MAJESTIC illumination: a touch of turquoise and floating drop lights on a high ceiling
You just bought a modestly sized studio unit. Like most buyers, you would like to make your newly acquired home as cozy as possible. But you also like to make your home a reflection of your personality so the last thing you would want is to have an identical interior design and furniture with your neighbor.
This is probably the best time to seek the services of a design consultancy firm and furniture boutique like Home Mavericks (www.homemavericks.com).
“People have the wrong impression that the services of an interior designer are expensive and that as owners, they don’t have much input, except for minor suggestions, on how their space should turn out,” says Eric Alvin Go Po, one of Home Mavericks’ founders.
Unit owner’s involvement
He explains that to enable the firm to create an efficient and beautiful space, it also needs the unit owner’s involvement. “They (unit owners) may be at a loss on how to transform their newly acquired space to reflect their personality but with proper coaching, you would be surprised at their feedback,” he says.
In fact, Home Mavericks has devised a Question and Answer form in their website that throws light on the style, preference and aspiration of the unit owner.
The convenience of having their own furniture shop (located right across New World Hotel) allows Home Maverick’s would-be client to pinpoint certain materials, colors and themes that he/she wants incorporated into his/her new home.
“However, we don’t furnish the homes of our clients from existing pieces from our collection. We merely use them for inspiration considering we could customize the furniture pieces and build them in our factories in Cebu (which is then shipped to Manila).
FULLY upholstered headboard with floating lights makes the whole room softer with an elegant touch.
Customized solutions
For years, Home Mavericks has been providing customized space solutions to clients who have purchased condominium units either for investment, residence or retirement.
“There is no doubt that there is now a growing trend toward customization, where bespoke, one-of-a-kind pieces offer that much-needed individuality to the space. Since unit owners usually share the same space layout and floor plan as their next-door neighbor’s, homeowners, particularly of condominium units, seek the assistance of interior designers to make their space a little more different,” Po says.
Composed of interior designers, furniture manufacturers and real estate experts, Home Mavericks has an intensely collaborative process that directly engages the inputs of the homeowner from conceptualization to turnover.
“After all, the owner will be the one spending most of the time in the unit so it is our goal to make him/her feel that he/she has ownership of the space, design-wise. I always put myself in the shoes of the client. The designers, they do the designs. I always strike a balance between aesthetic and function,” Po explains.
OFWs
Po relates that most of their clients are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have no time to oversee the interior design of their new unit.
“In these cases where the clients cannot be present in the actual setup and installation, Home Mavericks has devised a feedback process that entails sending the designs through e-mail. We only do what they approve and when it’s time for them to come here, everything in their new home would be ready,” he says.
SANCTUARY set in stone: Japanese Zen-type unit with natural stone wall
One of Home Mavericks latest projects is a unit located at Rockwell West Tower owned by a Filipino couple based in Canada. “They wanted a space with subdued elegance and touches of Filipino and classic motifs. My team then came up with a look that marries warm wood and luxurious texture by using furniture with coco shell as base, imported fabrics and shell accents. In the living room, they installed mirrors and a stone wall accent to increase the volume and heighten the verticality of the space. For all window treatments, customized HunterDouglas shades (of which Home Mavericks is an exclusive distributor) are used,” Po enumerates.
Save money
Regarding costs, Eric explains that Home Mavericks help unit owners to save money in the long run by helping them tap relevant, quality and trustworthy suppliers, installing high-quality pieces that are more resistant to wear and tear and providing design premium to the space.
“One of the challenges of living in the city is battling the smaller living space that generally accompanies it. Size limitations can make designing a space—whether a house, duplex, or apartment—quite challenging. But there is always a way and that is where we could help our clients,” Po says.
He adds that a unit designed by a professional team usually fetches 25 to 50 percent more in terms of lease price compared to a similar-size, nondesigned unit in the same building.
With its roots in Cebu, Po says Home Mavericks will continue to commit itself in giving clients the home they deserve and have dreamt of.