Green Design and Architecture

Modern-Mexican house: kaya ba talaga?

My Nuvali Home

When I was just starting out with house plans and design, I was hopping between two extremes:  modern-minimalist (\”less is more\”) and warm-lived in (\”more is more\” aka Mexican).  I like clean, simple lines, but also the coziness and freeing energy of color.

For the exterior, I knew I had no choice but to follow the modern theme of Nuvali, but inside the house was a different story.

I said out loud last year that I would make modern and Mexican go together, and here I am, one month away from house completion and the question I\’m asking is: kaya ba talaga?  

My brother echoed a concern last night that, admittedly, I\’m also beginning to feel: what if the house ends up looking chop suey?

Here\’s a moodboard of the facade, actual photo on the upper left.

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The house will have the roof on the upper right (as per Avida DOR requirement).  Decided to go with white and gray for the walls and stoneworks, with wooden accents.  Will have the steps, grass and striped carport.  Have yet to finalize fencing for the sides, but I\’m liking the wood (or wooden finish).

Looking at it now, I\’m getting a rigid (matigas) vibe, but don\’t know if the roof will soften it enough.  Plan for the front door is to have a curved etching, shaped like an 8 (for the lemniscate).  Wild idea: what if I cut a wave across the front lawn instead of using linear steps?  Also playing around with the idea of using boulders on the lawn to soften up the facade.

INDOORS

First step inside the house will be greeted by these:

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We did color testing for the walls, decided on yellow (I\’ve always wanted a yellow house!):

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Will do tone on tone colors (going for multiple shades of the same color in a room, to create a crisp but rich texture) for the rest of the space, an idea I picked up from doing pinboards on pinterest.  Did a quick review of boards I\’ve already collected for inspiration, and was happy to see the power of visioning at work: I didn\’t realize I already singled out yellow and green  for my wall moodboards a month ago!

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For now, we\’re thinking of using the green upstairs.

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Source: bhg.com via Johanna on Pinterest

 

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Modern-Mexican house: kaya ba talaga?Read More »

The search for that elusive ceiling fan…

My Nuvali Home,

…may have just come to an end!

Surprise, surprise, look at what greeted me right in my (our) own backyard:
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Found in True Value Nuvali, my new favorite hang out place in Solenad 2. 🙂

What I have my eye on:
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Good buy already at P4,199.75 !   I asked around and friends who have the same unit say it\’s mighty breezy.

The question now is whether to get it in beige or wood:

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🙂

Resurrected furniture at 10A Alabama

Green Design and Architecture,

Apart from being a beloved venue for Handmade Art Fairs in Quezon City, 10A Alabama is home to Resurrection Furniture and Found Object Gallery,  where Leah Sanchez and Binggoy Panlilio play, play, play with old furniture and odd pieces that they bring back from the dead:

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Well worth a visit for any green enthusiast.

I\’ve wanted their pink table since I first saw it last May:

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Would make for a good console table don\’t you think? 🙂

View more resurrected furniture on their facebook page.

Tile inspiration along the Sta. Rosa road

Green Design and Architecture,

Our happy find yesterday: Beautiful tiles in such fun, fun patterns and colors!

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I\’ve long been a fan of these \”painted\” tiles– which I mistakenly thought of as Vigan tiles– and first re-encountered them in a boutique shop in Cambodia last March 2011:

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My friends and I fell in love with that place  (we put up Estela Shop right after that trip) — all the colors and mishmash of lines and curlicues were just a feast for the senses!

More recently, I visited a friend\’s home in Manila, redesigned with an Industrial-Homey mindset (sounds familiar :P).  Lo and behold he had these pretty handmade tiles lining his foyer, and looked surprised when I had no idea they were called Machuca tiles.

Turns out Machuca tiles are locally-made cement tiles by the Machuca family, with clients such as Antonio\’s in Tagaytay:
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These tiles from yesterday, found just along the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road, are Malaga Tiles (in Spanish: Baldozas y Azulejos de Cemento), handcrafted designer tiles made by Habitiles, also a Filipino company:

The Malaga Tiles we are presenting here are handcrafted cement tiles. These types of cement tiles were introduced, and subsequently produced by the Spanish colonists in the Philippines during the 18th century. Large scale production of these tiles continued until the 1930\’s.

