The Philippines has a strong matriarchal society judging from how we celebrate modern day motherhood and Mother’s Day in general. I respect that a lot. But this time, I wish to pay tribute to our hard working fathers who juggle professional, personal, and family lives. Very timely as Father’s Day is coming up this weekend!

I recently worked on this condo project for a former colleague slash industry friend. He’s a father of two daughters and holds a high position in a real estate company.

The overall interior brief started from our quick brainstorming over lunch. I think it was an advantage that I know him personally so coming up with the design direction was fun. A doting father as he is, his concerns were focused on his daughters’ comfort before his. My work also entailed collaborating with his brother’s construction company and in-house architects. Like I said before, I did not study interior design in college so it felt great working with a technical team to execute my vision for this client-friend.

He likes to travel a lot with his kids and his lovely girl friend. So from that, I suggested why not create a relaxing space that makes you feel like you’re coming home to a hotel. The interior style revolved around just three things: a modern contemporary theme, grays and silver, with pops of turquoise.

These are just some of my favorite features in this 2-bedroom penthouse unit.

LIVING-DINING

1. Rustic glam chandelier – It was love at first sight! The size fits perfectly in this dining area.

2. Dining table set – I swapped out its original chairs and bench to these gray upholstered kabisera seats and ghost chairs. You can definitely mix and match.

3. Large L-shaped sofa – He wanted to have a sofa big enough so his girls can lie down while watching TV. But it didn’t fit the narrow hallway when it was first delivered! Imagine my stress, haha. Our Home was kind enough to pull it out and take off 8 inches from its longest side.

4. Turquoise drapes – Love, love, love those curtains. I think they brought life into an otherwise very neutral palette.

5. Tropical glam wallpaper – I had it shipped from abroad through my trusted supplier. Adding an interesting wallpaper always brings character into a space.

KIDS’ BEDROOM

1. Graphic wallpaper – I took off from that wallpaper when I styled this small room. It’s a good contemporary print for a kids’ room they can easily grow into.

2. Pops of orange – That wall to ceiling feature grounds the space and gives it that much needed drama and fun. Aqua/turquoise and orange is a great color combo. The bed sheets are also fun and colorful, of course!

3. Pinocchio lamp – It’s a cute little side table lamp that kids can play with. You can move its legs and let it sit in different positions. A fun way to encourage creativity.

4. Wall-hung side table – The bed has a pull-out so the nightstand had to be floating from the ground.

5. Bed frame – There is something about headboard upholstery tufting that instantly makes a space feel extra glam.

MASTER BEDROOM

1. Dresser/Media Cabinet/Shelves – We had to make the wall across the bed functional. That right side cabinet/shelving was installed in a column so you can see how small the depth is. It’s still useful as they can organize their toiletries, beauty products, perfume bottles easily.

2. Bed frame – Again, that tufting. I also made the headboard extra high as the client and his girl friend are both tall.

3. Dresser mirror with lights and its printed stool – Girls always need a good makeup space so lighting was taken into consideration.

4. Sheer curtain canopy behind the bed – There was an oddly placed window on top of the bed. So I used sheer drapes in a soft canopy to cover it and keep it symmetrical.

5. Aqua tray – Keep eyesores in check by organizing your phone, modem, and remote controls using a chic tray

BALCONY

Did you notice that there’s a bath tub in the balcony? It needed some privacy from nearby condos. So I installed inexpensive faux trellis and plants to add life and some anti-paparazzi measures in this romantic spot, haha.

If you observe my past projects, you can tell by now that I adore minimalism and cleanliness. I like to keep it fresh and uncomplicated or in Filipino we say maaliwalas. Plus I still leave some room for the residents to personalize their place to add some precious artwork or framed photographs on walls.

Why didn’t I use my androgynous taste in this interior project, you might ask? Well it’s really because this client-friend is dominated by women in his life, haha. I respect that, too! After all, a good father always gives way. So I felt it had to be gender neutral, elegant, and relaxing.

For me, a home should feel like a space to be. Glad to know he’s enjoying his space with his family.