Bachelor’s pad by the bay

The dwelling place of a man who loves life and lives it to the max but prefers to live in peace and quiet has been the latest subject of Talking Design. Aside from his bosom buddy, an established anesthesiologist, the other center of his affection is a healthy basset hound named Bart. Bart sleeps comfortably in a custom-made bed lined in beige silk from Cetec. You might not believe me but I witnessed Bart feasting on his chow served in a sterling silver bowl. And when it was time for him to take a drink, another sterling bowl with clean water was brought to the lucky canine companion. Matter of fact, Bart’s leash and collar come all the way from Louis Vuitton on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California.

Edward says that Manilans have long believed that the Littons are of Chinese ancestry. Truth is, he affirms that his great grandfather was an Englishman who for longest time served as a British consul to China. Litton is a British family name and not a composite taken from a Chinese surname – Ton Li – as many are wont to believe. Edward adds that his late mom, the former Patricia Smith, is a full-blooded American lady. Edward’s mom has a special place in the apartment–her photograph, dramatic in black and white, hangs above a small console table.

The fortysomething Edward Litton Jr. lives in a condominium endowed with the view of the world-famous Manila sunset.

Edward shares with us that he spent a lot of time living in cities like Paris, Rome and New York in search of the good life. While enjoying the excitement New York has to offer, he managed to grab a business degree in a school he jokingly says he can no longer remember.

Although Edward never studied in a design school, it is obvious that he learned a lot about designing a home while living abroad. This is evident in the way he decorated his home.

Edward’s place has an international look and feel. There is no particular period clearly defined in his design sense. Eclectic is one word that comes to mind as I survey his abode.

Edward has visited London a great number of times. This explains the handful of attractive European furniture pieces and some works of art which further edify the look and complexion of his residence.

Edward's only regret, he says, is that he wishes he didn’t have to have curtains. But, when one lives in a high rise, one has no control over what the fellows in the building across might be doing. To veil the undesirable vistas, like clotheslines of the neighboring high rises or the shanties in the distance, one side of the living-dining room had to be curtained off. Wisely, Edward chose a muslin fabric so one does not feel hemmed in and can still see the space beyond, with the view pleasantly watered down.

Being a confirmed bachelor, he chose an apartment that is compact and whose size is quite easy to keep neat. In the master bedroom with a view of the sea, Bart’s luxe bed is given ample space in one corner of the room. As may be expected, Edward positioned his bed so he can watch the sun as it goes down.

The second bedroom, slightly smaller in size, serves both as a library and when a guest decides to crash for the night, a sofa readily converts into a queen-sized bed. To afford the guests extended sleep the morning after having painted the town red, the gracious host had the room painted in midnight blue. Matching thick double curtains, once drawn completely, block the harsh light outside. The room also serves as a repository of memorabilias where remembrances of halcyon days are lovingly displayed.

The apartment, just like the rest in the building, is provided with a balcony big enough to accommodate outdoor furniture, making sunset and ship watching a great source of joy. We also spotted a sophisticated broiler which Edward can use should he decide to treat his visitors to a barbecue, weather permitting.

The extra curious guests can use the powerful telescope on the balcony. So powerful was it that I was able to see some men moving on the deck of a vessel that passed my line of vision when I peered through the scope.

During the leisurely shoot, I noticed that Edward and his doctor companion, John Trinidad, were attended to by a very efficient staff. A young man in an all-white uniform knew where all the gadgets that we needed that afternoon were located and attented to all our needs. I espied a couple of ladies busying themselves in the well-equipped kitchen. Later on they served refreshments with infectious smiles on their faces.

Edward’s siblings (all three of them) live in big houses in exclusive enclaves both here and abroad. A sister, Edwina Ortigas, resides in a house in Metro Manila where a good portion of the Litton heirloom is properly showcased. If Edward wanted to live in a house, he could easily afford to do so. But he says that, after spending most of his adult life abroad in apartments, there’s no way that he could be swayed to move into a house and become saddled with all the headaches attendant to maintaining a palatial domicile.

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