We have rediscovered this old craft and have started producing tiles based on the old methods.

Our wide array of designs includes those of Spanish origin, Islamic influenced patterns as well as antique tile designs from the other European countries. We also execute customers\’ own designs.

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\"Malaga

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Tile inspiration along the Sta. Rosa roadRead More »

Other Binondo finds: garden set + ceiling fans

My Nuvali Home

Sharing for interest 🙂  Saw these at the same lighting shop in Binondo.
\"Binondo
Garden sets are my least priority, but mom said this one is already cheap at P6,800.

\"Binondo
Does anyone know where to get nice, reasonably-priced ceiling fans?  This one\’s a bit bulky for my space.

My brother said he saw nice steel-wood ones in Home Depot, will check those out, but they already go for about P5,000 to P6,000 each.

Would be grateful for any help!

Bargain hunting for lighting

My Nuvali Home

Took a trip to Binondo with my architect-contractors, Paul and Rommel, to once and for all see the bargain finds for the house that they\’ve been raving about.

We went to a lighting shop on T. Alonzo Street…
\"Binondo
…where Rommel excitedly showed me the LED pin lights he planned to use for my house. \"Binondo
Each set, casing and bulb included, comes out to about P380, which he says is just slightly higher than a standard pin light. \"Binondo

Because I\’ll have LED pin lights, it\’ll be more efficient for me to use them as my everyday lighting, and save the cove lighting for entertaining. Yay.

Here\’s Paul waiting for his light bulb moment:

\"Binondo
Ang kulet!

As far as light bulbs go, this one below was by far our favorite.  Made of cut up steel pipes, it certainly is a curious piece:

\"Binondo

\"Binondo
Downside, apart from the price, is that it uses halogen lights– not very green 🙁

If you\’re more adventurous you can go for a red bulb, maybe to help ignite those passion projects– it\’s a great find at P1,020! \"Binondo

Other pieces I found interesting: …

Bargain hunting for lightingRead More »

Interior Vertical Gardens

Farming and Gardening Green Design and Architecture Sustainable Living
I’ve asked permission from a friend if I could post her research on indoor vertical gardens as a guest post here.  We had such a lively discussion about them over lunch a month ago– it was great finding a kindred green spirit right in Nuvali itself!  Am sure many others out there will resonate with these.  Thank you again, Duanne, for sharing your ideas and research:
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Interior Vertical Gardens
by Duanne
You’ll see from below the form and built of the standing vertical garden.
(I was thinking of rollers installed at the bottom of the platform so it can be moved around.)
You’ll see from here how they use the standing vertical garden as a wall partition between living areas.
(I actually intend to do this at our future bedroom in Parkway Settings since the 2nd floor doesn\’t have any partition.)
I was very inspired and loved the play of colors on the fully grown wall mounted plants on below photo.  It’s truly a living, breathing, green space.
And ang kulit ng concept ng photo with the bed of plants and the [wo]man figuring out how [s]he will water the plants on top.=)
Or if you happen to like a hanging vertical garden, then check the image below.
(By the way, I believe they used the Woolly Pockets in here.)

Another good green wall partitioning concept below with stacked potted plants.

Love green decorating, ‘no! =)

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Pictures from various online sources.  

Solar garden lamps for P488

My Nuvali Home

\"Binondo

Found in Binondo last Saturday!

\"Binondo

Price was slashed from P850. Such a steal.

Got four for the roofdeck and two for my front porch. Will be good for ambient lighting at less than 1 watt per lamp.

More on lighting and fixtures shopping Binondo later.

Hurry to Megatent– last day today for 36 mos 0% installment!

My Nuvali Home

\"Appliances

A quick post to give you all a heads up on a super sale at the Megatent in Ortigas– we went there last night (2nd to the last day!) and were so happy with the promo terms we got.

\"Appliances

Refrigerator, aircon, washing machine all checked off my list now.

If you\’re looking to buy appliances for your house, make time for this sale– our bill was a little over P110,000 but our cash out is P3,000 a month for the next 3 years.

Can\’t be beat.

P.S. Purchases must be made via HSBC credit cards.

