A Combination of Two Cultures in a Family Bungalow
Loud, bright colors and native wooden furnishings make for a cheerful home away from home for this Mexican family
With two young children and constant country moving, it’s no wonder that Rossana and Sergio want their home away from home to feel as much as their own country as possible. Originally from the Yucatan Peninsula, Southeastern Mexico, this family has lived in different countries over the years because of Sergio’s job. Now based in Manila, the family stays in a spacious one-level house in a quiet subdivision. The house is the perfect size for the Menendez brood, with a master bedroom, a kids’ bedroom, playroom, and study. The living and dining areas open out to a lanai facing a pool.
With the help of interior designer Vivian Gacad, the family made the clean, white walled house a home. Using bold colors reminiscent of Mexico, each room is painted with a different color (a common practice in Mexico), reflecting the mood for the space – the living and dining areas are painted bright yellow for happiness, the master bedroom a dark blue that’s easy on the eyes, the study and kids’ room in blue-green for focus and relaxation.
The couple wanted to fuse their Mexican-inspired home with Filipino elements and requested furnishings made from native trees and palms, like bamboo, narra, and rattan. The main furnishings of the house, including the custom-made beds, were 100% Filipino made.
Original article by Amillah Rodil. Styling by Gwyn GS Guanzon and Issa Villar. Photographed by Miguel Nacianceno.
Read the original article (“Mexicans in Manila”) in the May 2006 issue of Real Living Magazine. To download a digital copy of Real Living Magazine, visit Summit Newsstand at https://summitnewsstand.com.ph/real-living.
