I really really love this ad from Mercedes-Benz (it’s really artsy!) and no, it’s not an ad with cars in it. It’s something entirely cool and different (both in concept and design), a really good ad in my opinion. I won’t say too much, just check it for yourself below.

So, which portion of your brain is the dominant one?

P.S. If you aren’t that acquainted with this, here is a quick brief. When a person develops a dominance towards one side of their brain, they tend to have certain areas of interest and even characteristics in common. The left side (left cerebral hemisphere) of the brain is often thought of as the logical, thinking side while right brain dominant people are thought of as the artists and dreamers of the world.  I just want to make it clear though that this doesn’t necessarily mean that if one is dominant in one field, he is quite poor in the other – he simply has strengths in different areas.

Personally, I can’t entirely make up my mind if I am left or right brained. Haha. Yup, I know that I am in the design/arts industry and I tend to gravitate towards it more but I did come from a Science High School (and proud of it!) a few years back . Boggling right? A Science Scholar who pursued  Fine Arts. Haha.  I also find that I manifest things that are done in the left brain (this includes the part wherein they mentioned that Left Brained People tend to be dog lovers as opposed to Right Brained People who are cat lovers. It even made me laugh. Love you Georgia! ).  Anyhow, I’m settling on being a mixture of both but gravitating more towards the right brain.

P.P.S. Want to find out which portion is more dominant for you? Try out this cool test (it’s more of a creativity test really but it does the job), click here. It said that I am more right brained than left-brained. I guess I’m right with my initial assumption above. Haha.

I love Pia Ulin’s pictures, here are a couple of pretty ones for today. I’m definitely posting more of her photography in this journal. She’s awesome ♥

P.S. It’s painfully hot here at the moment, I mean the weather is pretty much like this all year round. I had a couple of errands and for the most part, a good day. I leave you with a picture of one of the awesomest sandwiches out there, it is in fact quite close to my heart. It may look like a bunch of leaves/foliage for the most part  but I love the dressing (it makes me smile everytime) and it is indeed delicious.  Haha.

P.P.S. I can’t believe it’s already February tomorrow! Wow.

I will try to make this brief.

Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Suy) is a traditional Chinese technique which ensures that all things are in harmony with their surroundings. It is a complex blend of fine aesthetics, sound common sense and mystical philosophy. When literally translated, it means “Wind and Water” and these are regarded as akin to certain force, called ch’i (meaning breath, current or air). They say that having Feng Shui in the home, for instance, enhances happiness and prosperity.

My take on Feng Shui is geared towards simply being open-minded. As an interior designer and a user of spaces myself, I find it as a principle to be quite interesting and rich in context. I’m not entirely sure if I would observe it in my future space (I do love wind chimes and goldfish though! Haha.) but I do acknowledge that it works for some people and I am happy for them. Just focus on how certain aspects of it can help inspire you to grow/what works for you (and your spaces too!) but do not let it control your life and way of living entirely – I mean you can’t entirely go wrong with this  since it applies to a lot of other things actually. That being said, unto the forecast!

The year of the Dragon symbolizes Feng Shui’s water element while the Chinese zodiac year of the Dragon exudes power and force. They say that the use of the following colors will attract good fortune for this year – dark blue tones, blue green tones and black. The yellow/cream color from the previous Dragon year (which was 2000) will work especially well with this year’s color palette. It will balance out the depth of the dark colors (i.e. black) with it’s own lightness and softness. Gold as an accent color will add a touch of sophistication (may it be through your wallpaper, dinnerware or stripes in fabrics).

They say that the use of this dynamic color scheme for this year will bring about an increase flow of positive energy and attract good health and success. Also, ceramics and wood are considered as good interior materials along with natural fabrics and leather textures.  Avoid metals except those in golden colors.

Check out the simple design board I made below to give you ideas. I wish us all an awesome 2012!

I had a very challenging and hard last few days but I’m just grateful for everything. I don’t want to sound so serious (that it makes readers squirm ) thus I’ll leave it to just that first sentence and will show you an awesome design concept instead.

Below is another cool structure by Herbst Architects consisting of simple but well-made construction using timber and natural materials, it blends in with the existing environment. Made out of kwila (a popular hardwood appropriate as decking since it is quite durable, stable and has  a low splintering tendency) flooring and decking, macrocarpa (timber of choice  today because it is not treated with chemicals and is of high quality) interior lining and cedar board-and-batten clad for the exterior, the main function of the space isn’t mainly focused on providing too much convenience – the homeowners wanted things simple.

All in all, it is definitely a natural holiday home to retreat to from the busy city. I want one too!

Today has been a good day so far, it’s a holiday here in the Philippines to mark the Chinese New Year. I was pretty proud of myself for finishing the design concept and the perspective I was working on (finishing up) the night before – still basking in the aftermath. Yup, all those long hours and times when I was just a blank that I avoided my drafting table all together eventually came to an amazing conclusion – it turned out quite good actually. I’m a genius! Haha.

I had a late lunch and since I wanted something “meat free”, I decided to create some sort of concoction with the stuff I was able to find in the pantry and the fridge. It turned out to be really good actually. I made a mental note of said spontaneous recipe for future consumption. Behold, my button mushroom toppings! I added in some veg and some herbs and some awesome garlic (and a couple of secret ingredients. *winkwink*). So creamy in consistency and yummy!

But my culinary wondrousity did not end there. After a couple minutes, I thought of something else. (awesome!) I guess I decided to take advantage of how gastronomically inspired I was. (I’m joking with the statements above. I’m not really full of myself. Haha.) Lo and behold, amazing pancakes as an afternoon snack. I decided to try out this new pancake flour thingymajig and added in some blueberries and cranberries as well as some oatmeal and vanilla (Yup, and some secret ingredients). I paired this with some raspberry jam – I swear it was delicious! Gone in a couple of minutes. Amazingly, everyone was quite enthusiastic and cooperative with the eating. Haha. 

P.S. Look who we have here. Its the little one! Hi Georgia She decided to stretch out on top of my sketch whilst I was tinkering with it. Yup, on top of my drawing of all places. You are just the cutest Georgia Porgia ♥ I had to take a picture.

By the way, we are off to the vet tomorrow for her follow-up. She wasn’t feeling well early on the year and it was scary (Should I do a post on this?). Yup, a couple of x-rays, some stuff and we are slowly going back to normal I hope. If she appears to be a little scruffy to you (she’s certainly not alone. I feel scruffy too. Haha.), it’s because her doctor is putting bath/groom time on hold until she gets better.

Happy New Year Everyone!

I’d like to consider this year as a fresh start and would love to share this with all of you as well. It’s the lyrics of another personal favorite/best-loved song (it wasn’t  a song to begin with, it started out originally as an article from an awesome lady’s column) for many years now actually (I used to listen to it in the car after school) and I would love to use it as a guide for this year and the years to come hopefully. I wish all of us an awesome 2012! Enjoy!

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of ’97

Wear sunscreen.

The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

I will dispense this advice now.

Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded.

But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

You are not as fat as you imagine.

Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Sing.

Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind.

The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults.

If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives.

Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t.

Maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t.

Maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.

Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either.

Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else’s.

Use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it or of what other people think of it.

Dance – even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions., even if you don’t follow them.

Be nice to your siblings. They’re your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.

Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old.

And when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you’re 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.

Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

P.P.S. I’d like to ask a favor from all of you. Please do pray for my mom, we continue on with our battle. She has a challenging procedure and we will be at the hospital on the third. Thank you.

Yup, you are done with Christmas decór.

But you can still check out my article with tips if you’d like. Yey! Haha. You can also find the rest of my Christmas Photography in the article as well. For part one and two, click here and here consecutively. Fanks!

P.S. I know I’ve been talking about this a couple of times already but please do extend a helping hand for the Victims of Typhoon Sendong. I cannot stress this enough but they need all our help. It makes me teary thinking what they are going through, to have lost all that they worked for (some their whole lives) in just a flash (plus while they were sleeping) and having to stand up and start over again. Sometimes we can’t appreciate the food we have on our tables or the numerous clothes we have in our closets while they have trouble figuring out where to get their next meal and praying hard that it won’t rain because all the clothes they have left are the ones they are wearing. There are different drop centers in the metro and I heard that LBC offers free shipping for the goods  (they need clean drinking water, blankets, clothes, etc.) you plan to donate (however, I still have to confirm this). You can also volunteer for Red Cross if you have time and the resources to spare, click here. Thank you!

Every cafe or hotel owner wants their establishment to be the eating place of choice for all the trendiest customers. They want to be known for their top notch service, serene ambience and sumptuous food, among many other things. This, in the eyes of many, may look like a tall order to fulfill because it all reeks of money. In our current recessionary times, nobody wants to spend money on things that they may still be unsure about. In the hospitality industry, it may not be about the money but about combining creativity with the little things that say a lot.

Tasteful comfortable furniture

Although this may look like an obvious choice, it is often taken for granted and overlooked. This is because; the type of cafe furniture that an eating establishment has can attract or repel customers. Despite limitations in budgeting, if a cafe owner is willing to look around they can be able to find just the right kind of furniture they are looking for and at the right price. The main idea is not to be in a great hurry in this area. The furniture must also be suitable for the space provided to ensure easy movement for both the cafe staff and their many customers.

Targeting a specific niche

When opening a cafe, it is essential to have the ideal customer in mind. This is the person who will be able to appreciate the cafe surroundings and service enough to be able to afford to keep patronizing the cafe at will. The quality and quantity of the offerings at the cafe should be affordable and economical to their ideal customers. They should also be in a geographical location that is easily accessible by many of their niche customers. In the hospitality industry, it is easier to focus on acquiring business from a specific niche customer class than targeting all customers in general.

Interior design

The layout of the cafe chairs and cafe tables is very important in determining whether a first time customer becomes a repeat customer. This is because, many cafes are rather cramped and this impedes movement and compromises on personal privacy. This problem can be forestalled by using a creative layout for the furniture keeping in mind easy access to and from the establishment, easy access to and from the sanitation facilities, and easy access for waiter movement between their many customers. Since space is a premium when it comes to cafe layout, creativity is a bonus when it comes to cafe design.

Color selection

Colors say a lot about the personal taste of the cafe owner. A beautifully designed cafe with special emphasis on color co-ordination talks about an owner who takes the time to create an unforgettable setting for his current and future customers. It also talks volumes about the quality of food that will be served at the cafe. Although the main objective of visiting a cafe is to eat and drink, it is also important to do so in settings that are comfortable and visually aesthetically appealing.

Lighting choices

Cafes ideally should operate virtually around the clock and the type of lighting provided can make them habitable or not. This becomes apparent during the night time because being a public place, the ability to see clearly becomes very important. On top of seeing the kind of food served to them, customers also like to be able to see their surroundings clearly. Lighting can also make a cafe appear cozy and comfortable or shabby and drab depending on the type of lighting devices and their positioning within the cafe.

Samantha Devlin is an interior designer working within the hospitality management industry. She advises her many clients in the hospitality industry on the most fashionable designs for cafe furniture. These include the proper settings for specific styles of cafe tables and matching the most suitable cafe chairs.

P.S. Thank you very much to Sachin of Adage Furniture for sharing this to us and to Samantha for her tips. I hope you found this article helpful (for any of your present and future design endeavours). Have an awesome week everyone!

Hi Everyone! This was the article I made for Vécu Magazine (A big thank you to Delina!). This was supposed to be posted earlier, but hopefully it can still help you guys out in some way (for those who are doing some last minute preparations). Enjoy!

A favorite event of the year, Christmas is truly a festive celebration spent with family and friends. Christmas dinners, decorating your tree, tinsels and lights, and basically turning your home into a sparkly yuletide confection – although secondary, are certainly just as significant and have become memorable traditions for most households when December comes knocking at our doors.

Achieving the holiday atmosphere you have always wanted can be quite a challenge. To ensure that your home is “Christmas Ready”, preparation is key and a couple of tips should help you be on your way. Happy Holidays!

Your Basics

Try Out A Theme For Your Tree

It can be somewhat overwhelming when you are just getting started, especially when you don’t know where to begin. As a suggestion, you can pick out a theme for your tree and from there you can work your way around everything else. Some people want to go for something whimsical and thus might even get a pink tree. You can go with a Wild West theme or even an Under the Sea one if you wish to go with something unconventional. You can also stick to something simpler, such as picking a color spectrum (think blue in various shades for example) or two of your favorite colors and build around that.

Decorating Trends For The Holidays

Just like in fashion, you can also acquaint yourself with this season’s hottest holiday trends if that is your preference. You can certainly use that as a guide for ideas. According to the Trend Curve, light shades of green and silver have been paired up together. Masculine influences are also present. Think hunting lodge and deer motifs. For a more urban feel, colors like pewter and metallic gray together with black and beige are used. New applications for glitter and metallics are also added in the mix.

Traditional Christmas décor is trendy still and I believe will always be timeless. The return of classic reds and greens are quite evident. According to Sphere Trending, gold and silver are staples. Bronzes with a rosy tint and silvers with a touch of golden sheen are options as well.

The Technicalities and Observing Practices

Warm Lights and Candles

Incorporating lighting will help provide an exceptional atmosphere at night. For indoors, try looking into LED types of Christmas lights. They are very good investments in the long run, though they may appear small but they actually provide very good illumination and are energy efficient. If you are new to installing lights (these apply for both indoors and outdoors), do start out small. Make sure that you are using lights designed specifically for that certain area and if you are using lights from the year before, test them out first. Add dimension by using different sizes, use electrical tape instead of staples to stick lights in place and make sure to not overload your circuits.

Get some candles and consider tea lights, these are affordable for the most part. They add a homey touch and come in a variety of designs, colors and even scents. You can arrange them in groups with varying heights or get large pillar ones and place them near your window.

Décor Longevity

Consider getting décor that are timeless and thus can be used for many years. Products with longevity are important because the economy today is becoming an integral factor in re-evaluating how we spend for seasonal décor. As an example, consider the use of ribbons and bows because of their versatility. They can be used for plants, your chandelier, stair railings and even chair backs. Choose ribbons in patterns and colors that go with your overall design scheme, they will definitely add to the festive feel. You can even utilize plaids or metallics. To save money, choose ribbons that you can untie and re-tie each year. In terms of storing, this will ensure that your bows won’t get crushed and will be ready for the following year.

For Small Spaces

Small spaces can be quite challenging. That being said, a good imagination and a bit of innovation will help. Move your furniture closer together to come up with a cozy corner for your tree. If incorporating one in your space is not an option, alternatives include getting faux tabletop tree or even a wall decal one. Use clear and reflective décor. Clear pieces such as glass lamps or those made of Lucite lend visual weightlessness and reflective ones with mirror panels help make your space appear bigger.

