Art and Travel Come Together in this Three-Storey Home

Just by looking at the façade of their three-storey house, one can already get a glimpse of the interesting style of Red and Kala Contantino’s humble abode. The exterior is painted in a shade of blue inspired by Frida Kahlo’s home, La Casa Azul, and is adorned with Moorish-print tiles. Upon entering the house, a moody ambience welcomes you. The space’s look is heavily influenced by the couple’s favorite destination, Spain, and is accented with pops of Frida Kahlo-blue. It’s also filled with Spanish-style ornaments mixed with travel finds, upcycled vintage pieces, and different kinds of artwork.

While similar pieces can be found on the second and third floors, what makes the upper levels different is its bright and airy ambience. “Wala kaming kisame so that we can accommodate big windows, high ceiling, and big doors,” says Red. And instead of the machuka-like printed tiles, which was their choice of flooring on the ground floor, concrete was used. The master bedroom on the second floor is a sliding door away from the couple’s workspace, which in turn is a few steps away from the balcony. The third floor is where their kids' bedrooms are located. Just like the rest of the house, these rooms are not devoid of artwork and travel trinkets.

Read the original article ("World Beat") in the December 2013-January 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.