South Forbes' fabulous Fontainebleau

MANILA, Philippines - What’s it like to have the best of both worlds, where old and new are combined into coming up with something unique, interesting, and inspiring? One clear case is the Fontainebleau in Châteaux de Paris, the French-inspired enclave in South Forbes Golf City, the country’s largest fully-integrated and all-themed golf resort city at the forefront of the Metro Sta. Rosa – Tagaytay corridor, recipient of the Best Golf Community Development by the 2007 CNBC International Property Awards, the world’s most prestigious property awards programme, and, recently, the Highly Commended Award for Best Development by the 2010 Bloomberg Asia-Pacific Residential Award.

Two Sides of the Coin. The Fontainebleau unit is one of the largest among the South Forbes chateaus and also the most progressive. It retains a traditional Baroque façade, yet the interiors are completely done to be reflective of a more sophisticated and urbane lifestyle with a streamlined, contemporary feel. This remarkable contrast between inside and out is what makes the design, and the home as a whole, stand out.

A Fresh, New Look. Stepping inside the Fontainebleau lends a feeling of a stress-free elegance, without the heavy guilt of opulence. The stylishness remains yet tuned into the more affable tastes of 21st century living.

The living room is a magnificent double-storey volume that allows natural light into the space, filtered through mechanized sunshades which keep the area soft. The softness is tempered with the shiny surfaces of the furniture and the sleekness of the objets d’art that adorn this wonderful space.

For this moderne theme, clean lines, chrome and glass, and textured fabrics were used to create an interesting interplay of surfaces that made the unit cozy yet refined, pleasant with an underlying sense of formality.

The dining room was inspired by the green houses present in most French Country villas with doors that open to the garden allow the landscape to be part of the dining experience. The ceiling rendered in chrome and glass is reminiscent of the metal works that the 18^th century greenhouses are known for. The chandeliers were specifically selected to cascade to the center of the space with tiny crystals that mimic raindrops.

The den behind the sliding door extends to the living and dining areas which creates a spacious linear space. Homeowners with small businesses can convert the den into a home office, suitable for work and receiving clients.

Sharp and Chic. Taking the flight of stairs is simply out of the ordinary with the stairway having no balusters nor handrails at all, save for unframed glass as the substitute. The short travel up is kept appealing with artwork which echoes the red color scheme of the living room as three globe lights illuminate the path.

Inspired by the small French hotels, the master’s bedroom is quaint with subtle touches of a vibrant red to adding interest and spice to the room. After all, spice in the bedroom should always be a welcome thing.

Each model chateau features unique layout permutations. While the Chambord next door introduces a huge master suite and the more contemporary Chantilly presents 4 second level bedrooms, the Fontainebleau has a family hall where parents, even grandparents, and their next generation can bond over the latest film, music, or game -- literally young and old getting together.

So move in right here, right now. Call 635-7777 or 631-8855 for a free city tour or log on to www.southforbes.com for more information.