Bring out the Creativity

Dining and the Christmas Table

Christmas dinners with loved ones are priceless and a beautiful Christmas table helps set the mood for a wonderful evening. Opt for classic and good quality holiday pieces that will stand the test of time. This enables you to try out something fun such as using holiday tableware for every meal in December. You can definitely add new pieces to your collection each year and soon you’ll be able to have one or two settings to use. Start out with classic white dishes and a neutral setting and layer color through patterned textiles and textures in your ornaments. Incorporate pieces passed down in your family such as your Grandparents’ china or pieces from your flea market trip. Add candles, greenery, pinecones and a bedazzled touch by using gem ornaments and some gold and silver.

Indulge in Nifty Crafts

You can always incorporate little DIY projects during the holidays and they can range from doing Christmas tree toppers or doing something interactive with your children such as making pasta garlands. Do try out two of these nifty crafts, they don’t take much time plus they look great. If you have fresh fruit on hand and would like to create a centerpiece, simply use some egg white and sugar to coat the fruits and end up with gorgeous frosted fruit. For a more bedazzled effect and this isn’t limited to just fruits, try spraying food with Food Finish. This is a type of food coloring that comes in various metallic finishes and will definitely add luster to your cuisine.

P.S. I am one of Vécu Magazine’s Contributors for December (Awesome sauce! ♥). Do support Independent Artists!

(Photography by Paula Cañete)

Pantone’s color forecast declares Tangerine Tango as the color for 2012. It is a reddish orange shade and it exudes a certain vivaciousness feel. As quoted from Pantone’s article, “Sophisticated, dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenalin rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibilty, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy”. To add, “This luscious reddish orange adds sensuality to fashion, flair to accessories, verve to cosmetics, and lively luxury to interior surfaces and appointments”.

Tangerine Tango hopes to provide the “energy boost we need to recharge and move forward”. According to Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone Color Institute’s Executive Director, “Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it. Reminiscent of the shadings of sunset”.

Do not be intimidated by orange, Tangerine Tango is a good shade to try out if you wish to apply a certain design trend in your space.  Add some zest in your interiors by incorporating this color in some way, start off  with accessories such as  pillows, tabletop knick knacks or incoporate it by getting patterned textiles in this shade. Add some spice and interest by making a bolder move such as using this shade as a wall color, it will work as an accent wall in your kitchen to stimulate appetite. Good neutrals to pair with this shade include a graphite color, cream and even black. Check out the quick mood board I put together below as well as a couple of interiors I picked out from the internet for some ideas.

P.S. I guess this is my first post with a mention about the new year to come. Wow, I can’t believe this year is almost over. Time is beyond fast lately.

I have received some good feedback with regards to a previous post about Interior Design, more specifically the post on why one should hire an interior designer. I decided to post another excerpt from our Directory and Sourcebook simply for educational/informative purposes and to address this particular concern in a sense. The text is by Archt. Ma. Daisy Mah, an Interior Design Lecturer from the University of San Carlos and a very supportive mentor.

Many misconceptions surround Interior Design, the most common of which is that Interior Design is only for the wealthy. Interior Design actually attempts to make man work efficiently in his space but more importantly, feel good about himself in it. For this reason,  the designer makes an attempt to know his client very well, understanding his needs and wants. Providing his needs results in a functional space while providing his wants end up in enriching his living. Such is not only for the wealthy. The nature of the job of an Interior Designer is often misunderstood too. Many make the mistake of calling themselves Interior Designers when they simply spruce up the place with new paint, rearrange the furniture, change the light fixture, and accessories here and there. Though tastefully done, this is simply Interior Decorating.

An Interior Designer’s job is more technical, more detailed and more comprehensive. This is the reason why an aspiring Interior Designer is required to finish a four-year course, Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and pass the Professional Regulation Commission’s Board Examination. Another involves the time it requires for the designer to arrive at an accurate design solution. Clients don’t realize that the creative process takes longer than usual, simply because it involves intangible  immeasurable qualities such as beauty and originality, yet tempered or compromised by practicality, function and convenience.

Do not forget the economic feasibility of the budget. Such strong considerations challenge the designer to reach his best solution. Perhaps the blame falls on the designer himself. His approach or manner by which he presents his seemingly simple design has inadvertently made the client think of the ease by which his design was conceived.

(Image Credit – Working Drawing by Paula Cañete)

1. I received an awesome email from Tari of Shopaholic and I really appreciated her sweet thoughts about The Sea Green Journal. By the way, they included The Sea Green Journal in their blogroll. Yey, awesome sauce!

You can check them out here. They post articles and tips on a variety of things, so far I’ve checked out their “Pampered Pets” section. *blush* I’m Georgia’s mummy after all. Haha.

Yes, I’m checking out “Design and Decor “next.

2. Got invited as a participant for the first Industry-Academic Forum tomorrow. It’s at the College of Architecture and Fine Arts theater at the University of San Carlos. The awesome professors/coordinators want to initiate a dialog between Cebu’s Building and Design Industry and the City’s Educational Sector. Do check it out!

December is one of my favorite months of the year and I have always loved Christmas since I was a kid. There is something magical about it and I love looking at sparkling lights at night.

I have been getting reacquainted with my drafting table as of late (we have an amazing bond for a couple of years now, we even went to Manila together for review and boards.). Things haven’t been easy lately as well but it’s alright and I just hope things will turn around for the better eventually. Anyhow, I will definitely be doing a post on holiday interiors for your home and perhaps a gift guide of some sort (I’m still contemplating the latter).

Do stay tuned and I wish you all a Happy December!

P.S. I am loving the pictures/works of art in this post. I wanted to save posting Pantone’s Christmas balls for this month and thus here it is. I actually love them and they would look quite awesome hanging on someone’s Christmas tree.

P.P.S. Georgia’s cousin (i.e. my sister’s puppy) is already aboard the puppy plane and we will be meeting him on Wednesday at the airport. I wish him a safe flight and I do admit, I’m a bit anxious for the big change but I do hope they will become awesome friends.

(Referring to the first photo below) – Where is this cool place? Better yet, what is it?

We had an awesome time at the Island Paints Showroom yesterday when they invited us to come by for a visit. I got acquainted with their paint basics (and the colors they offer) and their line of paint products with more focus on architectural and interior paints and finishes.

I have always loved paints (I mean I love color to begin with) and I do get so enamored with ranges of paint and product lines. I especially want to try out their Concreto Bond (Ok Pau, showing your nerdishness again. Haha.). Basically, it’s a plaster and waterproofing compound.

They also gave us tips on how and when best to apply their paints, as well as how best to prep and do surface preparation. They were quite informative with ratios (ex. amount of their cement polymer mix to how many kilos of concrete to mix together for optimum strength and durability) as well as how to apply some of their other products (ex. their stone coating system by means of a mortar gun). They also talked a bit about appliance paints.

They were quite awesome as well for doing a great deal of demo for us, I am quite into stain finishes and beautiful wood (Yup, that explains just a little bit why I have quite a number of pictures of their demo).

P.S. Yup, paints come in various “stages” (I can’t seem to find a better word at the moment.). You can get them in gloss, semi-gloss, satin (or an egg shell finish) and flat (or matte). Do know when to use solvent based and water based paints and what best to use for a certain surface (ex. wood, concrete, metal).

P.P.S. Bernie (I love you and your armpits. Haha.) and I were able to get a picture taken together. Awesome sauce! I’ll add it to this post once I get a copy. Oh, Happy Bonifacio day as well if you are in the Philippines

This is sort of the continuation of my post from last Sunday with regards to my Bacolod trip and bombarding you with my pictures (Haha. Sorry about that.).

The cool thing about going on a trip is that you not only get to know more about a certain place, you also get to know more about the people you are traveling with. What made up for an even more awesome adventure such as this is the good company. Here is to more trips in the future. Cheers.

Yup, no “brief narrative” for this post. Haha.

P.S. I might do a quick add if inspiration and more words suddenly hit me. I might but don’t hold me to it. Oh, I hope you all had an amazing weekend (Sundays are for laidback posts ). Though we don’t celebrate thanksgiving here, I am thankful for all of you and this design journal. ♥

P.P.S. Credits to the group pictures (basically the pictures with people in them) goes to Khe2x. Thanks Khe!

This is an excerpt from our Directory and Sourcebook, basically a Publication from PIID-Cebu (Philippine Institute of Interior Designers – Cebu Chapter). Do get your copy!

Who needs an interior designer, one might say, when you know what you want and think you have the eye for it. A sofa you’ve been eyeing comes on sale so you rush to purchase it only to find it is way too big for your room and is now blocking your doorway.

Or, seeing tiles that are on sale, you rush to purchase them and have them installed only to find you are missing a few more pieces but the tiles have been sold out and discontinued.

Hiring a professional interior designer may cost a bit, but it’s more costly to make one mistake after another. PIID-Cebu would like to share some reasons for hiring an Interior Designer:

1. An Interior Designer is client-oriented and designs spaces based on the client’s budget, needs and lifestyle.

2. An Interior Designer is a problem solver and he does it systematically.

3. An Interior Designer pays attention to the littlest details.

4. An Interior Designer can plan, schedule, manage and see formidable costly mistakes that may incur in the long run.

5. An Interior Designer can anticipate a long-term view of the situation, not merely a current snapshot.

6. An Interior Designer can present unique and custom furnishings that cannot be found everywhere else, he can also give you access to furniture showrooms that are not open to the general public.

7. An Interior Designer can pull together spaces that are aesthetically pleasing and functional – he can maximize space and make it more efficient.

8. An Interior Designer can translate your vision into paper, making it easy for contractors to execute the design.

9. An Interior Designer has a wide database of vendors, contractors, and other service providers; thus simplifying the client’s life, as designers can have samples brought to the client instead of having the client go out of his way to check out materials.

10. An Interior Designer is acquainted with a wide array of surfaces, materials, finishes and products, and can recommend the most appropriate one for the client’s needs.

(Image Credit – Paula Cañete, A Quick Perspective Sketch for a Café)

I was able to finish working on the pictures for this particular trip (Finally, Pau. Haha.). But before moving on to set below, I would just like to include a couple of details first. (A short personal narrative hopefully. Haha.)

Known as the “City of Smiles” here in the Philippines, Bacolod is also the capital city of Negros Occidental. It is said to be the cleanest and greenest urbanized city here. For the most part, I love Bacolod. I love that they are focusing on organic and healthier ventures (i.e. vegetables, produce, their well-known Muscovado sugar). The hotel we stayed at was amazing, they are  going green advocates. They even have an extensive vegetable and herb garden at the back where fresh produce used for some of our meals were harvested (Hello freshly-picked tarragon for my tea). On a related note, a cool structure there was their mud house and the bunch of interior designers that we are, we pretty much examined every nook and cranny. I for one was quite fascinated by the technicalities of the building aspect. It has been said that the mud house is quite a strong structure and will last for many, many years. It is also quite cool  (temperature-wise as well) once you are inside, if I may add.

We had a very long itinerary (Aside from immersing in the arts, food and sampling the cuisine was also a main priority for us. Shameless. Haha.) and that definitely included stopping by highly-recommended Pasalubong (Translation: the Filipino tradition of a homecoming gift) stores, they had a cool selection of jams which are grown and made  in Bacolod (I got some all natural passion fruit and sweet kamote jam for my mom. They also had some watermelon varieties!). I was able to get some organic black rice (which is really good actually) there as well. Since we are on the topic of food, they also have the most amazing and  the best-tasting cheesecakes (hands down) I’ve tried to date (Hello Calea!). I also love the Napoloeones at Pendy’s! ♥

For those who know me, I love heritage houses and antiques and awesome artifacts. We dropped by some of Bacolod’s awesome heritage houses and sites. It has been said that Bacolod is comprised of prominent families (from a tour guide’s brief at one of the sites, haciendas and hacienderos are common words there), thus the antique collections in most of the said houses are extensive. Though I got quite dusty and sweaty, I definitely had a ball during the tour!

I had fun taking pictures immensely. That also meant lugging my things about all throughout the trip. I was sore and worn out every night. (Haha.) But it was definitely worth it.

I can go on and on with this narrative (I told you we had a long itinerary) but I think I should just stop to here for now. I will definitely do a couple more posts about this trip (which includes my favorite site there, The Ruins) throughout this week hopefully. Do stay tuned for “City of Smiles (Part 2)” over the weekend!

P.S. I’ll try to look for a picture of us with the whole group. Yup, just a random thought after checking out the rest of the pictures.

An awesome structure confection you can find in San Francisco, California. You basically have a good mesh of two things, a Victorian neighborhood and a sleek modern house. Said structure is by brilliant Craig Steely and also features an office and a split-level living area.

Yup, I am (also) drawn to structures such as this (i.e. wood, glass panels, urban feel, angular/boxy look,  etc.).

Your dining room is a place where you and your family will be spending some time each day. This area is also going to be used when you entertain guests or invite family over for a holiday. So the kind of dining room furniture you buy is important.

Here are some tips to help you get started decorating your dining room-

What type of dining room table will you require? You have to decide whether it is a glass topped one, a regular wood table or whether wrought iron can make more sense. Decide on the shape and the size – round, square or rectangular?

Depending upon the dimensions of your dining area and the size of your family and other requirements, you will also have to decide whether you want a regular 6 seater, a smaller 4 seater or a larger table. Also consider extendable dining tables that can be increased in size when required to accommodate more people or guests.

Consider your chairs – Your chairs don’t have to match your dining room table slavishly. In fact you can create some interesting contrast and combinations using different materials and textures. For instance you may well have a modern looking glass topped table and then team it effectively with more traditional chairs.

Or you can decide whether you want a plain and simple dining table teamed with futuristic chairs of a minimalist aspect. Mixing and matching the dining room furniture in this way can be fun and will offer a highly individualistic and eclectic result.

Consider whether you want stark looking, contemporary designs or whether you want traditional types of chairs. You will also have to decide whether it is armchairs that you want, whether you need them upholstered or not and so on.

What other dining room furniture do you need?  Ideally you should pick out the other bits of furniture after you’ve decided on the table and chairs. Because this will inform you how much space you have left over in the dining area, and will also help you create a central theme for your dining room if you so wish.

Hutches are popular options when buying furniture for the dining room. Again here you need not match the hutch or the side board to the table and chairs, rather try and create interesting combinations. Here as well there are several practical aspects to consider – do you need pull out drawers or cabinets / doors and do the doors have to be wooden or glass paned?

Make sure that the sideboards or the hutches you consider are suitable in size and proportion for the area. Also consider whether you will be using it for laying out dishes, for displaying photos, china or artifacts or whether you want it principally for storage of crockery, cutlery, dining linen such as napkins, tablecloths and so on.

Also consider whether you will need dining table furniture accessories such as a table pad, which can help to protect the table surface from heat, dust, spillage and regular wear and tear.

