A French-inspired 350sqm home in Parañaque
This cozy abode is filled with rustic, old-looking pieces and has a clean aesthetic

Well-traveled entrepreneur Gigi Gonzales Uson looked to her favorite European destination, France, for design ideas when they were building their family home in 2013. The walls were painted off-white: a neutral base for her desired soft, clean aesthetic: “I knew I wanted to fill the house with rustic, old-looking pieces. For me, those have more character.”
Without getting over-the-top girly, she wanted her husband Mario and their son Marty to feel at home too. For Mario, she allocated a ‘man cave’ to keep his bike, other sports gear, and tools. Throughout every phase, down to buying pieces for the house, Gigi remained faithful to her chosen theme.
The couple worked with friend and architect Cecil Marfori Filart. “She is an old friend of mine from college, so it was easy to communicate my ideas to her,” says Gigi. “She’s also a working mom so she understands the need to stay within a budget.” Although they are currently a family of three, the Usons planned their home with the future in mind. “My husband and I see ourselves growing old here. We want to welcome more guests into the house, and God-willing, we’ll have a daughter to share this home with,” Gigi says.
Read the original article ("A Charming Classic") in the April 2014 issue of Real Living Magazine. Download your digital copy of Real Living on the Real Living App now! Log on to summitnewsstand.com.ph/real-living for more details.