Weatherproof your homes without losing the ‘wow’
Having a home that is prone to flooding can lead homeowners to rethink the maintenance of their space.
Walls should be easy to clean and weatherproofed. Flooring should be easy to wash down. The worst we can imagine is having our household furniture and appliances severely damaged by floodwater entering our homes.
Bacteria, mold, pests and other contaminants can easily spread through our homes afterward. Non-porous and water-repellent materials should be used in our interiors to help prevent bacterial and mold growth. The challenge is how to have a beautiful space without sacrificing furniture aesthetics.
Here are a few recommendations for keeping our homes safer during floods by using weather-friendly materials and furniture that still look good.
Use weatherproof paint
If paint is used indoors, use weatherproof paint with an anti-mold sealant. I use Oikos paints for wall treatments. This can be applied over any decorative paint finish, so even with a travertine stone-like texture, a sealant can help make the surface non-porous.
Rethink your furniture layout
Have an open layout that allows these pieces to be moved easily when water enters the home.
Don’t let go of your interior motif
Keep the design concept in mind and work around it. Having a flood-ready home doesn’t mean it has to look ugly and antiseptic.
Marine plywood as an option
For furniture pieces that need to use plywood, marine plywood is the better option. For wooden furniture, solid teak is a good choice.
Add outdoor furniture to the mix
Powder-coated aluminum, polyethylene (PE), molded plastics, polypropylene, treated metal, stone, glass, ceramic and acrylic are all good options for furniture. A lot of outdoor furniture brands now offer pieces that look just as good as indoor furniture. There are brands that carry modern or contemporary pieces that can work well anywhere.
Studio Moodism. This local furniture company specializes in shapely and comfortable sofas and lounge chairs designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Its pieces are made with all-weather materials and have a sculptural, statement-making quality.
Driade. This is one of my favorite brands for outdoor furniture. Its pieces are done in molded finishes and really stand out in any interior space. Fabio Novembre and Philippe Starck are among its furniture designers. The Nemo Chair is a piece I can place in any interior space, from a residence to a pool club, roof deck or even the main lobby of a building.
Kartell. This Italian design company is known for transforming plastic into high-end design pieces. Its pieces have become everyday household fixtures, from furniture to tabletop accessories.
My lanai table is the best thing ever! The table was designed by Philippe Starck and done in a sintered stone finish. It was my breakfast table in the lanai of our old house in New Manila, and when we moved, I brought it along with me.
Kartell also has outdoor lamps done in a modern Baroque style using plastic. Its Componibili storage towers are among its most copied pieces, combining storage and aesthetics. Kartell’s tabletop décor is also particularly interesting, from cake stands and lamps to food storage.
Casamania. This brand is known for interesting accent pieces. I have Him and Her chairs designed by Fabio Novembre as an offshoot of the Panton Chair. These two pieces celebrate the beauty of the human form, particularly the back. Once seated, the chair molds to the user’s body.
Designed for outdoor use, the chairs can also work as accent pieces indoors or even as dining chairs. The Chariot is a bar cart often used as a food server, drinks cart or even a side table.
Talenti. If you prefer a more subtle, modern style, Talenti pieces can be arranged with a minimalist look in the living room. Designed for outdoor use, their pieces are durable and versatile.
Kettal. This is a high-grade outdoor furniture brand from Spain, designed for commercial use but also beautiful for homes. This is one of my favorites for pool and lanai use.
Flos. This Italian lighting brand offers a vast range of outdoor pendant lights, table lamps and floor lamps that can look even better than some indoor chandeliers. These can withstand rain and floods and last for years.
Outdoor Solutions O+S Furniture. I’ve been a longtime customer of Outdoor Solutions, a Cebu-based outdoor furniture company that exports to hotels globally. The pieces are organic and sculptural and can be custom-made in any preferred weave color.
Gandia Blasco. It has a carpet line that is perfect for outdoor use. These can be placed by pool cabanas and also used as area rugs in the living room. The weaving, materials and designs are exceptionally beautiful for indoor use as well.
Viro Products by AMC Trading. Need some artsy, organic finishes for your home? Viro is a material you can play with. Designed for outdoor structures, it also comes in outdoor tapestries done in playful styles. Having a home prone to water damage need not be boring. You can invest in these pieces and enjoy them for years.
Qeeboo. This brand offers some of the most show-stopping pieces made from outdoor materials like PE and polypropylene, from giraffe-shaped chandeliers and turtle bookshelves to standout chairs.
The author is the founder of Chat Fores Design Studio, an award-winning and recognized interior designer known for redefining and elevating spaces. She specializes in residential, hospitality and amenity spaces for different real estate companies. Chat has also collaborated with international design firms to create residential interiors in Manila
