For years I loved the minimal or neutral look for home interiors – the black and white combination, that changed to dark grey after a few years, to greige because I fell in love with the word first, then to Scandi white with organic touches. Even my clothes were mostly black and white or light and dark neutrals. Then, a few years back I had a change of heart and embraced bold colors like emerald, mustard, deep purple, fire engine red, bright orange, teal, blush… A change of heart does not…
For any entrepreneur who takes a risk by starting a business, the feeling is sweet when you see that there is resonance in the market for things that you sell, especially if you are the one who makes the products. If you are employed at the moment and you dream of starting a business, it is best to have a sideline first instead of jumping off the deep end and resigning from your job and go for it. This is a voice of experience talking. I think this is sound advice…
When I saw photos of this condo, I knew I wanted to share this living space here in the blog because, dear readers, you have to see how the magic of Morfosis Design transformed this 40 sqm one bedroom condo from the usual box-like structure of current condo developments to a space of zen-like serenity. Morfosis Design is a multi-disciplinary design firm led by Misty Floro and Pai Edles. They designed a living room vignette, part of our many collaborations with SM Home, which showcased the zingy yellow of Color Trend 2017…
Wes Anderson completely immersed the viewers into a whole new world where the colors are the narrators of the film. They do not speak yet they are eloquent in letting viewers know the mood in every scene and the nature of the characters in the film. Yellow and Blue: The Mood Drivers of the Film Muted yellow is the dominant color in the film, yet it speaks loudly to indicate warmth and security. It is the color of young love between Sam and Suzy, and it is the color of the…
The concrete couple is on a roll. They’ve come up with ideas for their sideline business and have made them a reality – from a plant pot, to a plant stand, to a tea light holder. This episode is about making a concrete lamp base. Watch the video below: Feeling bold enough to make this? You’ll never know if you have the knack for DIY until you try. Then when you’re done, imagine the excitement of having to choose the color. Just look around your room and decide what would work…
Dark, cloudy skies. Frequent downpours. Summer is over! Good job on beating the heat and staying cool in what was arguably the hottest summer we’ve experienced so far. Now the monsoon season’s coming up, you may want to revamp your home, starting with your kitchen, to fight back the cold weather blues. You’d be amazed how a little splash of color can instantly uplift your mood amidst the gray spell. Think Pink! While red stands for a passionate kind of love, pink symbolizes tenderness, compassion and nurturing, three things that should…
If you’re able to make a plant stand, making a concrete tea light holder should be easy. Watch the video to see how Sarah does it with concrete mix, water and a sandwich ziplock bag. Just recently I answered a friend’s FB post lamenting that his PhP 1,000 does not buy as much anymore. His friends, including me, have replied to this and the thread is getting longer with the discussion getting more enthusiastic. One said that, “…it is best not to rely so much on your salary. Start some business…
Green is a color we seldom see in a city like Manila or Cebu. What pockets of green you can see are getting smaller and smaller as they make way for construction sites that would in the future become hundreds or thousands of homes for urban dwellers. Think of the Ayala Triangle which has now morphed into a rhombus. A few days ago, I read that Manila’s ‘last lung’ which is Arroceros Forest Park is under threat again. Read those two links if you want to know more. If your condo has a terrace,…
Sarah and Pete are on a roll with their side line business of making concrete pots for their succulents and selling them online. But now they want to up the game and make a concrete plant stand too. You know those trendy stools you see on the web that are being used not only as plant stands but for other things like a cup of coffee or gadgets? Here’s a photo to give you an idea. But better yet, watch the video below and find how hubby Pete does it. If…
After making their own concrete pots and planting succulents in them, how is Sarah and Pete’s DIY crafts side business going? Watch the video below and find out. Any start-up will always have hiccups. Even established businesses can fail big time. Which is why anyone who wants to be a successful entrepreneur should have imagination, energy, stamina, endurance, determination, shrewdness, street smarts, and a big, BIG heart to handle failures and successes! And of course, let’s not forget luck! If you’re thinking that that’s a tall order, it is. But if…
