I sometimes put on things on my moodboards without even knowing where to get it. It's just that I wanted to have a certain look and I'll try to get it no matter what.

For instance, for the home office on the left....

I included a turquoise office chair for that pop of color in that area. No idea where to get that one. Haha... And even if I found an exact chair, it might not be within client's budget.

So simple solution is to purchase any ordinary office chair which shape I like. This one has a high-back for comfortability, but has a slim profile. Perfect. 

Off I went to the upholsterer and picked the perfect color. I have gone through a lot of swatches without finding the turquoise I wanted, it's either too blue or too green. But finally.... 

A day after, I got this.

So happy with how it turned out. A very affordable alternative with a custom look. Love the color, love the shape.. and I love the wallpaper!

If you're looking for a certain look for a piece of furniture, don't be confined to what is available, you can always alter. Paint and reupholster your way to your dream home. :)

This apartment is almost done, all furniture are in, and we've already installed frame gallery and artwork! I'll be shooting this home next week. Stay tune!

These are all in Real Living's Anniversary issue. New look with a lot of goodies inside. I've read it from cover to cover.. so much inspiration! Grab a free digital copy NOW since it only runs from July 26-28. Go!! :) CLICK HERE

So what's so special about this week that I decided to write a post about it? Well it's just one of the craziest busiest week I had in this short decorating hobby of mine. Yes, I call my work a hobby since it really just started as one, and I don't want it to feel like work. Do something you love and you'll never work the rest of your life... or something like that. Haha...

Anyway, I have some sort of ADD as per the bf, so I literally had to list down all the things I have to do this week on a day and time basis just so I can pull this off. Or else I'll go crazy and will forget everything and just go hide until the week is over. 

Well this week is over and I'm so happy to announce that I didn't hide anywhere. :)

The reason for the crazy week is that I had to finish three projects, in which one of those haven't started yet. Yes.

Late last week, I saw this office. Late this week, I finished this office. Welcome to the 3-day office renovation.

We had to remove the shelves, some divider, put new flooring, paint everything, hang new lights, redo the bathroom, and furnish this place all in one week. I keep thinking to myself, I can do this. I can do this.

All the while, I had to check in at Modern Parisian Apartment on the progress, deliver lights, buy artwork, tables, etc.

Also went to More than a Starter Home since Real Living shot it for their September issue. (YAY!)

Here's one of their display shelves which the owner arranged herself. So cute!

Chose some option for lighting for the office reno, sent photos to the client, discuss on which to purchase, and go haul that thing to the site.

Pick wallpaper option for two projects, meet clients and decide on which to get. Purchase them and schedule installation. Install.

Also purchased a lot of items online (15 office chairs, bookshelves, marker board, etc etc etc!), inquired, paid, and schedule deliveries.

Bought bathroom fixtures and Big Ass Plank for office reno, table and artwork for Modern Parisian Apartment from Wilcon.

Delivered Big Ass Plank to the site. A day later, I was told that we need more. Went back again to get more Big Ass Plank, after which I delivered straight to the site.

Before I continue, can we discuss the name Big Ass Plank?? Haha.. Their product is good, and it actually is a big ass vinyl planks. Why not? I love people who are bold in their branding, it has brand recall and it's true to it's name. I'll surely get more of those when the need arises.

Anyway, on Thursday, spent the day and night to finish this office. All deliveries are here, workers are busting their asses to get done. (too much "ass" on this post... haha) Painting, hanging lights, cleaning, wallpaper installation, arranging furniture happening all at the same time. Chaos I tell you. But it's worth it. Left at 10 pm with the office looking like this.

Thank you God. Thank you workers. I can breath.

It looks like the same color but in reality it was tad different. We opted for a more taupey brown instead of the army green it previously had. Also, not obvious in the photo, we had some sort of matte/gloss stripe thing going on on the walls.

Anyway, tomorrow's another day (Friday) which to another project I went. Made sure all deliveries were there and deadline was met. After that day, went to another one to deliver chair, pillows, and bar stools. This week, we're finishing that one.

On Sunday, I slept. All day. It was lovely.

Real Living asked me if I wanted to participate in their Mini-Makeover series for their anniversary issue, and of course I said Oh yes yes yes. I love makeovers, I do it just for fun, and now they wanted me to do it for fun and for a feature, ummm... I'm so in.

The deal was, they'll asked 7 designers/decorators, to re-do a piece of furniture or home accessory, with just the guideline of: walnut, blues, reds, yellows. Not all together of course, unless you wanted to.

What I got was this vintage side table. (sorry for the blurry photo, shot this with a phone, at night, and minimal lighting. haha)

I fell in love with its shape- simple rounded corners, with tapered legs. So much potential. The bf and I brainstormed on what to do with it. He mentioned that it looked like a vintage suitcase and that's where the inspiration came from. Originally, we we're looking for suitcase-ish looking hardware, but we found none of those.

Instead, we found these...

Super nice but dirty hardware from old storage dresser. It's perfect.

Buffing goes a long way! Here's before (above) and after (below) buffing.

We don't want to make it like brand new. Just the right amount of patina and shininess. 

As for the piece itself, while stripping everything to raw wood, we noticed that the borders were solid narra while the inside were just ordinary plywood. Which is why we left the borders in stained wood, and painted the side and front drawer blue. Reminiscent of vintage suitcases with their contrasting trim.

The hardware went into the drawer front.  (which the bf installed, thank you!) The corner piece and the statement handle really made the table. Without them, it's just too simple. What I love most about vintage furniture: shape, structure, and hardware.

Here's the table together with the pieces the other designers redid. Really cute set-up!

