Livening up your homes through color

W/17 OWNERS Kaye Tinga and Andy Vazquez Prada, rug designer Iñigo Elizalde and clients Ben Chan and Miguel Pastor

Condo living seems to be the way for most young Manila urbanites to start their lives apart from their family. Indeed, the urban landscape is ever changing as new condominium projects rise into our fair skies.

OUTSTANDING collection of decor and lighting at W/17 Shop

Bonifacio Global City is the epicenter of the condo boom. A new lifestyle has emerged here, with condo residents surrounded by destination restaurants, interesting shopping stores, health clubs and myriad other amenities. Commercial, residential and retail areas all merge into a vibrant hub.

One such development is the West Tower at One Serendra. Aside from all the usual amenities like swimming pools, fitness center and gym, the condo’s proximity to lots of dining places and shops is remarkable. It is all designed to be within walking distance of one’s front door.

SPACIOUS living and diving at the 2-bedroom suite of West Tower at One Serendra

My fave unit

West Tower has several condo configurations. My fave unit is the two-bedroom, bi-level suite that includes a 16-square-meter balcony. The dual-floor design allows for many design possibilities for the owners.

The finishing is typical of an Ayala Land Premier project: engineered oak-plank flooring in the bedrooms, living and dining areas, homogenous tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, and European-grade kitchen cabinetry. Additional features include a powder room in the lower floor, a utility area and maid’s quarters.

ELEGANT furniture collection and accessories at W/17 Shop

With space a coveted luxury these days, West Tower also has compact units, but gladly none compromises on functionality. With creative design plans, a relatively tight space can become cozy and comfortable. Toss in some imagination, creativity and style, and your few square meters of house becomes a perfect home.

Easiest, cheapest way

Color is the easiest and cheapest way to liven up a space. Popular combinations of shades are butternut yellow, pale green and burgundy, or if you prefer earthier tones, cappuccino tan, light blue and deep mocha. There’s no limit to a palette, but do get advice from an interior designer on matching colors. Paint is cheap but repainting is expensive.

COLORFUL palette of Iñigo Elizalde rug

Accessorize spaces with colored linens, paintings, soft furnishings and rugs. An area rug is a good way to hide a space’s “sins” and can add drama to a neutral floor. There are hundreds of rug suppliers for every budget. Before you make a large investment, shop around for rug options to unify the different furnishings in your condo or home.

Unique collection

Iñigo Elizalde Rugs was recently launched at W/17. Iñigo Elizalde, together with W/17 owners Andy Vazquez Prada and Kaye Tinga, has come up with a unique collection of rugs. (The W/17 showroom is at Warehouse 17B, La Fuerza Compound, 2241 Don Chino Roces Ave., Makati.)

Iñigo’s rugs have been exhibited at the prestigious Maison et Objet trade show in Paris, so these rugs are distinctive and gorgeously designed. He started relatively recently, setting up a custom rug and design company in New York only in 2008.

IÑIGO Elizalde rugs in vibrant designs and rich textures

Iñigo’s travels feed his imagination and come out in his designs. His insatiable wanderlust results in design inspirations ranging from old to new, colors to textures, the Old World to the New World. It’s great to see talent translated into a finely crafted piece that can be a treasured object for the home. Best of all, you can order your own custom, handmade carpet from Iñigo Elizalde Rugs. E-mail [email protected] or call 478-1717.

Over the next few columns, I will feature more ways of livening up homes—from artwork and appliances, to furniture and flooring, to wallpaper and whatnot. Readers with specific queries should not hesitate to contact me:

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