Author bio:

Sarika Periwal represents Amish Furniture Home, a hardwood furniture store where you can buy authentic Amish furniture handcrafted by Amish craftsmen, both online and offline. It is one of the premier furniture stores in Michigan.

P.S. A big thank you to Sarika for providing all these important tips for all of us, they certainly come in handy when you are starting out or doing your own dining room project. On a related note, my family and I love to eat and we spend a great deal of time in our dining area. How about you?

P.P.S. I love putting together and designing dining rooms. Sarika was kind enough to let me pick out the pictures for this post. I definitely had a ball with that and ended up making a sort of collage. Haha.

Hi Everyone!

One of the coolest things about doing this journal is meeting really incredible people and having the pleasure of developing treasured friendships even though we are far away. Getting to know Kelly has been awesome and she is an amazing person. She’s really nice too!

It was fantabulous of her to do a feature on what I do (in a sense) and I am very honored that she allowed me to impart some of my own thoughts to her readers. Do check out her blog!

If you are interested to know how I came about being an interior designer (to a certain extent and in paragraph form. Haha.) and see some of my work, you can read my feature here.

Thanks! ♥

I love color a great deal but I also love using neutrals for spaces. Some people find beige to be boring or the use of a neutral palette to be bland but this only happens when you aren’t maximizing the potential of browns, creams, and neutrals in general. We had to render an interior in watercolor using only white once and believe me, there is a very thin line between the interior turning into blah and it becoming quite tasteful and interesting. You can create depth with neutrals and by striking a good balance, you can end up with an entirely elegant and timeless space. This I can assure you.

A couple of really quick tips I put together to help you out -

1. Play around with darker and lighter neutral colors

When utilizing neutrals, you can go ahead and utilize your beiges and your tans but remember not to use said colors for everything. By doing so, it makes the space boring quickly. This translates to you avoiding going crazy with  white and utilizing it for your walls, your ceiling, your floor, your furniture. Play with darker and lighter neutral colors for contrast. The lighter ones add a calming effect while the darker colors add depth to the space.

2. Incorporate patterns and some texture

Mixing textures will definitely add interest in a heartbeat (but remember to not overdo this). Utilize a variety of surface materials such as slate against a smooth tile or flat veneer with organic wood branches. Patterns work too. Think stripes or utilize a damask fabric.

3. Lighting is key

Lighting plays an important part as well in terms of adding a certain effect to the space and it is very important. No harsh white light here. Keep soft and warm lighting in mind (i.e. table lamps for some task lighting, accent lighting to highlight a wall installation perhaps and some soft overhead ambient lighting).

I went over beautiful interior photography by Moris Moreno and picked out a couple  of his interior shots which I really liked. They are good examples (color-wise) of achieving a good balance when using neutrals. Do check them out (as visuals) and I hope you can pick out a few key pieces when you can incorporate in your own interiors.

P.S. Many people think that neutral options are quite limited and only comprise the standard whites and browns. But there are choices available actually, we even have warm neutrals and cool neutrals. If you are lost and can’t decide on which choices to go for, here are a couple of popular selections that can get you going. Quick tip for the selection below – Remember to not think of the color in solitary  terms but rather a mesh of two or more colors to give the space definition and some character. For example, Wheat is a trendy color at present. To make this beautiful hue work for you, complement it with a dark tan shade. Think wheat for walls and placing an armchair upholstered in rich tan leather next to it.

P.P.S. On a lighter and less academic note, Hi Everyone! Haha. I was attending to a couple of things over the last few days and I am slowly working on stuff to get them done. I do hope you like this post and find it informative. A big thank you to Mr. Wonderful for his help with redirecting sites. Also, pictures about my trip from last weekend – I’ll be posting them over this weekend. Yup, my sentence construction and thought formation is weird (but I do make sense!) Haha. Stay tuned!

Hohum.

How’s everyone? I just got back last Sunday, I was away on a trip over the weekend (i.e. interior design- related). I was supposed to do a scheduled post that I had planned to publish (here in my design journal) while I was away but amidst my crazy packing session, the scary weather post the storm and the sudden unpredictable internet connection, I wasn’t able to do so.

When I did came back, I was settling in (I still have a pending to-do list and a couple of emails to work on. Eep.) and feeling a bit weird (from the warm weather there/the trip itself/our itinerary/all of the above – I’m not sure), I just hope I don’t get sick at all. Don’t worry, I will get back to doing regular posts hopefully in the next few days. Stay tuned for posts with a gazillion pictures about my trip (Yup, I was lugging my camera with me). Yey, I’m excited! Haha

Have a great week everyone!

P.S. It’s back to an overwhelming reality for me but it’s alright. Onwards with the battle! (Please do pray for my mom! Thanks.)

P.P.S. Yup, I’m just lurking…for now.

Today's guest post is from Susi, a writer for Arcadian Lighting (a fantastic online resource for gorgeous light fixtures and lamps for the home).


There is an interesting mix of contemporary and rustic styles in design these days. Have you seen it? Do you love it? Hate it? Rustic walls give contemporary spaces, especially minimalist spaces, added texture and pattern. Using reclaimed wood, barn doors and wood paneling in new ways, these rustic walls in contemporary spaces feel very chic. Here are some of our favorites:

This rustic wood wall feels contemporary in this minimalist bedroom. The simple colors and linear lines of the wall are in keeping with the contemporary style of the rest of the room.

This reclaimed wood wall is a DIY project. Love the simple lights as wall sconces that add illumination but keep the space feeling contemporary. The headboard project could be continued over the entire wall for an even more rustic feeling.

Barn style doors in this contemporary farmhouse kitchen add rustic style while hiding storage. Barn doors are great in contemporary design for their simple lines and functionality.

An all white contemporary space gets some color and texture with this barn door to the bathroom. It almost has an industrial feeling to it.

An old barn door makes for a rustic accent wall in this contemporary nursery space. Reclaimed wood is a great way to add rustic style to a contemporary space.

This contemporary foyer has natural stone walls that are more typical in a farmhouse style space. Natural elements, wood, stone, plaster, that are more typical of rustic décor look fantastic when paired with contemporary furnishings and light fixtures.

This contemporary bathroom has gorgeous wood paneling that is more chic than rustic. Wood walls, typical of rustic style, give warmth to sleek contemporary spaces.

This chic contemporary bedroom has a cool rustic wood wall that almost looks like pallets. The horizontal slats have a fantastic graphic look to them.

These contemporary spaces with a touch of the outdoors are clean, classic and cozy. If you’re looking for more inspiration, visit Arcadian Lighting’s website for design ideas and a brilliant array of lighting fixtures to choose from.

Images (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

P.S. This is The Sea Green Journal’s first ever guest post. Thank you very much to Susi for putting together such useful information. I do love rustic walls, they add texture and a certain character to any space.How about you?

P.P.S. It’s a rainy friday for me. Georgia and I saw a couple of birds and their nests in our front yard today. How cool! ♥

Have a great weekend ahead, everyone!

A color scheme you can try out (I actually love it, love color ♥). It adds warmth to your space and will let you transcend from one style to another in a very manageable manner. In a way, it reminds me of the tropics and hot warm days while sipping lemonade.

Remember, do not be afraid to use orange and blue together. When done properly, they can produce dramatic results and don’t forget your neutrals. The interior above is still a very good example even if the use of said colors is done quite sparingly.

Before I go, I just realized that this is my 100th post! Wow, cool beans

P.S. Good news made me very thankful today and we go on. On a different note, Georgia needs a bath and I just made a really good soup concoction. Would you like a recipe?

P.P.S. A guest post tomorrow by Susi (a writer from Arcadian Lighting). Stay tuned!

I have always loved anything Mediterranean – the cuisine (I even love watching cooking shows with amazing ingredients influenced by cultures near the Mediterranean Sea), the details in the design style (Sparkling sunny days, vibrant produce, vivid turquoise waters), it is basically relaxed design and nature is quite apparent in the architectural elements.

I will expound more on Mediterranean design in a separate post for those of you who wish to know more about it or wish to incorporate in your interiors.

A good example of an interior concept that I am especially in love with right now is the Blanc Restaurant and Lounge of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona. It exhibits a settle Mediterranean feel in a more contemporary setting (I love it! ♥).

Patricia Urquiola, the brilliant designer for the space, made use of creative spatial layouts and a dramatic openess through the ceiling decorations. The palette is mainly neutral and oh so refreshing (to the point of making me gush even. Haha.).

P.S. Yup, having lunch here someday is definitely in my bucket list. (Lunch is between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Noted. Haha.)

(Steak Salad Photo Credit – Thomas J. Story)

First off, what are Pohutukawa trees? They are basically evergreen trees native to New Zealand, a favorite, thus inspiring the name  “New Zealand Christmas Tree”. A Pohutukawa tree can spread to as much as 40 feet in width and it can grow up to 70 feet in height. 

How did said trees fit into the design problem? Well to start with, Architects and Interior Designers are constantly presented with challenging circumstances in terms of design and our example for this post is one of those said challenges – working with the existing environment. Herbst Architects was quite successful in dealing with such a factor and coming up with an amazing collaboration of – 1. The celebration of nature and working with what nature provided them with, 2. The good meshing of a sleek modern structure with firsthand connection with trees and the beach (the site can be found near the beach, not far from Auckland).

How did they do it? Well, they basically looked to the trees themselves to clue them in. The site which was covered with about 90 percent of mature Pohutukawa trees didn’t make it easy at all. They divided the house into areas which they can work around with the trees and they utilized materials that stick to the feel of nature – freshly cut wood, timber.

P.S. I wouldn’t mind living here. Not at all

P.P.S. Happy Birthday, Karl (a.k.a. Darth Vader)!

Nope, this is not a clothing/fashion wishlist (at the moment). I was browsing through Urban Outfitters and I fell in love with a couple of stuff (Ok, a lot. Haha). I then decided to sort of list them down for future reference of course (haha).

I basically love (love, love, love) color and certain prints thus anything that fall in said categories tend to catch my eye.

Such pretty, pretty colors! All this color is cheering me up Yup, I’d love to get all of them and make a house where I can place all of them in. Uhm, I’ll live there too. Haha.

Which ones do you like?

P.S. Back in college, I thoroughly enjoyed the design subjects that focus on color. Err, I loved all of my subjects then. I guess I’m a design nerd *insert nerd smiley here*

P.P.S. Leo the Owl Bank ♥ ♥

Do you by any chance have a “chair question” ?

I wanted to do something fun with this post and thus will present a couple of stuff to inspire you (design-wise) and give you some ideas. Any element can change an interior’s atmosphere – for this particular post, the element at hand would be furniture, more specifically chairs.

What sort of flashed in my head was the word “Stereotypes”. We basically define stereotypes as fixed and most of the time oversimplified images of a particular thing or even person. Chairs have their own stereotypes too (i.e. Classical Chairs are to be utilized for formal dining settings, Outdoor chairs are strictly for outdoors, etc). I can go on and on but basically people have this preconceived notion of furniture and their (very very limited) limitations in terms of usage. Most people would base it on the look (ex. They would think that minimal/streamlined furniture are solely for contemporary or modern concepts), or material (ex. They would think that metal furniture would work best solely for a dentist’s office or a factory) – you get the idea.

From my personal design preference and how I do spaces, I don’t like to limit myself nor do I like to limit the possibilities – I like to play around more with design, which is probably why I love art and making art as well.

I got thinking and decided to give you a couple of ideas for the question below.

The answer to said question is a very big YES and since I love you all and I love what I do, I decided to not only answer this question in writing but decided to do so as well by showing you. (Wow, clever. Haha.)

I randomly picked out five, very different (in material, shape, style) chairs – so they sort of represent random stereotypes and will show you how you can incorporate them in five corresponding spaces as well. I created a couple of design concepts that will hopefully inspire you and give you ideas and options for your own chairs and spaces. Enjoy!

1. Random Chair No. 1

First up is a Classic Dining Chair with Windsor Arched Seatback and Turned legs (in Whitewood finish). How can you possibly utilize this particular piece besides buying a couple and using them for your dining table you ask?

Well, as a possible option for you , I decided to utilize this chair for either a home office or even a design office. This piece would greatly add a dash of creativity in your work space and it’s not your conventional office chair either. Don’t worry, it has a good back support system and the wood seat would be just as comfy for those long hours (if not, a neutral seat cover can be added).

I usually go for interesting pieces, some good color (this will bring some zest in spite of the work load)  and some good storage of course. Check out how I designed the envisioned space below.

2. Random Chair No. 2

How about a vivid-colored chair in red? Would you love to get a couple of Verner Panton S Chairs? To answer the latter – If they are too expensive for you, a couple of not as expensive alternatives would be the Reno Chair Set by Target. To answer the former – don’t be afraid of strong colored chairs. You can definitely utilize them in any space, trust me.

Verner Panton is one of my favorite designers (I remember sketching his chairs for my furniture design class a couple of years back). His S chairs are classic pieces and are stackable and made out of plastic (a new material then). For the design concept below, I decided to use two of the pieces for a unique breakfast space.

Light and easily moveable, these pieces are not solely limited as accent pieces and are definitely not  just limited for more modern concepts. I decided to do a fun mix and I must say, I’d love to eat breakfast in the interior below.

Those are my first two looks/concepts and I hope I was able to inspire you in some way and was able to provide you with information you can utilize for your own design needs. Interested to see the rest of the spaces I designed utilizing the other three chairs?

If yes, then definitely stay tuned. I’ll post “Part Two” soon. Have a good weekend!

I just heard a talk from a brilliant individual (and designer) who I wish to adopt (Please don’t ask me why I wish to do that, I don’t know the answer either). By the way, his name is Thomas Heatherwick. His talk was about projects that he and his team have come up with, the design process and their final outputs. Let me just say that I am simply fascinated by people who come up with structures that go beyond one’s imagination, it’s simply amazing! *boggled look*

He has done amazing projects (which I will do posts on in this journal) that exhibit this  but one particular project which I am in awe with is his entry for the Shanghai 2010 Expo – The Seed Cathedral.

Sample pictures below (which I found from Time Magazine) so that you’ll get what I mean.

The Specifics

The Seed Cathedral is Heatherwick’s entry for the Shanghai World Expo. It is formed from 60, 000 transparent rods, each rod 7.5 metres in length. (With seeds embedded in them! In Heatherwick’s talk, he mentioned that they got their inspiration for this from the film, Jurassic Park . Remember the mosquito trapped inside a piece of amber and how beautiful it looked?)

The structure is 20 metres in height. The rods (each and every one of them) are simply fascinating for they were designed to draw daylight inwards during the day to provide illumination for the interior. At night time, the said rods serve as optic lighting which makes the whole structure “glow”.

This amazing work of art creates an utterly dynamic effect because when a gust of wind is present, the building itself and its “optic hairs” gently move with it.

