This Wooden Farmhouse Offers Breathtaking Views of the Sierra Madre Mountains
The homeowner fulfills her dream of building her retirement home by the age of 40, a haven with a view like no other
Imagine this: a wooden house teeming with beautiful greenery. Sounds like a plant-lover’s dream, right?
That’s exactly what 42-year-old Joy Montejo’s house is. A certified “plantita,” Joy poured her love for plants throughout the home, so much so that she christened it “Munting Hardin.”
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Joy’s property sits on a sprawling 1,854 square meters of land in Villa Paraiso Rizal, Nueva Ecija. Outside, children can run freely on a grass-covered lawn and enjoy the playground area, which comes with a slide and a seesaw.
“My inspiration for this house are my kids,” Joy tells the OG team. “Kasi gusto ko ma-experience nila yung childhood na naranasan ko, yung being outdoors, yung tumatakbo-takbo kayo sa paligid, naglalaro kayo ng taguan, patintero, you play with animals, nagtatanim ka ng mga gulay.”
A haven for plant lovers
When planning for the house, Joy only wished for a small bamboo bahay kubo in the middle of a farm, but was persuaded by her father to use wood instead, since they have a lot of trees in the mountains. The result? A two-storey farmhouse made of glass, concrete, and eighty percent wood.
The house was built during the pandemic, a time Joy describes as very uncertain. Nevertheless, she had faith that it was the right time.
“I decided to push through with the construction of this house because this is my longtime dream,” Joy shares. “Yung Munting Hardin, pangarap ko talaga that at the age of 40, meron na ‘kong retirement house.”
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Joy’s farmhouse has the common elements of a home: a living area with a television, a dining area, two bedrooms, a mini kitchen, breakfast nook area, and a bathroom. But what sets it apart is the constant presence of plant life in every nook and cranny, as well as the wooden elements.
“Here in Munting Hardin, we make sure na meron talaga kaming mga plant corner as source of oxygen,” Joy says. “Gusto ko kasi yung bahay talagang hindi artificial yung mga halaman."
A view worth millions
Of course, Joy’s home also comes with unique features, such as a bar that overlooks the Sierra Madre mountains. Joy recalls seeing just how breathtaking the view was that she decided it was where she would build her retirement house.
Other pieces of interest include a mahogany sala set, rattan cabinets, and Capiz windows, a reflection of how the house is a fusion of modern and traditional architecture. There are also plans of adding a mini jacuzzi area which also provides a view of the Sierra Madre mountains.
For the size of the farmhouse, which spans a total floor area of 180 square meters, Joy also spent more or less P1 million for the construction. The lot, meanwhile, cost her only P200,000.
READ: The Owners Spent More or Less P1M to Build This Modern Bahay Kubo
Welcome to Villa Montejo
Joy opened her farmhouse to the public this 2022, and the property is now on its second phase of construction. Soon, there will also be a mini pool, some cottages, and a bigger playground.
Presently, overnight accommodation ranges from P3,500 to P7,000 depending on the number of guests. If you’d like to experience life in Joy’s farmhouse, visit her Facebook page, Munting Hardin, for inquiries.
Learn more about Munting Hardin when you watch the video below:
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