Living Room Design for SM Home’s “Essentials of Condo Living” series

TOUCH OF NATURE. Plants can easily bring even the smallest corners to life. Photo by Martin San Diego/ Rappler

TOUCH OF NATURE. Plants can easily bring even the smallest corners to life. Photo by Martin San Diego/ Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Condominiums can be the most convenient places to live these days. They’re easily accessible, close to commercial areas, and come built-in with security and amenities. The trade-off for all that is having less space than you would in a traditional house. But having less space doesn’t mean you can’t make it look nice – and interior designer Ivy Crisostomo proved this with the model living room she dressed up for SM Home’s “Essentials of Condo Living” series.

Ivy only had a space of 8×6 (her design partner James Razo asked for an extra foot for the bedroom he was doing), but she managed to fill it with all the living room essentials: a couch, a coffee table, a bookshelf – and a lot of personality.

SMALL CORNER. This tiny 8x6 space is the living room that Ivy worked with. Photo courtesy of SM Home

SMALL CORNER. This tiny 8×6 space is the living room that Ivy worked with. Photo courtesy of SM Home

How did she do it? Here are the designer’s top tips for small spaces.

Identify what is essential to the space

Before even going out to look for furniture or home decor, Ivy recommends identifying the non-negotiable pieces that the space needs for it to function. “For the living room, there’s the sofa – that’s number one. For the bedroom, there’s the bed,” she said. Knowing what needs to be in your room can help you focus when you actually go out and buy your furniture.

Use multi-functional items

For small spaces, using multi-functional items is key, Ivy said. For instance, in her living room design, the sofa pulls out into a bed, the coffee table is actually a chest that can hold a lot of items, and a strategically placed mirror expands the small space and can also be used for quick face checks before heading out the door.

“Why choose a table that could just be a table when you can choose a table that could also be storage?” she said. “You shouldn’t put too many pieces in your space. You can have a few pieces but if one is twice its function, you don’t have to add items.”

DOUBLE DUTY. The chest seen here is both a coffee table and a storage unit. Photo by Martin San Diego/Rappler

DOUBLE DUTY. The chest seen here is both a coffee table and a storage unit. Photo by Martin San Diego/Rappler

Make it personal

Adding your personality into the space is an easy way to make it more cozy and comfortable. Consider your interests and what you like when you’re choosing your pieces. For the living room, Ivy’s hypothetical clients were a young couple who loved to travel – so she incorporated the travel element through a world map wall mural, as well as a clock that showed different cities around the world. She also made sure to add accessories that the couple could have bought from their travels abroad. Even the coffee table/chest had a travel element to it with the embroidered in a Paris-themed print.

“Some people put paintings. You can try to be creative that you buy something and at the same time give a personal touch to it,” she said.

Add a touch of nature

“With condo living – you’re living in a city or on the upper floor – there’s no nature. Everything’s cold, it’s concrete, it’s cement, it’s glass, it’s tiles. So it’s also important in a way to bring the outdoors in,” Ivy said. She suggested adding live plants to soften up a space, though she said that if maintaining live plants is difficult, artificial plants will do. She also suggested bringing in fresh flowers, or even adding a water feature to bring nature into a small condo space.

IT'S LIT. Ivy used a combination of light fixtures – including these drop lights at placed at slightly varying heights – to add visual interest to the small space. Photo by Martin San Diego/Rappler

IT’S LIT. Ivy used a combination of light fixtures – including these drop lights at placed at slightly varying heights – to add visual interest to the small space. Photo by Martin San Diego/Rappler

Consider the lighting

Ivy, who studied lighting at the Parsons School of Design, pointed out that this underrated design element could actually dramatically affect a space. She suggested playing with different types of lights to create a good ambience. “Others want to flood [the space] with lighting…right now to create a good interior, you can have spot lighting or accent lighting that brings drama to the space. You can combine several lighting techniques to achieve a generally lit area,” she said.

Want more decorating advice? SM Home is hosting a series of free design talks on September 16 and 17. Ivy and fellow designers Erika Uichanco and James Razo, as well as architect Maya Franco will be sharing their tips on space-planning, space-saving, and using color in your home. The talks will be held from 1 pm to 5 pm at the ground floor concourse of SM Makati. – Rappler.com

https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-and-culture/182064-5-tips-for-decorating-small-space

Unboxing This Side Up

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The true measure of a successful project is knowing that you satisfied & made your clients happy (even after a year!) ! Read on how This Side Up Manila peeps love going to their office and how much fun they are having in this creative, inventive & exciting environment we have created for them .

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SUDS Laundry Shop, June 2014

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Franchisor uses design, color, and lighting to woo customers

Because 83 percent of human information is achieved from a potential client’s sense of sight, businesses ought to invest in store presentation, says successful franchisor.

Looks do count in almost all kinds of retail business, according to avid franchisor Caloy Ang, whose Suds Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services has grown from two stores in 2009 to 22 as of today and counting.

 

read more…

http://www.mb.com.ph/franchisor-uses-design-color-and-lighting-to-woo-customers/

 

Condo Central November 2008 Issue

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Having started operations only in 2004,Anchorland Holdings, Inc. (ALHI) is practically just an industry toddler. However, going by its glowing milestones,this teething realty firm may very well have already grown fangs, as it aggressively and purpose fully bites into the vastly competitive vertical residential development pie.Initially focusing its efforts on building luxurious and sophisticatedcondominium projects in the bustling Binondo district, ALHI has so far success fully constructed three high-rise residences in the area.And in its relentless drive to provide world class, high-end real estateprojects while ensuring excellent after sales service, the company hasnow set its sights on blazing trails in other locations in the metropolis.

Modern Condo Made Personal

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MANILA, Philippines – As crash pads for weary city folk, condominiums are expected to take on the look and feel of a modern haven. But as developers for the discerning Makati crowd are finding out, creating a line-up of condo units to woo their market swoon is a difficult task to accomplish.

One of the few to have hurdled this design challenge in style is Cactus Realty Corp. Its latest condominium project, One Pacific Place, offers units perfect for single yuppies, early nest couples, and families with kids residing in the prestigious address of Salcedo Village.

“The units of One Pacific Place were conceptualized through scrutinized problem-solving,” says Ivy Crisostomo, managing director of About Designs Inc., the interior design group for One Pacific Place. “We asked ourselves: ‘Who are the future residents? What are they into? What would they need?’ And from there, we crafted units to suit each urban lifestyle.”

Swanky, serene studio

Young executives living the bachelor dream will be drawn to the swanky, serene studio units of One Pacific Place, according to Crisostomo.

Stylishly minimalist, the studio units exude a modern vibe seen in New York apartments. The use of clear glass on tables and mirrored walls lend an airy dimension to the room, while a movable dining area opens up the space for group activities like partner yoga exercises or a game of Twister during weekend parties.

“We also used a color palette of whites, grays and touches of blue,” adds Crisostomo. “These hues lend a cool and relaxed atmosphere to the room. The idea is to put the mind and body at ease through uncluttered interiors, and bring relief to the stressed out singles of Makati.”

Contemporary Love Nest

Meanwhile, couples planning to settle down and start a life together can find their contemporary love nest among the 1-bedroom units of One Pacific Place.

http://www.philstar.com/real-estate/449779/modern-condo-made-personal