Curious about the seeds? Heatherwick teamed up with Millenium Seedbank project (another amazing group whose mission is to collect the seeds of 25% of the world’s plant species by 2020).

Construction-wise (and as quoted),  “The holes in the 1 metre thick wood diaphram structure forming the visitor space inside the Seed Cathedral were drilled with great geometric accuracy to ensure precise placement of the aluminium sleeves through which the optic fibre filaments are inserted. This was achieved using 3D computer modelling data, fed into a computer controlled milling machine.”

Do you wish to adopt him yourself now? Haha

P.S. I’d love to visit this amazing structure myself someday!

Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Yup, I am indeed destined to do a post related to this 1961 romantic comedy film starring Audrey Hepburn. I enjoy watching the movie, I love her, I love Tiffany blue (the color) and I love her classy outfits in the film. This post is simply inevitable.

I am not doing a movie review actually but am talking about a particular space/interior inspired by the film. It is awesome and I’d love to stay there myself

This gem is at the fourteenth floor of the St. Regis Hotel in New York which  they aptly named as their “Tiffany Suite”.  It has just been revamped recently – the old suite in 1991 then described to be corporate and “imperial”. A couple of specifics include the sizes being 1, 700 square feet (for the one bedroom) and 2, 300 square feet (for the two bedroom), a dining area that sits ten, a view that faces Central Park. A sample floor plan below.

Design-wise, the interior lends a whimsical yet opulent feel to it (with it’s crystal decanters, silver, streaming pearls) and utilizes a timeless color palette of neutrals (such as charcoal, whites, creams, silver) with Tiffany and Co.’s signature Tiffany color as the accent color. A  couple of pictures of the beautiful suite below.

I definitely fell in love with this space and I love the lovely mounted wall ornaments (they look so delicate and feminine). I love the Barbara Barry Fretwork Lounge Chairs (with mirror finishes and lacquer)by Barbara Berry for Mcguire.

The person responsible for this is John Loring (Design Director Emeritus of Tiffany and Co.). He wanted to redesign the suite for a young and fashion conscious audience. As quoted, “The style of New York (in the late 80′s and early 90′s) was anything but young, and fresh, and hip. It was rather ponderous and the suite was aimed at a very different audience than today”.

Definitely taking the Tiffany experience to another level!

P.S. With regards to the movie, I definitely love this iconic dress, especially the back detail ♥

Hello Everyone! How I have missed all of you and this darling design journal. My family and I are still fighting an ongoing battle, do pray for my mom (thanks!).

On a more lighter note, its August and I love this month ♥

The Sea Green Journal turned a year old a few days ago (thus I wanted to make this post extra special) and I can hardly believe it. This has been a lot of fun and I do plan to continue on writing and pouring my design thoughts here.

More randomness, here are a couple of things I love (I have a lot actually, stuff that I love I mean) -

Lunch (Something I whipped up, it turned up to be quite tasty actually. Cool beans!) Egg white Omelette with Oregano and Basil, Lean Beef Sausages with Herbs and some fresh English Baby Spinach. Yum!

Definitely someone I am grateful for, a really cool friend over the net – Belinda! She was kind enough to do an interview  with me  about what I do (this mention is long overdue), it was a lot of fun. If you wish to check it out, you may do so here.

Yup, it’s the little one. I believe she’ll be in all of my lists (haha) and in lots of my future posts. Its my little Georgia – I love her ♥

P.S. Advanced Happy Birthday, Nikko Biko!

How was your Easter?

I am quite thankful that I had a good one – I was able to do some reflection about things and spend time with my family. Here are a couple of pictures that I find are quite cool (and adorable. haha.)  – in the spirit of Easter.

Aside from fluffy bunnies, other stuff that I love about Easter include – 1. Chocolate Eggs from Cadbury (Since I was a kid, I can finish a whole tray of this!), 2. Easter table settings and Easter themed parties, 3. Pastels (you can incorporate these darling colors in your interiors).

Speaking of Easter table settings, I find the setting and design by Wendy of Green Beansie Cards really aweeesssooommme =] A couple of pictures below. Enjoy!

I hope I didn’t overwhelm you with the amount of visuals in this post. They are such pretty pictures, I just couldn’t resist ♥

I’ll talk more about my Easter soon. Have a good week!

I got a call awhile back (while I was at the embassy – a different story for a different day) and got invited to head on down to Cebu Bionic to check out their new products. I am more familiar with their other store, Steel + Stone (and love their tiles) which is their high end retail store. They are still undergoing renovations at the moment but I was able to take some pictures and view some of their products (I love going to hardware stores).

Cebu Bionic is a builder supply/hardware store and though I am more acquainted with their architectural finishes (they have european tiles – they carry Bisazza; they also have asian tiles; bathroom fixtures – Toto and American Standard), apparently they also have door and window hardware and building tools.

Big thank you to Vina (she is in their marketing, she gave me a tour around and introduced me to everyone; Sir Bernard, their family owns said builder supply, was able to do a quick chat as well) and I will drop by again once everything gets settled. Quite random but I am ogling their shingle roofing options (haha).

P.S. Yup, I just couldn’t resist. (Haha).

A big kiss to everyone and I hope you are having a great weekend ♥

P.S. I attended a really cool design seminar yesterday on sustainable design. I’ll do a post on that soon.

The Queen of Love Armchair by Linvin. I want one. Actually, I want a couple. (Haha)

If I have somehow piqued your curiosity about it, this cool armchair which I love is made out of recyclable linear polyethylene – it is thus suitable for both indoors and outdoors (!). I love it for three reasons – 1. The Louis XV style of the design (“An ironic revisiting” as quoted), 2. For a million more reasons which will comprise a paragraph or this entire post itself (haha), 3. For the simple reason that I can’t seem to explain why I love it point-blank. Yes, I am confusing.

I like the whimsical aspect it projects and at the same time I like the fact that it can be a really good statement piece for any décor – simply put, it is surprisingly versatile. Surprising in the sense that it does possess intricate detailing and exaggerated contouring. To add more to it’s amazingness, it is seamless, it resists color fading, it is scratch, shock and weather resistant. It’s composition makes it eco-friendly too.

Gah, there’s more?! (Haha)

Yup, it comes in all these fun colors ♥

I know, I know – all those words for just an armchair. I mean it’s not just any armchair – it’s an awweesssomme chair. (Haha.)

As quoted from the designer, “Linvin’s The Love Collection was born from a simple idea, aiming to become a symbol of positive and free way of being. These beautiful designs project you into the future while remembering the past; a prism in which the light goes through and turns into a rainbow of colors, becoming itself the energy that it’s a symbol of LOVE.”

A couple of these babies it is (and Georgia can have one too if they have a baby version – how cute!). I rest my case

Now, back to my essay. Eep.

As quoted from the CFIF (Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc.), “Responsible for over 60% of the Philippine exports, Cebu is recognized as the furniture capital of the Philippines.  To date, the Philippine furniture export industry, with Cebu as its biggest contributor, ranks among the top ten import source countries of the USA. A big 70%  of the total furniture products of the country are exported to the US, and the remaining 30% distributed to the European, Middle Eastern and Asian markets.”

I have always taken great pride in the amazing designers we have here in Cebu – I get inspired by how they have gravitated towards pushing the envelope in design limitations and the innovations they constantly come up with. Being in the interior design field, I had always been exposed to this even when I was still a student in university and my fascination hasn’t wavered even up to now.

Cebu designers and manufacturers make use of indigenous materials such as arorog and butay (coconut twig), rattan, bamboo, sea grass, abaca (manila hemp), tree bark and even termite mounds – I’m telling you, it’s amazing!

A good example of a furniture company – I was able to drop by for a visit to Murillo’s showroom (they have a really cool one) not too long ago. I have always found a liking to their pieces and I love (the opportunity of ) being able to drop by different Cebuano furniture showrooms – I could spend the entire day just ogling their pieces. (True story. Haha.)

Looks cool doesn’t it?

Quick Details about Murillo’s Export International -

1. They define their brand as – “Innovative ways of interpreting tradition”. This company is engaged in design and manufacture of high quality furniture and accessories.

2. Murillo furniture, accessories and art works are hand made inside their factory in Cebu, Philippines.

3. They utilize rattan, wicker, leather, iron, aluminum, wood, abaca, sea grass and other natural materials mixed with man-made ones. They like to play around with subtle contrasts on colors and textures and they lean on clean fluid lines and excellent details.

They were nice enough (and super cool!) to lend us some of their pieces and they have really good service. (Big thanks to Sir Allan Murillo and Lorelyn!)

I will definitely post more about other furniture designers here in Cebu in the future and a big kudos to the Cebu and Philippine Furniture Industry! Let us all show our support

Georgia and Mummy time ♥

Bohemian (Definition)

1. a native or inhabitant of Bohemia
- Nope, this doesn’t apply to me.

2. a person who has informal or unconventional social habits, esp. an artist or writer.
– Nope, this doesn’t apply to me or perhaps it does a little. So I guess I fit in this definition in a certain sense.

I have always been fascinated by gypsies and the bohemian culture. I mean I will never ever lose that fascination – I remember wearing loose curls in college (on certain days), being into woven flipflops with intricate beading, being into flowy skirts and big printed totes and donning a great deal of woven bangles. People might view me (and know me) as starchy/prim in manner . I am for the most part, I follow rules and I take tasks seriously (Yup, totally not a free spirit there. Haha.)

I love the character in all things bohemian and the carefree-ness it represents and though I might not dress the way I used to (I haven’t worn flipflops or curls or skirts) but I still have the penchant for it and there are still days when I go for it. I may dress up seriously now as a professional but I still inject bits of this fondness – will never get tired of loosy tunics, printed/flower polos, beanies, maxis and gypsy dresses.

It kind of reminds me of interior design as well. It is a discipline that focuses on the arts so it can also lean on the unconventional, the artsy-fartsy and being just out there but at the same time it is also starchy in the sense that it is also a science, you have the accuracy to observe when making technical drawings, in doing measurements, etc.

Paula = Interior Design (Haha.)

On a different (but still cheery) note, yesterday was a very good day. It was a day for amazing blessings in our family (I got an amazing blessing and so did Ate Tatie). I will talk about it once things are already more concrete and definite but for now (All your prayers will be much appreciated), I am over the moon and am very grateful to God.

The picture above is one of the outtakes for a self-portrait shoot I did a day (or two) ago. I love it very much because it was fun and Georgia is in it. My little sweetheart was giving me a big kiss. Haha. So incredibly adorable! ♥

I hope you like it and I will be posting the rest over the weekend (Time goes by so fast lately. It’s almost the weekend and its already April tomorrow too! Shocker. Haha.)

Note: Wow, how did this post get so lengthy? Am I that chatty? *blush* (Haha.)

P.S. My good friend, Vane, had her birthday a few days ago and she said that it was happy/crappy. A big shout out to her (and I hope this makes her smile) I won’t post her childhood picture here because she might (hurt)me. Haha. Advanced Happy Birthday to Nikki as well

P.P.S. If you are new to this design journal, some shameless plugging here, here and here. (Haha.)

I love going over the results of interior design awards. The winning designs/interiors and the designers themselves are very inspiring. I enjoy going over the creative outputs that they come up with and I learn a great deal from them too!

Big congratulations to this year’s IIDA Interior Design Competition winners. (IIDA stands for International Interior Design Association and this year’s competition is their 38th.)

To quote Sara Robertson (in her More Than Meets the Eye article), “Interior design competitions are far more than mere beauty pageants – they involve a complex system of entry and judgement and lead to much more than an award in name for all those involved.”

I agree with her statement that there’s no refuting that interior design is a visual profession BUT that it is not just limited to that. Aesthetics are considered (surely) but what they focus more is the idea being presented and the quality of it’s execution. It is a learning opportunity for everyone involved.

Here are a couple of pictures of some of the winning entries. Enjoy!

Project Title: One Shelley Street
Project Location: Sydney, Australia
Firm: Clive Wilkinson Architects, West Hollywood, CA

Project Title: Nokia
Project Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Firm: Gensler, San Francisco, CA

Project Title: Bar Agricole
Project Location: San Francisco, CA
Firm: Aidlin Darling Design, San Francisco, CA

Those are just three of the six award winners. The Best of Competition winner will be announced in June. Mehrdad Yazdani, the Principal Interior Designer of  Los Angeles-based Yazdani Studio of Cannon Design and a winner of the IIDA’s 36th Annual Competition, says that  one has to be “simple,  powerful and concise for a judge who only has a few minutes to grasp your project.” Submissions have to be as effective as possible and it should be conveyed a strong manner.

To inspire you, I end this post by quoting D.B. Kim (an independent designer in New York and has judged several competitions) – “It’s not just about mimicries of the trends. The competition is all about the details – I’m looking at the future.”

P.S. I am also including a picture of a dish I have great affection for particularly (I mean I love food a great deal ♥ Haha.). I am most certainly a risotto girl and the one below is a really good one – it was creamy and had just the right consistency (the mushrooms were juicy and flavorful as well). A very good meal for a busy day

Sprinkle a bit of pepper and introduce to your tastebuds. Yum ♥

P.P.S. Before March officially comes to an end, I just wanted to say that The Sea Green Journal is already seven months old. Yey! To the upcoming months and more posts – cheers!

There is no typical day for an interior designer (you learn something new or get exposed to something different every single day). Yes, you will deal with the “usual” –  floor plans, technical drawings, furniture, sourcing and they might seem to be the same thing over and over again for some people but they don’t for me (for the most part). I am still venturing out and I believe I still have a lot to learn and discover out there – but I find it very exciting and its something I look forward to constantly. (Yes, I am weird.)

This day is something I would like to share because it’s a sample of how my day, as an interior designer, is like (to a certain extent). It’s fun and I love it (In spite of extreme heat exposure at times, the dust – Ok, I’ll stop. Haha.)

We decided to get something to eat first (and continue our discussion on the things we needed to get done), we initially thought this would be a more laid back day. I didn’t want something that resembled breakfast during this particular breakfast (I have those days). I had the adobo flakes/adobo rice (Adobo is a popular dish in the Philippine cuisine. You basically marinate and cook meat in a sauce of vinegar, garlic and soy sauce and then simmer it said sauce after. Yup, this is typically yummy.) The one I had was alright after some doctoring, I added pepper (I put pepper in everything these days. Haha.) and some sauce. I also had a glass of their frozen lemonade.

We stopped by to inspect and check on the paneling and bookcase – to check on how they are turning out and discuss painting stuff. They turned out quite nicely. I fell in love with the furniture and the shop – their wood was beautiful period and were also beautifully made. They had really cool pieces that I wanted to get for myself (Haha) – the chairs above are good examples. I love furniture shops (and not just showrooms but the actual shop where pieces are made and you see saw dust and hear tools whizzing).

