A Couple Upgrades Their Old Townhouse into a Laid-back, Beach-Inspired Space

One way to create a home that you would love to keep coming back to is to find the things you love the most and try to recreate them in a space that is ideally located and within sufficient space. A couple was lucky to find a 10-year-old spacious townhouse that they could renovate into a tropical Asian-style home with a resort vibe.

They began by gathering their travel photos and looking through them to see which styles and accents they liked from the various resorts they have been to, such as Balay sa Laiya, Anilao, and other Batangas resorts. With the help of interior designer Dina de los Reyes, the tired townhouse that needed a makeover became a streamlined space that was laid-back and relaxing, with a light and peaceful ambiance that made the homeowners and their guests feel like they are constantly on vacation.

The owners achieved this home without breaking the bank by choosing custom-made furniture over bargain or laminate pieces that wouldn’t last long or designer furniture that were too expensive. They scoured Greenhills, Tiendesitas, Komodo, and Gallery Kura – décor haunts that were near their residence to avoid wasting time, money, and gas.

Its palette of butter yellow and soft sage were paired with custom-made furniture, an outdoor veranda, and a rock garden that brought the beach to their home. Their collection of memorabilia from their various trips – Boracay sand in a jar from the 1990s, corals and stones from a beach in Batangas, a Lladro figurine given as a wedding present, and colorful old fashioned lamps, they built a home that was close to the resort lifestyle they loved. All this home needs are the sound of the waves and the ocean breeze.

Original article by Chinggay Labrador. Pictorial direction by Coni Tejada. Photographed by Ocs Alvarez.

Read the original article ("Home Work") in the October 2007 issue of Real Living Magazine. Download your digital copy of Real Living on the Real Living App (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/real-living/id553158056?mt=8) now! Log on to summitnewsstand.com.ph/real-living for more details.