Appliances at 0% interest anyone?

My Nuvali Home

Normally I ignore promo emails, but any ad on buying appliances on installment at 0% interest will make any homebuilder stop and listen.

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Big ticket items on my appliances checklist:

  • Washing machine
  • refrigerator
  • airconditioners

Gadgets particular to raw food:

  • vitamix

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  • dehydrator
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Now you know what\’s on my Christmas and birthday wish lists.
What\’s on yours? 🙂

Ready for furniture shopping at Manila FAME

My Nuvali Home Green Design and Architecture

So excited for this!  It will be my first time at a CITEM trade show, and what a first time it will be– I’m coming in as an actual buyer and not just an usi or usisera.

Thanks again to my trusty friend, Claudine, for the heads up! 🙂

The fair will run for four days starting this Sunday, October 16, 2011.   More info and online registration at the Manila FAME International website.

UPDATE: Just called the Manila FAME Sectretariat (833-1258) and was advised that pre-registration to the trade fair is now closed.  Admission is at P500/day.

PRODUCT CATEGORIES

FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS

Architectural Components

Interior/Exterior Architectural moldings and millwork, columns and capitals, balustrades, wrought iron components, pressed tin and stamped steel ceiling tiles, brass tubing and fittings, period and contemporary hardware, plaster architectural elements, fireplace surrounds, etc.

Arts & Crafts

Local items including handicrafts, textile/fabrics for product applications (merchandise, both fashion and non-fashion, that uses indigenous materials made from natural fibers), handmade paper (made from handmade paper that uses natural fibers and recycled paper), basketry, and woodcarving, among others.

Furniture

Movables that are both functional and decorative that distinguish the various settings of the home or any building structure (home/office); includes household, office and contract furniture, as well as furniture components.

Garden Accessories

Items for the garden such as tools, planters, pots, decor items.

Home Décor

Items for home interior that are functional or decorative. Dividers, door/floor mats, umbrella stands, decorative wall hangings and antique reproductions, among others, excluding picture and mirror frames, and art objects.

Kitchen & Tableware

Articles for the kitchen and dining table that are either functional or decorative.

Lamps & Lighting

Lamps, lighting fixtures and accessories to illuminate the home which can be both functional and decorative. Mirror & Picture Frames Home accessories for the living room, kitchen, bathroom, etc. made of wood, metal, plastics and natural materials.

Visual Arts

Paintings, framed pictures and sculptures.

HOLIDAY AND GIFTS

Boxes

Containers, storage, packaging materials, etc.

Christmas & Other Holiday Decorations

Seasonal decorations with designs associated with holiday occasions such as Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.

Gifts and Premium Items

Generally given as a gift or items used as souvenirs and tokens for any occasion, including gift packaging materials.

Stationery & Desk Accessories

Table/desk accessories like pencil holders, filers, notepads, stationery sets, as well as writing instruments.

Toys, Games & Dolls

Merchandise for entertainment, education and recreation of both children and adults, including collectibles like model cars and others.

Personal Care Products

Personal care includes products as diverse as colognes, deodorant, eyeliner, lipstick, lotion, makeup, mouthwash, pomade, perfumes, shampoo, shaving cream, skin cream, cleansing pads and wipes, lip gloss, and toothpaste, as well as handmade soaps made of natural materials.

Votives and Candles

Votives or candles that are decorative/ functional articles in homes and spas.

Spa Products

Restorative merchandise of marine origin both natural and processed: aquatic plants, salt, dirt, components of marine animals, as well as other natural products, such as plant extracts, essential oils, enzyme, vitamins, food supplements, etc.

FASHION ACCESSORIES

Costume Jewelry

Body adornments made of materials other than gold, silver, and precious/semi-precious stones.

Fashion Complements

Fashion enhancers, usually worn in parts of the body or attached to clothing, they may also be carried as part of an overall look or may serve practical purposes.

Fine Jewelry

Body adornments made of gold, silver, and precious/semiprecious stones.

Footwear

Fashion wearable for men and ladies made of leather, manmade materials, or indigenous/natural fibers.

Leathergoods

Fashion enhancers made of leather or combining leather and natural/synthetic materials; may also be carried as part of the overall look or may serve practical purposes.