz and Jewel Jalandoni; as well as Dr. Steph Sitoy, who is representing the Philippines in this month’s Mrs. World 2014 pageant.
Explore the latest trends in food and dining, from the newest restaurants in Cebu, Manila and Europe to the most unusual takes on dishes such as The Fat Pig Homebaker’s meat cupcakes and World Pizza’s foie gras pizza.
Read more in Zee Lifestyle’s Food & Entertaining issue, out this month. Grab your copies at National Bookstore and Fully Booked. For subscriptions, visit http://res210.servconfig.com/~zee/, or download the Magzter app on your device and search for ‘Zee Lifestyle.’
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