Attic Reinvented
From: April Rivero, Davao City
Hello! I am a single mother of two teenage girls. The older of the two is a budding artist who spends most of her free time working on various multimedia projects. The younger one is a selfconfessed bookworm and we are running out of room to keep her books. Please help me give their bedroom a makeover. It is located in the attic of our home so it has a low ceiling. I want something to divide the room into two parts that reflect their individuality but I don’t want to separate them completely. They both like jewel tones such as gold, purple and electric blue. Please tell me how I can make this work. Thanks! More power to your magazine!
Hi April! The attic for a bedroom is as functional as it is charming so let’s work on maximizing that charm. First up, a bookshelf as a divider is a wonderful idea. Place it where the ceiling is at its highest pitch but be sure that the shelves are see through so as not to create a cramped feeling in the attic. Don’t clutter the shelves too much to allow a peek through thereby creating continuity from one space to the next. Gold and purple are exciting colors to combine but I would suggest that you use more of the purple in its lightest tone to keep the attic cool. Gold and electric blue could serve as pretty accents. Tie in the look of the room with coordinating fabrics and prints and don’t forget to accessorize! Good luck!
Buffet Business
From: Paul Reyes, Paranaque City
Hi, Jie! I would like to ask you how to decorate a buffet table. Are there dos and don’ts? I have one against a red wall with a mirror, but aside from some family photos, I don’t know what to put on it. I will appreciate any advice. Thanks!
Hi Paul! Buffets are very easy to decorate just as long as you are set on what its function is in the dining room. Normally, since buffet tables are deepenough (the standard depth is 60cm), what I normally do is place a pair of table lamps on both ends. This will add to the illumination of the room and at the same time, evoke a little ambiance. This will shed light on the artwork or mirror placed right above buffet on the wall. Since buffets are also functional storage pieces, arrange a pastry dish, a cake stand or even a decanter with glasses on top. This can be a functional piece in the dining room. Have fun!
Color Theory
From: Lyn Palo, Bacoor, Cavite
Hi Jie. I read your wonderful advice whenever I can get a copy of the magazine. I just imagine that someday if there is an opportunity for me to build a house, I will surely consult you. Now the time has come to ask for your help. The construction of our 2-storey house is near completion. The style of the house is somewhat similar to a condo unit, upper floor has 2 units and the ground floor has 2 units. The floor tile is granite bone which is somewhat white and cream. A separate 2-bedroom, living, kitchen andbathroom for each unit. In this regard, kindly advise me on the color of the interior for living area and kitchen area. Please tell me what colors of lights and accessories to use as well. Thank you very much!
Hi Lyn! It’s always safe to go with neutrals, especially if the room is used for entertaining guests and have a somewhat generic use, like the living and dining for instance. Neutrals, however can be mixed with a variety of other colors. Taupe is the “in” neutral these days and with shades of rust, aqua or teal, it can do wonders for creating a warm, dramatic and cozy atmosphere in the home. You can use any of these colors as an accent wall with a taupe base. Warm white fluorescents, halogens, or yellow incandescent lights will give these colors a resplendent appeal and will bring out and maximize its chroma. Stick to accessories like glass and pewter to cap off the look and give it a contemporary charm.
Fruits of Labor
From: Cozette Conui, Muntinlupa
Hi. As a single parent, it took me 14 years to save up and build our own house. It was finished in December 2010 but until now I do not know how to decorate the living and dining areas. My house colors are off white and reddish brown. Can you please help me design this space? Thanks.
Hi Cozette! Start with a basic theme first. Ask yourself what your preferences are. Do you want to go modern contemporary? Asian? Mediterranean? With off white and reddish brown, any kind of theme will work with your main color palette. If you’re the type who likes a streamlined and clean look for your house then go with the modern trend. But if you’re earthy and tactile and want a cozy and warm ambiance, then the Mediterranean and Asian styles will work well for you. Thanks for writing in!
Mini-malist
From: Annalie C. Edillor, Las Piñas
Good day sir Jie! I want to have a home with a minimalist style but I have limited space. Can you help me layout a 70sq ft rectangular area to comfortably fit a receiving and dining area, kitchen, three bedrooms and a bathroom?
Hi Annalie! First, what you need to do is to prioritize the importance of each area. Usually, for a 70sq ft area, you may want to choose from either a bedroom and a dining area with a kitchen combination or a living and dining area with a kitchen with a sofa bed in the living area for when it’s time to sleep. Furniture pieces should be on the smaller scale and everything should be flushed to the walls. It would also be an advantage to have several built-in options to save on space. Take into consideration as well the use of proper lighting and ventilation to maximize the comfort and function of the space. Good luck!
Brother and Sister
From: Lucy Gregorio, Dasmariñas, Cavite
Hello, sir Jie. My husband and I are both retired accountants. Three of our five children now work and live in other countries. Our youngest daughter plans to follow her siblings in the UK and has entrusted her children (a 9-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl) in our care. The boy prefers the color green and blue while the girl simply loves white. How can we decorate the guest bedroom to suit the both of them? Thank you very much and we are looking forward to your reply.
Hi Lucy! The trick is to coordinate! Green, blue and white are easy to mix and match since blue and green are analogous colors and white is technically a non-color that will work with practically anything. You can start by painting the walls white and then add the blues and the greens on the fabric options. A blue and green striped combination will work well with the boy while a floral/tropical blue and green pattern will be a feminine coordinate for the girl in their beddings and pillows. Stay within this scheme and you’ll be surprised at how well the room will look. Have fun!
Iñigo Rosales, Marikina
From: Reimagining the Service Area
Hi! I live in a two-bedroom condo in one of the busier parts of Marikina. We have a 20sqm service area that we no longer use. I was thinking of
converting into a mini-home office and library. Is
this even possible, considering the limited space?
If so, can you teach me how? I would like to stick
to the colors blue and gray. I am looking forward
to reading your suggestions. Thank you very much
and more power!
Hi Iñigo! It is so possible! Start by affixing cantilevered shelves on the long wall. Cantilevered shelves make the space bigger because it does not use brackets to hold the shelves up. Break the monotony by playing around with the height and length of the shelves but be sure that the lowest shelf is at a 135cm height. This will open the space below
for a built-in writing desk that can also run the same length of the room. By having the shelves and the desk on the side, you save on space and the room looks very organized as well. Good luck!