We went to two different plant/landscaping centers to check out the plants they have and decide on which ones we will need. It was quite hot and a bit muddy but amazing nevertheless. There were some really pretty ones and it’s amazing to see so much green in just one setting. We dropped by a home building center before this to look for some paint and check on some lighting fixtures.

We decided to take a short break at some point and went to this cool cafe for lunch. I will never get tired of this particular dish at all. I love food breaks – I always look forward to it (haha). Energized and well regrouped (we made calls to coordinate with deliveries and specifications), we continued on to our day and tasks.

This picture was taken for my friend, Pongee (haha). By this time, we had already dropped by three fabric stores and another hardware store to look for the ever elusive paint color we wanted (they didn’t have it) and thus we had to drive to two more different hardware stores after this.

By the end of the day – I was tired, looked like a wilted flower and in pain. (Ok, that was an exaggeration. Haha. Or not.) For fortunate days such as this, I am very grateful. Keep them coming.

P.S. Georgia news – her right eyelid is slightly swollen and I am freaking out (or was freaking out). Most likely an insect bite, worrying that she might be uncomfortable and dealing with the unknown made me quite teary. I gave her a bath right way (a couple of hours before this post was up) and used some of her skin treatment shampoo on the affected area in the hopes that it will relieve the spot. Georgia doesn’t look uncomfortable thankfully and has slept right after her bath which has calmed me a bit already. Off to the vet as soon as possible and here are a couple of pictures of her after said unplanned bath time.

I love you, little Georgia ♥

P.P.S. If you have time on your hands and would like to read something design-related/design project – Click here, here and here (in said order please). Haha. Thanks!

Have a good week ahead, everyone!

I love tea ♥

This is the last part of my “Launch and Gallery” post/series (Reader – Thank God!, Pau – *sad face* Haha). This post will feature more pictures design-wise and just show bits and pieces of the exhibit. We officially ended today in terms of egress and it was a good one(both the egress and the exhibit). Feel free to go over the pictures below. Enjoy!

Have a good week, everybody!

P.S. Yup, that about sums it up (haha) – they left me alone with my camera. If you wish to check out part 1 of the Launch and Gallery, you may do so here. Curious about how this came together and would like to view some behind the scenes snippets, do a clicky here.

P.P.S. I had to get a souvenir shot. (Come on, dude. Haha.)

A new twist – we have heard about this before or have seen in a movie or perhaps have experienced it or are experiencing it at the moment. I basically associate “new twists” as something fresh to bring to the table, something different to fuel up your creativity or something that makes things simply interesting.

It could be something as simple as a new ingredient in your usual ice cream order (Chocolate chili ice cream?) for example or even a little umbrella or some watermelon flavored ice cubes in your lemonade (What am I saying exactly? Haha). As always, this is not just limited to drinks or movie plots but it does materialize (a lot of times) in the design world – may it be the use of new material for a lighting fixture or a different interpretation of design styles.

Here are a couple of kids (to preteens) rooms (and kids furniture) that I love at the moment and are good examples.

Look A

Look B

A play on kids rooms and furniture has happening for some time now (awhile now actually) and I have taken a liking for the ones above because of their baroque feel – I love all things baroque! (Haha)

This particular line was a collaboration of Di Liddo & Perego with Naj-Oleari for the latter’s 2009 Spring-Summer Collection. They wanted something young, fresh and extremely colorful. I love the romanticism feel that the line exudes and wouldn’t mind having a few of these pieces in my own room (they are quite pretty!).

P.S. I have been experiencing “new twists” of my own at present and it can be scary when you have no control over the outcome/s but it’s alright. I try to take things in stride and do what is best for the situation. Wish me luck!

P.P.S. Georgia’s new twist at the moment – sipping/licking fresh fruit juice (we put fresh fruit in the juicer) from her green bowl and I have to say she likes it and she looks really cute! (Haha).

I’ve been up for a few hours now (Good Morning!) and let me tell you that it’s still quite early (and I’m not even a grandparent yet! I kid. Haha.)

The little one (Georgia) is awake now as well – I just hand fed her, gave her some vitamins and some water.  She just needs to do her morning poop and weewee before we are good to go (I apologize for even discussing this. I guess it’s still too early for my brain to work. Haha). Basically she’s settled and good which is great since I have an appointment in a few hours and this will be a crazy (good crazy and busy) day for me so I want her to be comfortable while I’m gone for the day.

Back to business/ serious mode on

This post will include snippets about how the design concept for the gallery exhibit took shape. Let’s get into everything. I sort of did an outline so that it’ll be more comprehensive. Enjoy!

Design Concept Options

Here are a couple of options that we initially came up with. You will get a clear picture of how the design played out and evolved.

We provided two color options for our own consideration – You can see the effect of color and how it projects a certain feel/atmosphere (For this particular example, it’s settle but it’s there.)

These are more recent revisions made by taking certain aspects into consideration (ex. availability of resources, budget, art center management requirements, what would really work for the space and it’s intended use, etc.)

Prior to Ingress

While securing everything and making sure all the necessary  parts comes together (amazingly of course – we had our fingers crossed). This involved lots of long hours, meetings, sun/the elements/heat exposure, meal deprivation, coordination, etc. We also had to work with the management and the hours the mall keeps – this translates to paint works being done after mall hours (think 9 pm to beyond 2 am and a few more hours for drying) and installations done before mall hours (think 6 am to before 10 am).

When working on things like these (or being in this profession in general), you (have to) expect that a lot of things will definitely go wrong (it might even be frustrating to a certain extent) before it’ll be alright.  Things will definitely go wrong – only cream benches are available at the last minute instead of the black ones you requested and one of those is at a  really far away branch, wines weren’t coordinated properly with catering, lighting fixtures aren’t available,  no delivery truck for the freestanding lamp, lettering in the wrong color, you have to pick up platforms and be back in time to see to another delivery (this time for the console table, the plants, etc.) – I can go on (haha) but we’ll end there for now. You just have to take things in stride, squeeze in a meal  at some point and focus on what can be done – on how problems can be solved.

Exhibit Floor Plan

Painting customized wall panel installations in the shop with brushes on hand (Original Artwork by Paula and Bernie – haha.) This was definitely messy – paint in your hair, everywhere (but a fun stress reliever). I am very proud of how the wall paneling turned out, they are definitely awwesssooommee *surfer dude accent* (Haha)

After sixteen hours – you can definitely do some smiling already because things are starting to come together quite nicely. Haha.

Above all, this is an entirely amazing profession and the exhibit was great. I felt a sense of fulfillment watching the gallery (and your design concepts in general)  take shape and seeing the potential of the space being brought out and executed – interior design and all it entails amazes me still and I think it always will. It is possibly the nearest thing to giving birth we suppose (for Bernie and myself that is. Haha). I am also very grateful to everyone who helped out one way or another. Thank you!

If you wish to see pictures of the launching and exhibit (part one), you can find it here. If you have time, do drop by for a visit. The exhibit runs until today. Cheers!

Looking at pretty prints cheers me up and I love them a great deal. I love incorporating them in interiors and even in my wardrobe. When I work on interior spaces or concepts, it doesn’t feel complete at all (in my opinion) when I don’t incorporate prints and I can’t seem to resist including prints in the dynamics of things (haha). I also love incorporating prints in my wardrobe – I can’t resist prints on my bags or in dresses or tops.

A couple of prints I am loving at the moment (or perhaps for some time now) are by print designer and illustrator, Brie Harrison. I find her prints to be quite pretty and I have a couple of them below.

Oui, j’aime les fraises (Yes, I like strawberries)! Its a new phrase I learned in french. Cool!

On a side note, I will definitely be posting all sorts of prints in this journal in future entries – I love them immensely.

P.S. Last night’s meeting was great and quite productive. I am very excited for the projects we have for this year. Yey for interior design!

P.P.S. Part 2 of Launch and Gallery will be posted tomorrow (hopefully). For those who weren’t able to check out part 1, you can do so here. You can also simply scroll down to the previous entry. Haha. (Its just that I love putting links and such. Humor me.)

I love doing gallery/exhibit design.

In my previous post, I mentioned an exhibit that we are having at the moment (it’s still ongoing) and I’m providing details (and pictures) in this post and the upcoming posts as well. Bernie (another interior designer and a good friend) and I are the gallery design and launching coordinators. We were basically swamped (we did the interior design for the gallery, sourcing, customized paneling which we painted ourselves, etc. – basically everything down to the execution) and this does take a good amount of preparation, people. It was a lot of fun though. (haha. it’s true!)

Cocktails Night

To formally launch the gallery, we had cocktails night which included the ribbon cutting ceremony and blessing and a formal program. Have fun viewing the pictures below.

If you have time, do drop by for a visit. The exhibit/gallery is at SM Cebu’s Art Center from the 6th of March until the 19th (don’t forget to sign the guestbook).

Please stay tuned for part two! I’ll discuss design details and feature some behind the scenes insight. Rock mode (translation: stay put please).

P.S. A couple of pictures with me in them (i.e. work mode and cocktail night pretty mode. haha.). Balancing – there is a certain art to it.

Note: Bernie and I have been working on ingress for 16 hours already when this picture was taken. We don’t look too shabby if I may say so myself. (haha)

P.P.S. Our launch advertisement in the local paper.

Yup, its March. Wow. It’ll be summer soon and more hot weather it will be (sigh).

Today is “no meat” day since it’s ash wednesday and we are preparing for lent. This used to be a struggle for me when I was younger since I am a meat girl. But at present, it’s not much of a big deal anymore in the sense that it isn’t as trying for me anymore to go on a full day without meat. That’s a yey healthwise.

Earlier on today, I was able to drop by and view a couple of units (thanks Franie!) and pick up tips here and there. I took a couple of pictures too. (Note: I didn’t do the interior design for these units but I am posting them so that you can pick up some ideas or whatnot.)

There you go and I am not ending this post without food pictures – take note, no meat. Hearty soup is definitely a favorite and the rice pilaf was really good. Yum.

The past few weeks have been quite crazy (translation: busy and surreal) but good and fun. I have been working on a lot of stuff and we do have a gallery on exhibit at the moment. I will do a post on this soon. For now, au revoir and have a good weekend ahead.

I (have been and) am loving Tortie Hoare’s furniture pieces. I love the fact that her pieces are handmade and that she takes a lot of effort to research ways on how to create her pieces (and their structures) in an environmentally conscious manner.

Dubbed as Designer of the Year 2010 by New Designers, her motivation in coming up with her furniture pieces is something she considers as simple. It’s all about being ergonomic, durable and being aesthetically pleasing.

I love natural furniture that focuses on the materials and acknowledging that form of beauty. Here are a couple of her pieces (below) that I am in love with in particular.

Butterfly Chair

Dimensions – 0.76 x 0.78 x 0.50 meters

The said chair is made out of aero ply (a quick definition – made from three thin layers of birch and is only one mm thick when bonded together; was designed to be used on aeroplane wings as it can be curved so effectively), hessian (a quick definition – a strong, coarse fabric made from jute) and resin (a quick definition – a solid or liquid polymer used as a basis of plastics, adhesives and other related products).

The main traits that the designer wanted to express through the design was “fun, environmentally conscious and intelligent design which is educational”.

Seat

Dimensions – 0.61 x 0.38 x 0.43 meters

This furniture piece wasn’t named as specifically as the piece above (I can’t be sure what its name is but its simply cool). It is made out of oak and boiled leather – I love the “natural” feel it exudes. It is said to be extremely comfortable and is quite light and versatile. It comes in a limited edition of 30.

Can I have both pieces please? I love the uniqueness of the first piece and the print. I love the leather craftsmanship of the second one.

P.S. I am reading a good book. I’m thinking about drinking some tea at the moment. I have yet to confirm if we have the lounge chairs (in mustard – color) that we want for the gallery. I am quite random and I am a bit under the weather (i.e. snot and feeling a bit feverish). But it’s alright.

P.P.S. Does the sneezing count as exercise? Haha. I kid.

Yup, I always take pictures of pretty flowers. I love them.

Belated Happy Valentines day! Yup, quite a late greeting (Haha). Pictures from the other week (below). Bernie and I went sourcing for the gallery launching which will be in a few more weeks. We have been attending to a lot of things for the said event (coordinating with installations, choosing and looking for pieces, taking measurements, brainstorming, etc.).

But I love it – I love my profession and the complexities it entails. I hope I get to do more and explore (said profession) further in the years to come. Cheers.

P.S. We also look forward to lunch time (sounds like school. Haha) and enjoy eating good food. Yey! With regards to the food below (in case you are curious), the shrimp was amazing. I loved my peppered steak (Yup, I love chips a great deal) and Bernie said her cream dory was good too.

P.P.S. Even though it’s that time of the month, try to persist and don’t let said predicament hinder you. Quick Tip: Brush your hair and wear a pretty dress (and some color) and you’ll be set. At least that’s how I did it. Haha.

I hope we all have a good and productive week!

Oh my cupcake. It’s already February.

Yes, I keep on saying that time flies by so fast. But it does. At this rate, I could just simply blink and it’d be March already (Such a little joker, Pau. Haha.) But it’s not entirely impossible though. I mean this week (for me) went by really fast – sleep deprived at some parts and feeling giddy every time I cross something off in my to-do list.

I remember watching the Circus when I was really small and though most of it is fuzzy now, one thing that will remain (permanently) is my love for it. I was able to watch it again just recently (albeit a different group and act this time of course) and this time as a young adult (I still refuse to consider myself as a full-fledged adult. The magic of being a kid is something I wouldn’t discard completely). I brought my camera along and had the time of my life enjoying the circus, having fun with my family and clicking away at the same time. Here are a couple of pictures (I love the way they turned out actually. Such pretty colors!)

On a different note, I made another mood board for today. I want to call it a design board for now. Decided to make one because I wanted to start the week on a fun note and one way (at least on my end) to be able to do that is to play around with color. You can have fun with color and incorporate it in your spaces through fun pieces (it doesn’t necessarily have to be of a more drastic incorporation – it could just be in the form of a bold red armchair or perhaps a couple of throw pillows in plum). Refer to the design board below for some ideas/inspiration (incorporate pieces that have character).

Finally, let me just say that I wouldn’t end this entry without mentioning my title post or at least cupcakes (haha). For those who have been reading this journal since the beginning, you would know by now that I love cupcakes (sometimes I even crave for particular kinds!). The most recent cupcakes I tried and am loving immensely are chocolate ones with cream frosting and chocolate powder. They are simply heavenly – quite moist and the frosting is just perfect (for someone who isn’t into icing and such as much, that’s saying a lot). I even decided to post with one of the revered cupcakes below (and with a big smile to go with it, if I may add). I had three of these lovelies the very next day and the day after that. Haha.  Yummmm!

