Interior designer Jigs Adefuin recently designed this two-bedroom condominium at the Grove Rockwell, for a Filipino couple who travel a lot, but look forward to warmth and familiarity when they come home.
The 120-square meter unit was laid out by Adefuin with a touch of modernism, and subtle hints of art deco.
Cohesive elements
Units in the Grove Rockwell follow the usual template where the front door opens directly to the kitchen, so Adefuin modified the unit to suit his client’s wishes. A solid wood wall was built to hide the kitchen area from view as soon one enters. To the right of the doorway is the dining area.
Different hues of blue dominate the entire space, prominently seen in the art deco-inspired dining chairs with gold-embroidered net pattern and metallic rivets. These blend with the walnut wood flooring and walls in Venetian plaster finish. Some walls are clad in walnut veneer for added texture.
Paintings by Tiny Nuyda and Arturo Luz adorn the walls of the dining area. The chandeliers, bought by the owners from the US, provides additional visual elements to the space. The customized tea cart provides additional space for wine bottles and condiments.
A small bar was built on one side of the kitchen, for an intimate dining experience and easy access to the kitchen.
Adefuin continued the design motif of the dining area to the living room, maintaining cohesiveness with different hues of blue and art deco details. The blue velvet fabric of the armchairs adds elegance to the space, while the sofa has Art Deco-inspired lines. The ottomans spell comfort and provide additional seating for guests.
Space solutions
The living room is a relaxing area, courtesy of some delicate cove lighting by Adefuin. Built to hide the exposed ceiling beams, these recesses conveniently blend with the overall design.
“That was one of the challenges when I was designing the unit–it had many exposed beams and columns. I needed to find solutions to hide the eyesores, while making sure that everything would look cohesive,” Adefuin explained.
Wooden slats and panels were creatively used for columns, tubes for wiring, metal grates for plumbing as space solutions to hide the unsightly elements. The wooden slats even introduced balance to the living room.
Adefuin used rustic tiles in the bathroom, imported from Spain, spruced up with gold glass elements. For the wall, he created a mosaic by cutting some panels into several pieces and creating a unique metallic pattern. He used marble for the bathroom counter, which perfectly matches with the laminated cabinet.
Adefuin Design Studio is located at Suite 309, 3rd Floor LRI Design Plaza, 210 Nicanor Garcia St., Bel Air II, Makati City.