And here's the table in all it's professionally photographed glory!

If only I could keep it! Haha... This was fun and thank you again to Real Living team for making us part of this series. Grab your copy of Real Living July issue. Full of great stuff, pinky-promise. 

Do you remember this apartment?

With this brand new floor plan.

Inspired by all these spaces?

Well, this is the moodboard I came up with. The idea really is to have a simplistic approach to Parisian apartments. Infused with charm and character but with more clean modern lines. The client loves black and white and she wanted it predominantly that way. So I just added some golds, natural woods, little pink, and blues. Subtle, but just to give more depth and life to the space. Black and white is totally fine, but a little color and texture goes a long long way.

To make more sense out of the mood boards, refer to the floor plan above.

THE BEDROOM 

First things first, she wanted to display her bags and shoes, so a display storage is right in one corner. Number two request is a really high bed with equally high black headboard. If you check out the floor plan, you see that behind the bed is the walk-in closet, but I don't want any visible doors. Instead, we opted for sliding door with mirrors in it. The left side opens up to the closet, while the right one is fixed to give more storage space behind it. In lieu of traditional lamps, I went with a corner chandelier for that parisian feel.

THE LIVING / DINING ROOM

Right outside the bedroom is the living/dining room. The bedroom will only be separated with sliding glass doors for a more open feel. (Curtains will be installed for privacy if needed) To the left is the dining space, wood table with black chairs and cute hat pendant lights. She really love that light so it's a must to be in this space! :) Gallery walls with white, wood, and gold frames to the side of the dining area. Deep black sofa complimented with these so luscious looking tufted lounge chairs. Since it's quite a limited space, we opted for a clear center table. Natural fiber rug for added texture.

THE KITCHEN and OFFICE

On the other side of the living/dining, is the kitchen and office, separated by a small storage room. She also love damask print so we wrap around a wallpaper around that wall, one kitchen wall, and one office wall. It would look like some sort of box with a pretty pattern. The kitchen backsplash will be a blue glass board, with a little bar area in there. At the back of the office is a built-in bookshelves with storage underneath. Simple glass table and blue office chair to complete the look. 

We're on the last stretch of this project and I couldn't be more happier in how it's taking shape. Totally different from where it started. Also, kudos and big thank you to the client and her cousin for being totally hands-on! They choose, purchase, many stuff just guided by this little plan of mine. :)

By the way, this is going to be one crazy week for me, finishing up 4 projects and I don't even know where to start. Literally, 2 of those haven't started yet!!! One of those super rush request that I couldn't say no to. :) It might be one of the most stressful, busiest week in this short decorating career (hobby) of mine. But hopefully, this will also be one of the most fulfilling week ever. FINGERS. CROSSED.

I've been excited to grab a copy of this issue because 1) DuoDeco Studio is this issue's shop of the month, 2) I have another participation in one of their feature which I'll share in coming post, and 3) it's their 10 year anniv issue which means madaming pasabog! :)

And I'm not mistaken. I really think it's their best issue yet. Not because we're in it (REALLY), I just truly felt inspired after reading the entire mag. A lot of nice homes were in here! (again, REALLY) Grab your copy now na!

Anyway, here's the feature on DuoDeco Studio. They've photographed the place so nicely, very bright, and oh so natural. You see, the inside of the showroom doesn't get sunlight, so these photos are amazing!

Well hello there. HAHA. Here we are posing for the camera. It's weird that the bf is all smiles and I look somewhat sad. Because in reality, we're exactly the opposite! It's not that he's sad or anything, but when it comes to our pictures, he always seems to look so pissed. So thank you for capturing this moment! haha

Also love how they styled the showroom. Especially the one on the right, they just grabbed random pieces from around, and viola, a quirky fun set-up.

Super thank you to the Real Living Team! You're all so so great. I had fun at the shoot, and I'm now having fun staring at this feature. :)

Another anyway, we are on SALE!!! Like crazy sale. Thousands and hundreds of pesos worth of discount. One chair goes from P5500 to P4500, the divans from P7200 to P5800, and now it's only P300 for throw pillow cases, and so on. Check out DuoDeco Studio, and see for yourself. *infomercial tone*  

See you there! :)

Even though I have confessed my love of industrial style over and over again the past couple of months; my love for bright, fun colors and quirky design is still embedded within me, and I'm sure it will be there forever. And ever. So no wonder this home office caught my attention. The saturated colors, mixed of print and patterns, all the mis-matched elements surprisingly came together and is now one super fun office. 

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Just a few months ago, the bf told me that he's going the buy a bike. A quite expensive one. Being the barat that I am, I told him not to. Plead even. But he's stubborn so this guy was delivered a few days after.

A big handsome vintage Rollfast bike. I fell in love too. All those pleading not to buy this beauty all seems so none sense now. What was I thinking? I began imagining it in our future industrial home, like how good it will look with the concrete walls and my dream sofa. I'm such a girl, you hand me a bike, and decor is still what I'm thinking about. Haha

The bf rode around with it a few times, I tried but failed miserably. Haha.. High seats + foot break is not a good combination. But for me it's not for riding, it's a display piece! It literally had a crowd gathered around it once ,while the bf had it out. See? Stunner, really.

But good things come to an end. We bid him goodbye a few days ago. The bf decided to sell it since, lets face it, our dream home is still nowhere in sight. Here we are, posing with the bike for souvenir. :)

Once we have the house of our dreams, we'll buy a vintage bike and have it restored ourselves. That is the goal.

But for now, let's all try bringing our bikes inside our home. Here are some inspiration on what to do with them. Aside from riding it, of course.

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designinspiration

Charleston Magazine

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barbe a papa

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