All of the above got me wondering, have you been to the Circus too? Do you love it? How about certain scrumptious cupcakes you love? Do let me know. I’d love to hear about your own musings regarding the said stuff. Have a good week ahead everybody!

P.S. The Sea Green Journal is already six months old! Yey! Thank you so much for visiting, commenting and dropping by. It’s been fun and I look forward to the upcoming months.

I had planned on doing a trends post for this year (in terms of interior design), I have yet to finalize that. Speaking of trends, Pantone had released their Color of the Year (for 2011) late last year (December) and I think most of you know what it is. For those who don’t know yet, it’s Honeysuckle.

Pantone describes it as a courageous, confident and vital color – “a brave new color, for a brave new world.” Last year’s   color, Turquoise (Pantone 15-5519) represented a comforting escape and serenity. This year’s color inspires us to face everyday head on.

As described, it  (Pantone 18-2120) is a dynamic reddish pink hue which is both encouraging and uplifting. Leatrice Eiseman (the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute) explains that Honeysuckle allures and engages. It “may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”

If you wish to incorporate this hue in your homes (or in other interiors) this year, don’t fret. The dynamic aspect of Honeysuckle (it is such a pretty color!) doesn’t make it a difficult color to work with. It can be incorporated gradually by starting off with certain pieces. It can be integrated in your  dining room and even in your kitchen (Little Trivia – Honeysuckle is an appetite and conversation stimulant, perfect for your dining area). You can carry out the hue through certain key pieces – examples include linens, candles and even glassware. By the way, you can refer to the mood board I made below (featuring honeysuckle-hued pieces to give you some ideas). I love making mood boards!

For those who aren’t afraid to utilize this hue on a much bigger scale, you may do so by using this on your walls (as an accent color wall or even for your entry way) or by incorporating it on bigger pieces of furniture (such as armchairs or even couches). It can also be incorporated in areas which need an upbeat touch (this can be used in a small powder room or a little girl’s room). For visual examples, check out a couple of interiors below.

You may go all out with this hue (please refer to first picture) or if you wish to go with a more gradual approach, you may use it as an accent color for that certain punch of color in your spaces (please refer to the second and third picture, beautifully executed by Betty Murdock Interiors).

I encourage all of you to play around with this color and consider incorporating it in your spaces this year. I hope it will “instill confidence, courage and spirit (within you) to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life”.

P.S. You can incorporate it in your wardrobe too!

P.P.S. Do check out my very first post for this year. Click here. Thanks!

I am now a proper Godmother (english accent). Yup, its officially (for a few days now actually). You might all wonder why it’s such a big deal for me. I mean, why wouldn’t it be?

Before delving more into that, I want to wish everyone a happy new year (let’s pretend that it’s still the first week of january with regards to the prior statement). What better way to do that than to post a couple of pictures from new year’s eve, I say. (We have fireworks every year and it’s amazing. I advocate safety when dealing with fireworks and being responsible.)

I just took a couple of shots since I was busy watching the fireworks, making sure that Georgia was ok and basically just having fun. I love how these shots turned out.

Back to being a Godmother – I just thought that my first ever post for this year should commemorate something meaningful and I believe that welcoming and celebrating new life is the perfect way to go about it. I unfortunately do not have pictures during the baptism ceremony since I wanted to focus more on godmother duties and just take pictures during the after part (they had a photographer on hand which is a plus – I’ll get pictures from him).

I had to take pictures of little Andi’s cakes – they were really pretty!

With the little one (Yup, this is her. Meet the little darling.)

Can I keep her? Please? (Welcome to the world, little Andi! You are Mommy Pau’s little darling. Aside from Georgia of course. Teehee.) Congrats Mommy Shaki and Daddy Nico!

“A child is the greatest gift that our lives can bestow, it brings the most exquisite joy that we will ever know.”

P.S. On an interior design-related note, here are a couple of pictures from the Hafele Presentation and the Green Architecture forum with Archt. Miguel Guerrero as one of the speakers.

Häfele Presentation

This featured the debut of their state-of-the-art kitchen systems as well as a background on the company. For those who aren’t familiar with Häfele, it was established in Germany and evolved from a local hardware business into a global company. Häfele Philippines was formally founded in 1995 and Cebu got its own sales office with a smaller warehouse in Mandaue City.

Not only do they provide architectural hardware and furniture fittings but they also have home appliances (with constant innovations).  I developed an affinity for their sophisticated coffee center – it produces creamy milk foam and can make coffee, espresso, latte and even cappuccino! (Unfortunately I wasn’t able to take a picture of the coffee center but I do have a couple of shots of the fittings – below.)

Green Architecture Forum

The forum started out with a talk from Dr. Glen Martin Green (he has a degree in petroleum engineering and a Ph. D. in Earth and Planetary Science from the United States). I especially found his talk to be one of the most comprehensive ones I have been to (to date) and it was certainly insightful. One aspect of his talk was about the Peak Oil Crisis which is still widely unknown to most of us. He basically defined it as “the point in time when a region’s oil production is at it’s maximum, when production reaches its all time high and then begins a relentless and irreversible decline as depletion progresses”.

Archt. Miguel C. Guerrero III, fuap, APEC architect, assocAIA, Green AP was also one of the guest speakers for the said forum. He is a member of  Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines, Inc. – they promote the practice of green architecture in the built environment. He discussed his ten steps to sustainability. A quick rundown – 1. Keep the sun out, 2. Let light in, 3. Catch some breeze, 4. Insulate roofing, 5. Harvest rain, 6. Recycle wastewater, 7. Efficient lighting, 8. Thermal comfort, 9. Renewable materials, 10. Alternative energy.

P.P.S. Upcoming Post Teaser

Here is to a promising 2011, Everyone! Cheers!

Hello. I miss writing in this journal and I miss all of you.

Yes, I have been back in Cebu for awhile now and the year has already come to an end. I am grateful because the last few months have been good for me and I had learned a lot. December was awesome and though it sort of just came in passing through this entry, a lot has been going on and I have been working on some stuff as well (perhaps I’ll expound on this someday but for now, I don’t want to jinx it). This entry will just be sort of an update but its more of a snippet update – if there is such a thing. Haha.

By the way, I hope your december was amazing – mine was simply awesssooommmeee. Haha. The Sea Green Journal is already four months old and it has been amazing so far. On to the next month and beyond. Woohoo!

Some of the stuff that I had done so far included – participating in the crossing bridges event. We had the chance to take pictures and spend time with photographers and photography enthusiasts from other neighboring countries (such as Singapore and Malaysia, even Africa!). We walked and went to the seedy (I seem to like that word – seedy) downtown area, took pictures and learned from each other. Check out a few of my pictures from the event below.

I was able to attend a seminar on green architecture and sustainable construction (the speakers were very insightful – they discussed the potential of the Philippines to come up with sustainable resources, the present state of our environment and the economy and even how to practice green architecture in the simplest ways). I was able to drop by the Hafele presentation as well (I’ll try to look for the pictures). Their products are certainly “technology forward” and the designs are streamlined.

I’ll delve on those serious topics next time. For now, I leave you with some pictures from my special december. (big smiles, heart bursting with love)

I spent the holidays with the people that I love dearly. I am thankful to have them – Mr. Wonderful, Georgia and my lovely family. I certainly couldn’t ask for anything more. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all the best for the new year. Happy New Year Everyone!

Before I go, the bestest present that Santa and God could ever give me (aside from family and friends) – Mr. Wonderful and the time we were given (though how limited it was). No complaints, it was magical.

“True love stories never have endings.”

- Richard Bach

” The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.”

- Robert Cushing

” There is no use trying, said Alice. One can’t believe impossible things. I dare say you haven’t had much practice, said the Queen. When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

- Lewis Carroll

Note to self –

1. Jump in.

2. Six impossible things before breakfast.

Hello Everyone!

November has been good to me so far (and for that I am very grateful). I haven’t updated as much but I will post more articles soon. The main stuff that have happened so far/things that are occupying my time – 1. I attended a design workshop the other day and it was so much fun! I love anything design-related and attending workshops, 2. I have also been eating a lot of food during this vacation/trip (but this is a normal occurence for me I think. haha), 3. I have been checking out a lot of places and am traveling (Yey! Spending time with Ate Tatie as well. Double yey! haha). By the way,  I took pictures of the stuff I have been eating (I’ll slowly post them) and I try to squeeze in as much work (that are due more or less when I get back to the Philippines) as I can in between. I miss Georgia a great deal (I hugged a beautiful golden retriever the other day – because I have Georgia withdrawal and I do love dogs as well).

Yey! The Sea Green Journal is already three months old!

I have a lot of work to do and I hope I can indeed strike a good balance. Another good news is that The Sea Green Journal is already three months old! Yey! I am having so much fun with this design journal and I hope you are too. Thank you for dropping by and I do hope you come visit often!

Have a good November everyone!

P.S. I took a gazillion pictures and I have a lot that I need to post (pending). Hopefully I’ll be able to organize and process them and gradually post everything. Just a few bits for this month (in the mean time). Do check out the “snippets” below.

I love dumplings! Whenever I eat at a cafe or a restaurant, I try out their dumplings (if they offer some in their menu of course). These big and juicy ones from Ariake was just so-so. But they dumplings nevertheless. Thus, I love them still! (haha)

Here I am. This portrait was taken near the Marina area.

A snog, you say.

As what they mentioned, “Snog isn’t a miracle, it’s just delicious pure frozen yoghurt”. Yup, this post is about yoghurt (just a bit) and interiors – sounds great, things that I love all in one post! Yey! (haha)

Snog emphasizes their dedication in providing the healthiest  frozen yoghurt. Their blend is a mixture  of organic skimmed milk, and fresh non-fat organic yoghurt (with probiotics).

Nom, nom, nom! I love frozen yoghurt – definitely a healthier alternative to frozen treats but has to be moderated just the same. In case you are wondering about the yoghurt above and their names – Chocolate Snog, Green Tea Snog and and Natural Snog respectively.

Snog shops feature really cute interiors – definitely whimsical and they have the playful/fantasy aspect. Check out the pictures below.

I am currently working on something. By the way, this post  is about something really cool that I wanted to share (on the side).

Innovation (dasparkhotel)

Dubbed as the Pipe Hotel, standard sewer pipes/concrete cylinders (2 meters in diameter and 2.5 meters long) fitted with the basic essentials (fitted with a bed, storage space and electricity) serve as the “suites” of the said hotel. It is situated in Ottensheim, Austria.

The tubes have “almost perfect pre-settings” actually. Being 20 cm thick, they provide a lot of safety to occupants against the elements, they are surprisingly bright and have good thermal properties.

Utilities-wise, the units do not feature toilets but they are situated in a precise location which makes showers, toilets, restaurants and even a swimming pool within reach. A really cool thing about the hotel (aside from the concept and all that goodness), is their system of operation – 1. Guests book their stay exclusively over the internet and they are then emailed a code number (for the number-code locks) which helps them access their “suite” upon their arrival, 2. Their “pay as you wish” system (which I hope no one will abuse) mainly covers any repairs and the servicing.

This provides an easy option for travelers and adventurers with smaller budgets – without having to sacrifice a lot (safety, comfort, etc.) or style. They are also said to be available from spring to summer.  By the way, the man behind the mobile and self-sufficient concept is Andreas Strauss. This is definitely something I want to see for myself.  :)

Just a quick post on interiors I am loving today. I am not a pink girl in general but it is a good color (I love colors!). The pop of color in the interiors (below) are fantastic. This particular set is just darling especially the little girl’s room (Such a girl, Pau. Haha.).

On a side note, a quick life update/ quick life updates (haha) – 1. I think I am a bit sick, I have a “semi-cold”, 2. I went to a photography meeting tonight and it was fun, 3. The fabrics I was able to find yesterday were simply gorgeous (from an unbiased perspective), I really love fabric stores and fabrics and all the things you can imagine on what you’d love to do with a particular kind (i.e. I saw a gorgeous white and green patterned stiff cotton fabric that would just be perfect for a cute dress or as a table runner for a sunday brunch table setting – I love table settings, I’ll do one soon hopefully and post it here), 4. Georgia got a new haircut (I’ll do a seperate post on her and an update), 5. I’ll be “traveling” really soon and I HAVE TO get things done somehow, 5. More importantly, I am craving for cupcakes and some vanilla ice cream at present (i.e. right now). *sad face*

But it’s ok – I’ll just take things in stride (and munch on some honey stars – just a couple since it’s really late) and try to sleep early. Onward to tomorrow. Yey!

Hello Everyone!

Another new week ahead and things have been sort of complex. I am also working on something very very important and I do hope it goes well (please pray for me).

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

- Harriet Tubman

On a lighter note, here are some beautiful interiors I am in love with today.

Sundays are about lazing about and being easy breezy (haha).

May the quote (above) inspire all of you as well and have a great week ahead!

P.S. I was sifting over my files (and photographs) and I found a particular self-portrait set I did over a year ago. Do check out one of the photographs below. I’ll be posting the rest tomorrow.

This was taken during a very stressful week (sleep deprived and overworked body parts) and it shows (haha). Please excuse the haggard mode.

P.P.S. To those who have just stumbled upon this blog – Welcome to The Sea Green Journal!  Do check out my post about Philconstruct Visayas 2010 here and stay awhile too (haha). Thanks!

Cool discovery today – a cabinetry store which I really liked and it “made my mind itch“ (i.e. by playing around with this statement - “made my hands itch” ). It made me want to design an interior that would incorporate the stuff the said store was selling.

I also got Georgia a present in the form of a bag of uncolored rawhide chewies which appealed to me and sounded safe. I saw a jar of dog biscuits in different colors and flavors (examples included watermelon and strawberry flavors) – I wanted to get them as well because they seemed delicious and cute to me but I decided to forego them for now and do research before buying them (its Georgia we are talking about after all).

Here are a few pictures. Good times (and meal). Haha. Enjoy!

P.S. Hello Georgy (By the way, I gave her a bath late this afternoon.)

Such a sweetheart!

P.P.S. And oh. Here I am.

Hello Wednesday (and Everybody)!

I ate an ice cream cone today – chocolate hazelnut (yey, yey, yey!). By the way, here a couple of pictures of interiors I really love – light, airy and incorporates character (as well as a feminine aspect and a sense of softness).

This chair reminds me of Hans Wegner’s Wishbone Chair (they are similar in a sense). I love this particular finish (the chair’s).

The flowers add punches of refreshing colors to this interior and neutral overall palette.

Pattern (incorporated on the bench cushion) and texture (from the area rug for example) add interest.

I have always loved the concept of hanging something to dry It doesn’t hurt that the print is lovely either.

(Photo Credits – Anna Kern)

I would show my jobs to my mother, and she would always say the same thing –  “That’s nice dear.” And then she would say, “Did you write it?” or “Did you do the drawing?” or “Did you take the pictures?” I’d always answer “no,” then I realized the problem. My answer was then, “I made this happen. It’s called design.”

