A 46sqm New York-inspired Space

When homeowner Bien Po acquired this 46sqm bi-level condo unit, he decided to give it DIY Brooklyn-style interiors after a visit to the New York City borough. From the subway tiles to the brick walls, raw interior finishes to repurposed decor, the space is rich in texture and reminiscent of the laidback and eclectic design aesthetic that has become synonymous with the Big Apple’s hipster haven.

It also helped that the owner has a skill for DIY. With creative hobbies that include custom calligraphy on wood panels or repurposing plumbing pipes to lamps, it’s no surprise that he designed most of the furniture pieces in the unit. He also built some of them himself, like the frame of the slim dining table. He designed the multipurpose kitchen island-cum-bar-counter and the beds upstairs as well.

What he didn’t change was the layout of the condo—he left the kitchen where it originally was and kept the downstairs area simply as an open space. “What I like in this unit is every time you’re here, it feels like you’re not in the Philippines,” says Bien. “You feel like you’re somewhere else. You’re relaxed. And I always go here when I want to get inspired."

Read the original article ("Brooklyn on my Mind") in the September 2016 issue of Real Living Magazine. Download your digital copy of Real Living on the Real Living App. Log on to summitnewsstand.com.ph/real-living for more details.