Mini Makeovers: From Dark and Drab into an Inviting Living Room

For those who know Camille Besinga’s home style, they’d be surprised to see the place where she moved into with her husband Ryan Villena. “Everybody knew me as yung: ‘Ah, ikaw yung vintage, country!’” Because that was the style of their old apartment, featured in Real Living’s October 2010. But now that the couple has their own place, Camille, who is Cosmopolitan magazine’s former managing editor, decided to go a different route. “Nagsasawa na rin ako, baka it’s time na rin for konting sophistication.”

Though sophistication isn’t the only thing that Camille had to factor in when she was decorating their living area. When they moved into their own home, the couple was expecting their first child. “It’s just hard lang for me to really explore that sophistication kasi manganganak na ako. I have to tone it down kasi puro babasagin ang décor pag sophisticated ang style,” Camille explains.

From the former white-and-dark-wood living area that veered towards the tropical style, Camille transformed it into an airy family room by painting all the dark wood details white, and maintaining an all-white color palette in furnishings, with just a few touches of bright accents and grounding neutrals in the form of storage pieces and a rug. Yet in spite of this self-imposed restraint, Ryan and Camille’s living area still exudes playful sophistication that’s perfect for the new addition to their family.