Design matters at Cielo

MANILA, Philippines - DMCI Homes recently unveiled Cielo, the latest model home at Mahogany Place III.

Developed by DMCI Homes, Mahogany Place III is nestled within Taguig City as a highly secured community that fosters a grand lifestyle.

To mark Cielo’s launch, DMCI Homes hosted a fiesta Filipina-themed housewarming event for prospective homebuyers.

Guests were welcomed by DMCI Homes president Alfredo Austria, project director Adamor Trinidad, design and construction director Elmer Civil, Property Management Office head Mickey Ortigas Jr., engineering head Gerry Ancheta, and Cielo model unit interior designer Joey Tesalona.

A New York-trained Filipino design consultant, Tesalona has worked for premier companies in the US. After taking up some courses in interior design at the New York School of Interior Design and at the Parsons School of Design, Tesalona has since moved to Manila and put up JT Designs, a design consultancy studio in Makati, that offers innovative interior design options for residential, commercial, and exhibition needs.

As the first area that greets visitors, Tesalona describes the living room as bright and airy.

“I incorporated a lot of luxurious furniture but at the same time tempered it so that it will be relaxing for the family. I added modern touches such as a lighting device that doesn’t take up much space and the floor-to-ceiling mirrored wall to conceal the stairwell,” he explains.

For the dining area, a monotone palette of colors is used to make the area bigger.

“I blended the whole space from the living area into the kitchen. To add character, I snapped together (in multiples) the piece called ‘Algue’ by French brothers Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec to make a room divider. It’s also a great conversational piece,” he notes.

Tesalona also put drapes around the unit to conceal the service doors and the maid’s room. He used the same treatment in the powder room to hide the shower area and make it look presentable.

The children’s rooms are located on the second level. The boy’s room looks like a virtual playground. An artificial grass covers the floor to make it look like a soccer field. Tennis balls and a racket are pinned on the wall while a huge mural of David Beckham adorns the other side of the room.

The girl’s room features the whimsical world of ballet with nuances of subtlety and daintiness. Two closets are painted in fuchsia to match the frame of the four-poster bed. Another striking feature is the modern-classic lamp called Midsummer Light which is made of cascading layers of uber-thin, paper-like material designed using laser cutting by Tord Boontje from the Netherlands.

On the third level is the master’s bedroom, which Tesalona said is very modern in design, and uses a lot of classical pieces.

“The family is supposed to love to travel, so I put a lot of allusions like an Eiffel Tower framed picture and stuff that have a global appeal. My philosophy is to put the right thing in the right way without overdoing it.”

The drapes are again used to conceal the walk-in closet — a delightful find with its “his” and “hers” sections. A swivel chair is placed beside it accented with luxurious throws and pillows.

Inside the master’s bathroom, the laser-cut lamp cover is repeated, this time using a more mature rendition. The Garland Lamp, also by Boontje, is made from delicately etched floral patterns on a continuous metal strand wrapped around a light bulb.

“I’m very glad because we already have dealerships here that can supply these pieces. The Philippines is really coming of age when it comes to product design. These shops offer various design options, and this is what I want to deliver to Cielo — to introduce something different, something new, and have an international flair,” Tesalona adds.

Clubhouse and model units are ready for viewing.

DMCI Homes is the country’s premier triple-A builder-developer that brings serviced, themed communities within reach of urban families.

For inquiries, call 324-8888 or visit www.dmcihomes.com.