Everything We Learned From Bea Alonzo’s Home Tour

These days, celebrities have been generously allowing their fans a peek into their personal spaces.  A few days ago, one of Metro.Style’s Most Stylish, the multi-awarded actress, Bea Alonzo announced on her Instagram account that she will be doing just that.  “First step: to let you in.  Will you let yourself in,” the caption read.

Bea’s home was built in 2012. Since then, so many achievements have marked this actress’ career, and consequently, all this hard work has led to her personal evolution and growth.  Her home is a reflection of all these. Because she’s led her life in the public eye all these years, Bea is known for closely guarding her privacy.  Hence, it is a privilege to have a look into her personal spaces. 

The 16-minute home tour was indeed generous.  In it, she reveals that her home was built in 2012, but recently, it had gone through a furnishing and finishes overhaul with the help of her close friend, interior designer, Jayza de los Reyes-Go.  We couldn’t help but note everything we learned from Bea’s style of making a house a home. 

 Here are 13 smart tips we’ve gathered from Bea's home tour:

1. We should not focus on the theme that much, but focus on how your home makes you feel.  The actress made it a point to share this right at the beginning of her home tour.  Your home, after all, is a reflection of who you are.  Your story matters, and the home is a venue to tell this.  No theme can dictate what is unique to your journey as a person.  Feel free to make your home yours with objects, furnishings and finishes that serve you.

2. Repurpose and refinish your furnishings to get a new look. Her chandelier in her foyer used to be silver, but it was painted black for a more contemporary look, referencing French designer Philippe Starck.

3.   On art: Art has the power to tie things together. Take, for example, a collaboration between Filipino photographer, Mark Nicdao and French Artist, Henry Lamy (a French figurative painter and capoerista), found in Bea’s office.  It serves as the perfect focal point in this room that the actress admits to not seeing too much use. Rather, it is where she stores her memorabilia and books.

On a piece by Michael Cacnio in her living room, she she decided to keep her old beau's gift to remember the good times together.  In this case, it is by a noteworthy artist. 

4.  Donate! A reader, and known to be a fan of Brazilian author, Paulo Coelho and Japanese author, Haruki Murakami, her book collection has significantly dwindled because she donated a number of them to libro.ph.  This is a great way to free your shelves of volumes that have already satiated your curiosity. This online book exchange marketplace helps people find books while supporting local independent book sellers.

5.  Collect editioned pieces.  A fan of masters you see in museums whose art work prove to be aspirational for your budget?  Purchase the digital prints or the pieces made in editions instead.  We spotted Andy Warhol prints perched on her shelf, grouped with a limited edition ceramic plate by modern Filipino painter, Mauro Malang Santos.  Because these are made in limited editions, they are not as costly as original pieces, but definitely attract collectors as well.  Score the auction houses such as Salcedo Auctions' Gavel and Block or the Leon Gallery for these.  When touring museums and art institutions, it is also worth going to the museum shops for these.

6. Go big on design in a small space. Her powder room is tight, but she chose to make a big design statement with its finishes.  Glass mosaic tiles adorn the walls, while a geometric mirror reflects their shiny finish.  An Ugu Bigyan sink provides a unique focal point for this space.  She couldn't have chosen a better space to make these impactful design moves, as the powder room receives visitors and is one of the areas at home that sees most use.

7.  Introduce color for comfort and ease.  Her old white on white living room scheme was quite intimidating for her friends to use.  Now, they are more at ease with the eclectic color combination and furnishings.

8.  In the kitchen and pantry, have a place and a label for everything.  To keep her kitchen organized and neat, she has plotted space for all of her ingredients in the pantry.  There’s even a section for not so healthy snacks (“To make me happy) and healthy snacks (“to make me happier!).  Bea also advocates labeling ingredients in the pantry.“Sa pagkainan lang, ha.  Hindi sa iba… pero sa mga bagets… kailangan may label,” the actress quips in jest.  Point taken, Bea!  For the purpose of avoiding mistakes, labeling ingredients in the pantry helps, indeed.

10. A gin cart makes entertaining that much more fun. Bea loves to entertain.  In her gin cart, she has kept lemons she dehydrated on her own (“Ayokong nagsasayang ng pagkain”) for garnishing her drinks.  “And when you smell it, sobrang bango,” she reveals.

11. Styling your plants and grouping them with the correct furniture matters. Tropical plants look fabulous with classic modern furnishing.  Her gang of plants in her patio was complemented by an Eames La Chaise, gifted to her by a friend, Jeremy.  "Sabi nila this is a fat lady's chair, so perfect ako dito," Bea jokes. Its smooth curves were designed by Charles and Ray Eames to echo that of Gaston Lachaise's Floating Figure sculpture.   Together with her tropical greens, they make an eye catching patio.

12.  A “dirty kitchen” need not look like one.  Some consider this space as a backstage for large amounts of cooking, laundry and other essential home upkeep.  Even so, kit it out with organizational tools such as cabinets, shelves and racks.  Finishing this area in white will give a neat impression. 

13. Have a hobby room. Hers is a gorgeous “she-shed,” a gazebo she turned into an art studio.  “I am not a painter, but I do it just to relax and to relieve my stress, and it’s been doing the job very well,” Bea reveals.  It used to be an open gazebo which she outfitted with French doors, with her mom who is confined to a wheelchair, in mind.  “At least dito siya nakaka-relax.  Merong air con, may TV tapos she can just lie down here if she wants to.  We can also watch movies here together with the family because she can no longer go up to the family room, so this is really for her, but because of the ECQ, she’s in Zambales,” Bea shares, saying that in quarantine, the space has primarily served as her art studio.

Enjoy looking at corners of her home here:

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