— Brian Webb

Hi Everyone!

It has been a good few days since my last post (I think this post makes up for it since it’s quite a long one). Things that happened since then – 1. Our Exhibit for Philconstruct, 2. Whirlwind Egress, 3. Weekend Remnants and Shawarma Craving, 4. I got sick (I’m not sure but I’ve narrowed the culprits/suspects to the following: honey stars, dumplings and my aunt’s beef soup. Thus I’ve been avoiding those and I hope I do feel better soon).

On to what this post is all about – the Philconstruct Visayas 2010. I did say that I will write about (and provide pictures) in this post. Were some of you able to go? If there are a couple of yeses, thanks a lot! (and I hope you had fun ). I certainly did since I love doing exhibits (more specifically interior mock-ups) and I love construction shows.

For those who weren’t able to go, this post can help you out.

Beautiful Flower Arrangement (We had this at our dining set-up)

Overview

“PHILCONSTRUCT Visayas 2010″ is a construction show which features the latest in building and construction in terms of both technology and design. It brings together engineers, construction companies, contractors, builders, developers, interior designers and architects – as well as general spectators who are interested in such fields or those who wish to view the exhibits.

It is the first of its kind to be held in Cebu since it was held only in Manila for the last 20 years (By the way, a separate show was also feature in Mindanao last July). There were 300 booths during the event and product varieties were aplenty.

Philconstruct Visayas 2010 was organized by the Philippine Contractors Association, Inc. (PCA) and the Cebu Contractors Association, Inc. (CCA). It was held on September 9-11, 2010 at the Pacific Ballroom  of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Philconstruct Visayas 2010 Poster  (Here you go.)

As always, I took a gazillion pictures and you can peruse over them below. By the way, if you wish to view more pictures of our interior mock-ups (and I mean all of them) – they are in this post.  Have fun!

Launch Day (September 9, 2010)

Quick Perfomance during the Opening and Blessing of Philconstruct Visayas 2010

Organizers and other Contractors with Mayor Rama (Cebu City Mayor)

The Contractors used jackhammers during the “Ribbon Cutting Ceremony” (Coolio!)

Kitchen and Dining (Modern Classic)

(We got to choose which booths we wanted to design and conceptualize – I joined this and it was amazing. )

I had to get the ornamental metal flowers – they contrasted nicely with the red wooden plate.

I had to get these jars (they were a pair) as well. I love patterns.

This was simply beautiful – it added a touch of elegance to our dining area. One would think that it is an origami creation.

Our Beautiful Modern Classic Kitchen and Dining Exhibit

Condo Living (Contemporary)

I love their graceful swan ornament. The red candle holder adds a punch of color.

I like this printed metal bowl (We were supposed to have one in the Kitchen and Dining area as well).

Hotel Suite (Post Modern)

These prints are simply classy.

Toilet and Bath (Indoor | Outdoor)

I love the rawness of the untreated wood panels.

Other Exhibits and Exhibitors

These models were displayed at the UAP Exhibit Booths (All of their chapters had a booth). I love models and had been fascinated by them since I was small.

Cupcake Time!

Can I have a whole tray to myself please?

For all those who have been reading The Sea Green Journal, you would know by now that I absolutely love cupcakes. The Häfele booth was definitely coolio. They featured a real modern kitchen and they had  Chef Kim baking all sort of treats there throughout the duration of the construction show. They invited us over and I was over the moon (haha). The cupcakes and cookies were delicious!

By the way, in case you wanted more information about Häfele (sans baked treats) – Häfele Philippines Inc. is a subsidiary of the German based Hafele Group. They are a supplier of Furniture Fittings, Architectural Hardware and Electronic Locking Systems.

P.S. Here are a couple of pictures with me in them.

With Pol and Ann a few hours before Egress.

P.P.S. I ate a lot during the duration of the exhibit.

Yum! I love you too.

(Photo Credits – Paula Cañete)

This is just a quick post and will just feature more pictures of the Interior Mock-ups we did during the Philconstruct Visayas 2010. The pictures I posted in the main post are more of my “artsy shots” and I thought these pictures (below) will be supplemental and will greatly help out those who wanted to see the exhibit but weren’t able to.

By the way, for the main and proper post on the Philconstruct Visayas 2010 – you can find it in this post.

Interior Design Mock-ups

(Photo Credits – PIID Cebu Chapter)

Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Day

Today is declared as a non-working holiday in Cebu City since it commemorates the 132nd birthday anniversary of the late president Sergio Osmeña Sr.

A few tidbits as we remember him today -

1. Don Sergio Osmeña’s Sr. forty-two years in public service began in 1904. He also served as the youngest governor of Cebu at the mentioned year at the age of twenty-five.

2. He was the fourth president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines (1944-1946). He assumed presidency when President Manuel Quezon died.

P.S. The Sea Green Journal is already one month old! I can hardly believe it – it is Lé Cucumber and tres magnifique! (Haha). I am having a lot of fun and I hope you are too. Cheers! I can hardly wait until we turn another month old.

Yey! The Sea Green Journal is already one month old

Curtains (also known as drapes) are treatments used for wall openings (such as windows or french doors even). They are pieces of fabric or cloth that come in different configurations and are used further to maintain privacy and they provide us a certain amount of protection from the elements (i.e. they obscure light and even drafts).

Rolls of Fabric (Patterned, 100% Cotton)

They are available in various ways – colors, the sizes, materials, shapes and even patterns. They can further be (available) equipped with the following – noise absorption and dust retention among others. In case of a DIY situation (and especially with first timers), take note of window sizes (there are times when their measurements vary), their intended function (so that the type of curtain that you will need  and even its weight can be determined) and the climate in your area or country (wooden window shutters are utilized in warmer countries to keep the house cool inside). In terms of aesthetics, one may visit a fabric store to get an idea of the pattern, color and even the texture that you want – you’ll be able to decide which fabrics work and look well together.

These tie-top curtains are ideal for letting a certain amount of light in while maintaining the privacy inside. (Stripe Voiles, 100% Linen)

These cotton lined roman blinds work perfectly in a kitchen setting. They also add color and warmth to the space – with the statement stripes. (100% Cotton)

These fabrics (for example) are suited for curtains and blinds and even for upholstery at times. (100% Cotton, Red Fabric Selection)

Triple pleat lined and interlined silk curtains along with its rich coloring add a luxurious and elegant touch to the space. (100% Silk)

For a light and airy look, semi-sheer pencil pleat curtains (and matching blind) in classic white does the trick. It produces a very refreshing look. (100% Linen)

(Photo Credits – The National Curtain Company)

It’s already the middle of the week and things have been amazing so far. The days passed by in a blur (sort of) – scurrying to get this and that, supervising construction parts, errands, everyday obstacles, securing furniture, dealing with “we have a situation” scenarios, meeting deadlines, a bit of drama (But it’s all good. We just have to take them in stride and if we can’t, we try still), etc. Being an Interior Designer is the best thing in the world in my opinion (as weird as it may sound, correlating the above).

I mentioned the exhibit we are having for Philconstruct in my last post and everyone has been buzzing with activity and dealing with preparations since the beginning of the week. I got home late tonight feeling sleepy and a bit fuzzy as the adrenaline bits have started to wear off but I am happy and excited – I love doing exhibits! (haha).

Here are a few pictures of the construction part, sort of the behind the scenes portion. By the way, the exhibit will formally open tomorrow and things are already shaping up. Enjoy!

That was basically it – for now. I need to go to bed now since I have to wake up early to check on the “retoucher person” for our accent wall, he’ll be there by 7:30 in the morning (eep) and I am sort of pooped as well. But indeed it is a lot of fun. (Righhhhht Pau. Haha.)

Wish us luck during the formal opening. Thanks!

P.S. I gave the little one a bath a few days ago. By the way, Georgia doesn’t really enjoy baths – she gets scared of the water. It stresses us both in a sense (her stress factors – being bathed, her fear of water; my stress factors – her being stressed and agitated during bath time. It breaks my heart to see her so distressed). I love you, Georgia!

Sad face, Georgy Porgy? It breaks mummy’s heart

Let’s give you a big cuddle and some treats for being such a good sport during bath time.

P.P.S. Thank you very much, Mr. Wonderful! You are the bestest.

Hello Everyone! (I don’t know. I just wanted to say that. Haha.)

Like what I mentioned in my previous post, I am doing a post about “Flower Chairs” (i.e. this post). Yep, “Flower Chairs” – that’s how I refer to them in a sense, it’s how I like to call them.

These interesting and very pretty chairs are from Floral Art. Their designs are inspired by fashion, architecture and interior design – the designer’s signature is “fresh, innovative aesthetic”. On a side note, I have big plans for these chairs (haha). I can picture a million ways on how to incorporate them in the interiors I’m doing. There are certain pieces that just make me itch (figuratively speaking) and quite excited to design an interior  around them or incorporating them – these chairs are very good examples.

Fuchsia Peony Floret

This chair’s back and legs are of Clear Lucite, the chair frame is of a white wood finish (high gloss) and it has white faux leather upholstery. It features a peony design for the backrest.

Succulent Floret (Armless)

This chair is made out of Clear Lucite, it has a white wood finish (high gloss) and white faux leather upholstery. It features a succulent (sempervivum) design on the backrest.

Orchid Floret

This chair has Clear Lucite back and and legs, a white wood finish frame (high gloss) and white faux upholstery. It features an orchid design for the backrest.

P.S. Lucite is a solid transparent plastic material. It is made out of polymethyl methacrylate (Basically the same material as plexiglass or perspex. Trivia – Perspex can be used for the bodies of electric bass guitars).

It’s a Monday, time to begin another week. Back to work, people! (I always wanted to say that. haha.) I thought it would be best to start the week with a more austere (but not too much) approach thus a more somber post  today (in terms of pictures).

I plan to reserve my usual cheery persona (in terms of design preferences) towards the later days of the week (haha) – at least for this week hopefully. I’m not saying that the “somberness” be viewed as something dreary for the week starter but rather a more “back to business” feel (Ok, quite a long explanation as it is) – and oh, I decided to be more detailed in this post and provide my own descriptions about certain pieces and I hope they can be helpful.

This beautiful wooden side table is a good piece – stained, simple table legs (I would say similar to Country Sheraton types), one drawer, crystal knob.

On to business (nothing too serious, don’t worry), these beautiful interiors are by Erika Powell. Her style is defined as both modern and classic – it is stated that she has impeccable attention to details (I can relate to this because I am the same way, the attention to details aspect).

Here are some of her beautiful interiors (I chose those mostly depicting a working environment to help jump start everyone’s week. Don’t worry, I added a touch of “sunshine”. That has always been my preference with the interiors that I do).

This refreshing home office features customized built-in book shelves. There is a good amount of natural light during the day because of the windows. Furniture and certain pieces utilize a silver metallic finish. A pretty neutral space but with a pop of color provided by the apple green Eames Aluminum Group Management Chairs by Herman Miller (I have always loved this chair).

A beautiful contrast between the off white dining chair slip covers and the wooden furniture pieces. The furniture’s features (ex. wood grain, etc.) are well emphasized by said slipcovers which I believe are specifically tailored for this set out of catcha cloth with side buttons that add details. The colors in the wall installations round it off quite nicely.

Rich coffee colored walls, white base moulding and dark stained furniture pieces. Pattern is incorporated in the upholstery for the ottoman and a vivid red acts as an accent color.

A play on neutrals (off white, creams and browns) and a light shade of blue as accent – quite an appropriate color scheme for a bedroom (unobtrusive and not loud at all).

An elegant set-up of warm browns, mocha and creams, white base moulding, a graceful freestanding lamp and an interesting accent table.

Have a good week ahead, everyone!

Hello Wednesday.

Beautiful pictures from Paul Raeside (I like his compositions) – some of them have an almost surreal aspect and I love the pop of color in others.

He specializes in photographing people in their environments – as well as interiors and lifestyle sets.

P.S. Here are a few pictures from tonight (Yep, just a few). Goodnight Wednesday. I’m pooped (but very happy).

P.P.S. I think I messed up the birthday countdown (blush). I could have sworn it was correct – I even used a day generator thingy. Oh well, I’ll just be more specific. This friday is the best day ever (hahaha) and one more day to go (thursday) before then (much better?) Yey!

By the way, Happy Birthday Shaki! We love you.

I definitely want to channel subtleness right about now, slowing things down and making way for the weekend (one more day to go). Channeling subtleness to me consists of two words (and I love these words!) at the moment – 1. Pretty, 2. Romantic.

You might wonder, is there such a thing as romantic interiors? I mean, pretty? yes. But romantic?

I love pretty things!

Of course, there most definitely is (Lo and behold, one of the “many wonders of Interior Design” – from both a biased and unbiased perspective). Idealistic and in the “head-in-the-clouds” fashion – such interiors (the ones in particular that I am referring to are the ones featured in this post) remind me of ballerinas, elegant china, the beauty of worn furniture, lace, the “aged” appeal, pieces with stories, delicate roses, mismatched and well-loved furniture.

Have fun looking over these pretty pictures and pretty interiors.

P.S. An ideal lazy sunday afternoon (my personal preference; don’t forget naps).

With some lemonade – how lovely. Sigh.

P.P.S. A big hello to Rachell Ashwell – from the girl who is in love with you (for more than a decade now) and what you bring to design.

Penguins, as defined, are flightless aquatic birds and they live exclusively (almost) in Antarctica. All penguin species (order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae – Yeah, smarty pants) are native to the southern hemisphere – although interestingly enough, one species (the Galapagos Penguin) can be found living near the equator.

Penguins make me giddy too!

A couple of interesting facts about penguins (for those who are fascinated with them like I am) that you might like (you can even share them with your kiddies too!) -

Awww, what a cute baby penguin!

Penguin Facts

1. Unlike other animals (especially other birds), daddy penguins are quite involved in the process of hatching their eggs and taking care of the baby penguins.

2. Baby penguins have really dedicated parents who take turns in warming their egg and looking for food.

3. Penguins are dressed in “classic black and white”.

4. Penguins greet each other by a variety of ways. A good example is “billing” –  wherein pairs approach each other and tap their bills against each other. Other penguins may just grunt or do nothing at all.

5. There has been at least one study of Adelie penguins in which the male offers pebbles (as part of the nest) to the female. It has been theorized that this “gift” is actually a demonstration to the female that the male is capable of building a nest and would — by some property — be a good mate and “father”. This act is uncommon to other animals however.

Fluffy Penguins! (Pau, you are such a girl.)

These adorable creatures are popular all around the world and they are said to have “no special fear of humans”. We see them (even just the name itself) in film, in animation and yes, in the design world.