Are you faced with the task of DIY house painting? What’s one of the easiest ways to choose a color palette? Believe me, you don’t have to climb the walls to know which colors to choose because there’s a trick I’ll share with you here. I’ll call it the easy two-step. Step 1: Know Your Favorite Colors There are colors that we gravitate to and very early on in life we are already making such decisions. Maybe you are not even aware of it but you do make choices. As a…
Florals are springing up in interior spaces in 2018, from the chintz fabrics and wallpapers of our lolas to the bold, colorful prints of overblown blooms. Very KUKUR (kukurtinahin in other words). Chintz is making a big comeback. Using the same floral fabric on the walls, window treatments, and furnishings—think English country but updated. Lots of florals and colors that pop, like turquoise, apple green, and shocking pink. —Kathryn M. Ireland I have no problems with kukur. I’ve loved that since….well, since….ever….forever. Florals are not only back in interior design but…
Being the heart of the home, the kitchen plays an important role in bringing families closer together and making guests feel comfortable and at home. Like all the rooms in the house, the kitchen is also a reflection of yourself—your personality, style and taste. The ideal kitchen should then not only be fully functional and organized but should also exude a welcoming atmosphere matching the owner’s own warmth and character. A touch of color can instantly liven up your kitchen and achieve any look you like. For instance, nature-based colors easily…
Not any kind of pot would do for Sarah. She put on her crafty hat and started a pot project, making something unique for her succulents. She added a dash of paint for a trendy look. She chose a subdued pink which is still so hugely popular ever since Millennial Pink came out a couple of years back. Let’s see if Sarah’s DIY pot is going to work. If not, I say plod on if you feel the fire. Yes, that means you too, dear reader. Failures mean that you are…
Tucked in a hidden corner in Greenbelt 3 is a gem of a shop called Guava Sketches. It’s a well-curated design store with originals from European designers. This shop was founded by sisters Jennifer and Joan, and shows their love for good design and functionality. In their website, Jennifer and Joan had this to say, “This passion started with an appreciation for well-made items whose beauty is complemented by utility. Our shop reflects the same ethos – it is informed by a love for nature and a great appreciation and respect…
This new DIY webisode about the Concrete Couple starts with Sarah’s passion for plants especially succulents. She plants the little cute things in small pots, and with the help of husband Pete, takes photos and uploads them in a new website. But like all new start-ups, the going was tough. It took an inspired idea from hubby to move to the next step. Watch the cute couple as they start a new sideline which perhaps could grow into a business venture in the future. Who knows where the path will lead?…
In the final installment of the Set in Color Series to promote Boysen’s Color Trend 2018, the team brought their final installation to Plaza Independencia, the most historically significant plaza in Cebu, which also fronts Fort San Pedro, the oldest triangular bastion fort in the country. That’s a lot of history in just one place. This time the BE YOU sets were very minimalist with a bit of an antique inspiration on the fixtures. The color palette was indeed an appropriate reflection of the general mood and vibe at Plaza Independencia…
Did you know that the color of your kitchen, or any space for that matter, can significantly affect your mood? This phenomenon has to do with what is known as color psychology, in which it has been proven that certain colors and hues can incite a corresponding emotion or behavior. That’s why you hear of idioms like “green with envy” and “tickled pink”. Kitchen Mood The kitchen being the center of the home, you may want to give a lot of thought on how you decorate it. Careful consideration should be…
Manila is one of the world’s most polluted cities, with air pollution levels above the safety standards set by the Clean Air Act. The need for more trees has never been greater. However, it takes more than ten years for one tree to become mature enough to clean the air. On top of that, there is virtually no more room in the city for trees to grow. Boysen, the Philippines’ leading paint brand, has a solution–KNOxOUT, a revolutionary smog-eating paint. KNOxOUT contains CristalACTiVTM photocatalytic technology that uses ultrafine titanium dioxide to…