Maximizing living spaces with thought-out corners
While many shoppers favor purchasing items online, primarily for convenience, they still opt to go to the physical store when buying a specific merchandise. Take, for instance, furniture. People want to sit on a sofa, touch it and feel how apt it is for the home while deciding if it’s worth the price. They can also get advice, on the spot, from an in-house interior designer on how to mix and match furniture pieces from various brands.
To illustrate, three simulated living spaces were presented as vignettes at the recent launch of Living Innovations Experience Hub in Mandaluyong City. Ferdinand Ong, general manager of Living Innovations Corp., which provides luxury furnishings, appliances and kitchen solutions, focused on a spot where homeowners and guests can meet and greet. This could be in the foyer or the living room, he said, using furnishings from Casa Milano and Gallotti&Radice “to show the combination of textures and materials.”
Interior designer Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran, on the other hand, chose to highlight an outdoor space, such as the patio, which can also be utilized to entertain guests, have breakfast or just lounge around. She pointed out, “Patios and lanais are usually the last space that you can think of, but people forget that patios and lanais are also living spaces. That’s an extension of the living room.”
The cofounder of Moss Design House also went for the subtle use of the tropical theme using pieces from the Dedon and Gandiablasco brands. “When you think of outdoor furniture, it’s normally woven pieces,” she said, gesturing to the chairs with a curved silhouette in her vignette. “These are dining chairs that I decided to put together because they are wood and brown.” She explained that the laser-cut metal marks look like solihiya that give off “tropical feels.”
She shed
Mari Jasmine Concepcion, who cofounded and served as creative director of Hong Kong-based textile brand Flowe, put together a corner for unwinding, particularly for a female, thus calling it a “she shed.” She used pieces from Tacchini, Knoll, and Lema Mobili brands to achieve the two moods evoked by her design. The side meant for “mental calm and clarity” was achieved with materials that were “cool to the touch,” such as steel and marble, while the other she made cozier with warmer tones and materials, like wood and leather, for “tactile comfort.”
Ong pointed out that Filipinos have an “advance taste” and “unique mindset” when buying furnishings, that’s why iconic designs like the Womb chair and Barcelona chair are quite valued. He noted that European brands have learned to understand the Asian sensibility, thus newer designs now address concerns on proportion and materials. He also observed that while younger buyers go for trendier and more colorful pieces, the seasoned ones still stick to more classic items in neutral colors.
For those filling up a starter home, he suggested going first for a basic piece like a “nice sofa” that is also modular and can be configured in different ways. Some of the brands that the Hub carries, he said, have sofa sets with Velcro covers that can be removed and dry-cleaned, so different ones, maybe in another color scheme, can be used. So, it’s like having a new sofa without making a new purchase.
Meanwhile, Ong recommended a desk that can be turned into a dining table for condo dwellers with a limited floor space.