Penguin Inspired

Kokô Lights by Gio Colonna Romano

These lamps were launched in Europe a few years back and were designed by Gio Colonna Romano for Slide Design, an Italian light manufacturer. It was said that a percentage of the proceeds from purchasing the lamps went to the penguin foundation to help little penguins (please support this if it is still ongoing at present). They also have a “baby version” of the Kokô Lights aptly named as Baby Kokô.

This amazing wallpaper from Isak features an adorable penguin design. It is quite vibrant and perfect for a kid’s room. (I wouldn’t even mind having it in my mine. I wouldn’t mind at all.) Each roll is  10 meters long and 52 centimeters wide. It is available in the following colors – white and wasabi green, white and silver combo, white and plum.

Named after the Penguin

Penguin’s Poems for Love – Front and Back Covers (Penguin Classics)

Penguin’s Poems for Love – Inside Pages

This particular book (I love books!) features poems selected by Laura Barber. The beautiful cover is by Coralie Bickford-Smith who is a senior cover designer at Penguin Books. (I’ll write more about her  and her beautiful designs on a separate post.)

The Penguin House by Japanese Architect Yasuhiro Yamashita (of Atelier Tekuto) is located on a corner lot (322 sq. ft.) in Tokyo. With only 899 sq. ft. floor space, it is quite small (this is one of their solutions for Japan’s smaller areas). It doesn’t feel claustrophobic in the inside however and the illusion of  openness in the space makes it amazing. Architect Yamashita was able to achieve this by – 1. Ceiling height manipulation (higher ceiling in interiors make them appear larger than they actually are), 2. Streamlined natural light (the corners of this modern Japanese home were cut off, giving way to natural light coming in from all four corners), 3. An efficient use of the space (innovative kitchen placement and stairway design). It is composed of three floors – the first floor features a music room, you can find a bedroom and bathroom at the second floor and living.working area on the third floor. (National Geographic was able to feature this and they offered a more detailed view of the construction.)

P.S. This makes me laugh because it is so cute (I’ve been saying cute a lot in this post).

“Are you sure my name is not on the list, Mister?”

P.P.S. This is me making friends with penguins in Sydney. The penguins were quite friendly and  they had recently enjoyed snacking on a couple of fishes.

Hello Penguins! It’s nice to meet you.

Earlier today, I was able to go (squeeze in some time) and check out the One Cebu Expo 2010.  It is one of the featured activities for the 441st Founding Anniversary of the Cebu Province. Local products from the different towns of Cebu (examples include Dumanjug, Carcar, etc.) are on display as well as furniture and various world-class products.

Pretty Flowers

The said Expo is also expected to strengthen relations (in trade) with participating countries and Cebu’s local business (helping out our local business is a plus). Delegates from other countries such as China, Malaysia and Vietnam are expected to attend.

The Expo aims to – 1. Highlight Cebu as a tourist destination, 2. More importantly, as a place of creativity (as expressed through the various products of our manufacturing industries).

The first level features stalls with local delicacies, locally made soaps and even fresh produce. There is an events display as well – with table setting and couture cakes. There is an art gallery featuring paintings for local well-known artists – my art professor from our fine arts department in college had his amazing paintings there as well.

The second level features furniture (their usual protocol is that picture taking is not allowed – especially for furniture companies displaying their designs), home accessories, jewelry and mixed knick knacks – like a bazaar. Participants to the One Cebu Business and Sustainability Summit for 2010 were there  - their convention was taking place at the second level.

Once again, a gazillion pictures (haha. I love taking pictures.) to show you what the Expo is like. Have fun!

At the Exhibit

Snack Time

Congratulations to all the participants and the people behind the One Cebu Expo. I for one appreciated all the hard work you guys had contributed for the event. The Expo is at the CICC (Cebu International Convention Center) from the 7th of August to the 16th.

My friend, Pongee, (and their furniture company) is one of the exhibitors as well. Please drop by Clear Export’s Display if you can.

P.S. Too much stuff for such a petite person. The mirror was quite dusty (very random).

There I am. Hello!

P.P.S. I just wanted to let you know that I had dessert as well (finished all of it). It is the most important part of any meal (in my opinion).

Yum. I love you.

Definitely on my “to go to and experience someday” checklist (fingers crossed), Tree Pod Dining is “Lé Cucumber” (Definition no. 1 in Paula Vocabulary). Which to me basically means Cool as a Cucumber and is either one of two things – 1. Cool. Period. , 2. Unruffled and Calm.

Where were we? (haha)

Yes, Tree Pod Dining. It is considered to be “the most innovative dining aloft since in-flight service was introduced at 35,000 feet, half a century ago”. The Dining Pod (what it is really called), is structured by using a rigid frame. Looking like a cocoon (only with open panorama window), it is wrapped in woven rattan.

The Dining Pod

It can accommodate up to four people – they are elevated to the lofty height by a system of safety winches. The Dining Pod is one of the diverse dining choices at the Soneva Kiri by Six Senses in Thailand.

The Bamboo Bridge Welcome

Considered to be an exclusive dining experience, it is also under the direction of Executive Chef, Jaume Esperalba.

Breakfast

( They use locally-grown organic produce in slow food tradition and the menu changes daily)

Chef at Work

The food courses and beverages are served by a “flying waiter” who is harnessed to a zip line (interesting job).

Food Service

The Dining Pod sits high up a birch, next to a magnificent view of the beach and its crystal waters. Perhaps not for those who have low tolerance for heights but nevertheless a must-try.

“This experience enjoys the ultimate exclusivity, and very little turbulance”

P.S. On a side note, a quick question for all of you. What do you call a group of friends who dine at the Tree Top Pod? Tadah! Happy Tree Friends. (Wow Pau. Good for you. Just let us roll over and rest in peace now). Haha.

I love the Happy Tree Friends! Do you guys do as well?

(Although, they make my insides flinch because of the gory parts. Please watch in moderation.)

This is one of my ultimate obsessions and one of my forever favorite things – quilted/patchwork furniture. Since I can remember, I always had this preference for quilted things and patchwork. The bags I buy (most of them as of late) are quilted or are of a patchwork design. (Mental note to self – I need to get at least one solid colored one at present.)

A very good example of said furniture are those by Squint – they make such amazing pieces! As quoted (though not word for word), each piece they make is unique and a “testament to the nature of couture craftsmanship”.

Owned by British Designer, Lisa Whatmough (who had delved into painting and sculpting as well), the pretty furniture pieces are a good collaboration of period furniture and textiles. Each piece is unique since the fabrics are  from Lisa’s antique collection with a mash-up of modern ones.

The Heritage Collection

Georgian Wing Chair

This collection is Squint’s interpretation of  “looking back to the very finest of historical English design” – think of elegance. The pieces are made with hardwood (constructed by hand) and mahogany legs which are carved (by hand as well). Damasks and satins are used, as well as appliqué and gold thread.

Bawburgh Sofa

The Bespoke Collection

Chippendale Stool

The Bespoke Collection is an incorporation of vintage and contemporary fabrics. They are upholstered traditionally with hand stitched seams.

The Pebbles

Squint’s latest release is the Shoreditch Collection which they say is part of their contemporary range. The first two styles are sectional pieces.

The 46

Indeed such exquisite pieces and I am very much in love with all of them. Squint also has other furniture pieces in their collections such as chaises, dining chairs, lighting and accessories.

Someday, I hope I get to buy one (or two, or three, or…) of Squint’s pieces since I have always (always) envisioned having quilted furniture pieces for my home in the future.

I hope this is something bold and bright to add to your weekend!

P.S. Without question, I plan to get a quilted furniture piece for the little one too! Something similar to this or whatnot (haha) –

(This piece is called Woof Dog Bed by Ginny Avison though. It is pretty as well.)

Although we are already halfway done with 2010 (It’s August already. Wow.), I nevertheless wanted to write a post about the trends for this year – Interior Design wise. Keeping in mind that trends do come and go, however proper utilization and selection of which trends to incorporate will go a long way. Thus, you won’t necessarily have to worry about the pieces you bought at one time and having to dispose of them the next because they are no longer in style.

Just like what they say in fashion, trends are fleeting. It is therefore wiser to invest in key pieces. This applies the same way in Interior Design.

In brief and as quoted (though not word for word), 2010 is about innovative and new treatments, techniques and designs. Both social and economic trends play key roles in influencing the trend this year.

Key words and phrases as follows -

1. Simplification (there is a desire to simplify; a good example of a “simplified” interior concept is minimalism)

2. Green Living (I like this a lot and highly encourage this cause because it means lesser carbon footprints and generally doing something for Mother Earth – especially when observed properly. “Going Green” was once considered one of the hottest trends at one time and it is now a regular in the industry)

3. Revisiting the Past and Renewed Interest in Roots (The coined term, “Old is new again” means just that. People are focusing more on delving in their roots)

4. Optimism (Society is focusing on “the good things tomorrow would bring”)

Simplification

Neutrals are a main staple since there is the desire to simplify things – to tone down ornamentation. A variety of grays are being utilized and are at times paired with warm colors (creamy yellow is a good example) to add a bit of a punch. Metals are being utilized as well for a more streamlined look.

Green Living

We are paying more attention to repurposed and reinvented furniture and accessories this year. There is a play on recycling pieces and doing something new to them – may it be stripping one’s chairs and turning them to display pieces or trying out a new treatment. Think organic and the use of environmentally friendly products. Color palette of browns, greens, white and beige.

Revisiting the Past and Renewed Interest in Roots

This includes distressed, weathering furniture and finishes as well as aged pieces, patina and heirlooms.  Think earthy browns and aged victorian greens – the vintage approach (picturing out an old stuffy study).

There is also a renewed focus on one’s ancestry and more of international influences (Middle Eastern interpretation is an example). Think geometrics, tribal patterns, intricate textures, even Africa and Aboriginal influences – of rich colors such as amber and red.

Optimism

The feeling that Spring brings (Yep, the Philippines isn’t as acquainted with this season but we can envision what it’s like). Think fresh and vibrant colors for 2010. A warm and lively palette (refreshing tangerines, greens as well as striking violets).  Don’t forget florals and blooms as well – a lemonade works right about now.

Whether the tribal influence or the minimal approach rocks your boat, it is good to know that we are incorporating positive elements and concepts this year.

(Photo Credits – Beautiful Photos by Pia Ulin)

I think it would be best if we tackle things at a reasonable pace and discuss thingamabobs (I think thingamabobs is a cool substitute word for stuff) one at a time. Defining Interior Design somewhat is a good start.

Dictionary Definitions (Once again, I’m not trying to be cheeky. I also just love dictionary definitions):

interior |inˈti(ə)rēər|

Definitions – 1. situated within or inside; relating to the inside, 2. existing or taking place in the mind or soul; mental

design |dəˈzīn|

Definitions - 1. a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made, 2. the art or action of conceiving of and producing such a plan or drawing, 3. purpose, planning, or intention that exists or is thought to exist behind an action, fact, or material object

I took up Interior Design and it is defined in so many ways – ranging from academic descriptions to those of a more personal nature. My mental definition for it grows all the time, everyday. Interior Design is both an art and a science.

Art – it involves creativity, expression, style, it makes use of imagination.

Science – it has structure, it deals with limitations and probability, it has a good number of technicalities.

You may notice a mishmash of ideas above – this makes sense because Interior Design  is a multidimensional profession. You combine various elements (furniture, textile, woodwork, lighting, anthropometrics among others), and work your way around it (existing considerations, budget, the building code, future considerations to name a few) thru your design process (research, site visits, drafting design plans among others) to come up with the best possible solution (good balance of form, function and aesthetics in the interior environment) and be able to accomplish your intended purpose (may it be meeting the needs of the clients or interiors achieving their utmost potential). Note: Being an Interior Designer is not an easy task.

Furthermore, Interior Design can be subdivided into various areas of specialization (such as residential, commercial and hospitality) and are associated with other professions (examples include Interior Decoration and Interior Architecture).

Living Room with a refreshing palette

Somber Kitchen (mixing and matching pieces)

I think that sums it up for now. These are just a few things that might come in handy (as a dinner topic or a conversation starter, who knows? I kid.) or something new to learn just because. I would like to leave you with this last statement (I am feeling insightful right about now). Interior Design is complex, it is beautiful. There is more to it than just reconfiguring furniture in a room or painting your walls yellow. Please take time to delve in its insides, its “interiors” (no pun intended). Acknowledge what it can do and is doing and you’ll be able to appreciate it.

P.S. I’ll eventually write a post about Interior Designers so that there is proper segregation of thoughts and posts. (Yep, I can be prissy about these things. Pardon me.)

(Photo Credits – First Photo by Virginia Macdonald, Second and Third Photos are from the internets)

I just moved in. Hello world! (waves hand)

I have *finally* (falsetto voice) gone ahead and took the bull by the horns.

Reference to horns and a bull being – I got myself this nice little virtual journal (slash) online home to call my very own.

The internet has always been fascinating to me and blogs as well because I get to read stories that people want to tell. I get all these diverse thoughts laid on the table from people of various shapes, age, sizes (I can go on, I tell you). I decided to try my hand at it, be the yarn spinner and tell my own stories and share my own thoughts. This is also my way of giving back and paying my respects to the design industry and the community (For posts that are – 1. about about Interior Design and design-related, 2. sort of serious).

This being my very first post, I decided to make it a preface of sorts. I will be writing about the following (more or less):

1. Interior Design (interiors, furniture, art, design – related, inspiration, photography, etc.)

2. Georgia and being her mummy (I will write a post about her soon. Don’t worry, I foresee a future of a gazillion entries about Georgia. Yey! But to those who will be irked by this, please don’t hurt me.)

3. Food (I may write about food cravings for that day. This varies every single day and can be very detailed and specific – i.e. quantity, paired with what, from what place, to be followed by, etcetera. One particular person can attest to this. I love food pictures as well. I love to eat!)

4. My Random Thoughts (According to a favorite definition, “Thoughts are made up of ideas, facts, experience and dreams. In order to have a thought, something had to exist before the thought – in order to trigger the current thought”.  Note: I’m not trying to be cheeky by including a definition, it just seems appropriate as a form of explanation.)

5. Other ( I like to make this default / category so that I am covered in a sense. This category will be for  things that I might venture out in the future. I want this journal to unfold, follow its own natural course *hopefully* and see which direction it heads. Thus, in case five-years-from-now me might like to talk about gardening  for example – it will fall on this category.)

I hope I didn’t freak anyone out – I like to be orderly at times (Yep, it is selective) and I like to make lists.

It did take me awhile but here I am. Show some love. Be kind.

And oh, it’s nice to meet you. Hello.

P.S. Thank you to Mr. Wonderful for being a computer genius (starry-eyed facial expression).

P.P.S. I also love traveling in the world of design and writing about lifestyle and all happy and beautiful/pretty things.

(Photo Credits – First Photo from Pixelkuss)