Real Living Space

Dear readers, I have a little secret to spill. I’m in love with our Makeover section, too! I get all giddy combing through the entries, going on oculars and meeting the potential (lucky!) winners, and presenting the photos to my editor and the interior designer of the month for their approval. It’s a pretty long process. We don’t just whip out the tambiolo and randomly pick a winner, or worse, cook it lutong Macau style (pardon the politically incorrect term) as some people might probably think.

Ultimate Makeovers are something else. You bet it’s much more nerve-wracking in terms of budget and time constraints, and a hundred and one other concerns. This year’s Ultimate Makeover was no different. Good thing we had superheroes on our side: Interior designers Hannah Acab-Faustino of IDeal Design Services, Jean Paul dela Rosa of iiideas, and contractor Nikki Bustos of Formo Homes Development.

Without them, we won’t be able to turn the Mangcucangs’ decrepit twenty-something-year-old house from this:

a not-so-appetizing dining area with a dilapidated ceiling and sad walls

to this:

a bright, clean space with lots of dainty silhouettes and a charming nook. The divider-turned-wall accent is from Crossings, while the wrought iron dining set was an existing piece Jean Paul delightfully updated.

Want more?

from a drab, cluttered master bedroom...

...to an enviably fresh, chic space by ingenious Hannah! I'm loving the Live/Love inscription and the striped details of the bedside tables

Want more? Go grab a copy of our September issue!

Terrific trio (from L to R): contractor Nikki Bustos, and interior designers Jean Paul de la Rosa and Hannah Acab-Faustino

Ready for your own makeover? Get in touch with Hannah at tel. (02) 681-4251, mobile 0917-897-1363, check out www.idealinteriordesign.net

Jean Paul at tel. (02) 920-0683 and mobile 0917-874-7184; and Nikki at tel. (02) 861-1649, mobile 0918-991-7002

This Ultimate Makeover wouldn’t have been a success without our generous sponsors: Crossings Department Store, Hanwha, Homeaid, Homestore, Nviro, Design Gold, and  Uratex

PHOTOS BY VINCENT COSCOLLUELA

Are you afraid that you and your family can be sniffing harmful particles in your home? It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where they are coming from; it can be from the air, or from low-quality furniture you might have bought. Fret not, because SB Furniture, which recently opened a branch in Market! Market!, offers stylish, formaldehyde-free pieces for your home. They also launched their new collection, the Spazio Collection, which consists of smart systems and storage solutions which are perfect for small space dwellers. Check out these photos, which I took in their Market! Market! branch:

A bedroom setup in their Spazio Collection

Gipsy One-seater Sofa, P14,998, Gipsy Three-seater Sofa, P25,998,
Rimbo-C Center Table, P15,998

They also offer package deals, like this one: Axor Living Room Set, P50,000
(includes Axor Corner Sofa, Art120 Sideboard Wenge, and Spawn Center Table)

My favorite so far. So cute! Joyful Accent Chair, P11,998

Visit SB Furniture at 3/L Market! Market!, Taguig City (tel. [02] 552-3913), Makati (tel.[02] 889-4223), Ortigas (tel. [02] 632-9101), and San Fernando, Pampanga (tel. [045] 435-0015).

Been wondering what makes a home beautiful? Real Living‘s latest book, 30 Beautiful Homes, shows you that whatever the style of your home is, you have the power to make it beautiful.

It features the homes of different homeowners with different personalities and decorating tastes. So whether you’re partial to a tropical Filipino home, or an eclectic one that is a charming mix of your travel finds and knick-knacks, you’re sure to find an inspiration in the book. It’s also easy to translate the different styles to your own homes with the book’s Get the Look pages.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a copy now for P250. It’s available in bookstores nationwide.