This Condo Offers Loads of Art Deco Inspiration

Art Deco, the design movement associated with forward thinking innovation, modernity, sleekness and luxury is making a comeback as we enter the 2020’s.  Perhaps it is a throwback to the heady optimism of stepping into the future that makes trendsetters reference Art Deco all over again.  Its ziggurat shapes, use of metal, mirrors and solid wood add a sense of indulgence, drama and sophistication to a space.

Undoubtedly inspired by the Art Deco period, this condominium unit in Meranti at Two Serendra, Bonifacio Gobal City is an example of excellent design and taste more so because of the designer’s clever use of space and lighting.   

When we enter the space, you immediately feel a sense of cohesion. Any interior designer will tell you of the challenges in “styling” a condo unit. There’s limited space, awkward wall placements, the list goes on.

Other factors complicate the issue as well: lighting, furniture, what wallpaper texture to consider, the artworks, and more importantly, where to get more storage space.

Living Room

Upon entering the unit, we were immediately bombarded with a sumptuous design aesthetic comparable with the Art Deco movement of the roaring ‘20s. The design movement was associated with modernity and luxury, two elements readily seen when entering the unit.

Interiors of the unit are well-appointed,  but somehow still subdued, elegant, but not too flashy, a difficult feat to pull off, for sure. In the Meranti unit, the design is restrained, but has qualities that leave guests impressed with the understated design.

“During the series of meetings with the client, we learned the she likes small beautiful things. It is readily seen in her choice of jewelry, bags, and clothing.” says Jigs Ranada Adefuin, Creative Director and Principal Designer of Adefuin Design Studio. “That’s where I got the idea and the concept of this place. She likes modern things, and at the same time, she loves small details and intricately designed concepts, which was then translated to the space you see now.”

From the foyer, we saw the lines and geometric patterns associated with the Art Deco movement. Dark grey-blue wallpapers, white marble floors, and opulent-looking dark wooden panels dominate your vision when entering the space.

The condo unit is also a fine example of space conservation in interior design. Wood panels cleverly hide the air-conditioning unit in the living room, and also imbibe an old-world charm to the space. The unit’s prevalent colors—dark blue, grey, brown, and even cyan or aqua green—are a welcome change for us as well.

We’ve seen too many interiors which go with the safe route of the monochromatic color theme. In the Meranti unit, we see a daring that is seldom expressed in the interior design scene in the islands.

“We wanted the design to be modern, but at the same time very timeless,” adds Adefuin.

Dining Room

From the foyer we go from living and dining room straight to the right, to the master bedroom. From the hallway to the left, one accesses the kitchen and two more bedrooms.

Geometric patterns are prevalent in the walls, with pops of gold and brass splashed in to complete the Art Deco theme. The designer also loves playing with texture, color and materials, as evidenced by the antique mirror dominating the wall adjacent to the dining room, and the walnut colored veneers. Solid walnut panels are used to hide the air-conditioning unit, to maintain the old world charm.

Adefuin is also skilled at playing with lights. The designer installed different mood lights all throughout the condo unit. With the use of Lutron lighting panels, the designer was able to create pre-set mood light routines that dramatically change the scene of the living and dining room with just a little manipulation.

With so many design elements happening in one space, the designer stresses the need for cohesion when creating such a space. “Even though we use different materials, the final product should have a cohesive theme,” he says.

Know Your Color Theory

We ask Adefuin how to achieve such a feat, and he simply answers, “Make sure that you know your color theory so you would know how to blend in details, and how much colors to insert in a particular tableau.”

The designer pointed to the dark blue colored chairs in the dining room, which blends well with the orange tones of the wall, the wood, and the painting seen above. “The pop of orange from the painting also enlivens the space.”

Adding to the lavish design of the interiors, the wallpapers in the space are made of silk wallpapers, which give the area warmth and softness, a needed break from the defined textures and hard geometric patterns of the space.

Apart from the lavish interiors, the unit also plays host to a virtual treasure trove of art pieces. We saw artwork by Malang, Cacnio, Manansala, Joya, Alcuaz, and glass pieces by Orlina.

Despite the numerous artworks, with all their different textures and colors, they all complement the theme of the interiors, imbibing oranges, greens, golds, and textures as needed.

As a finalé, before ending the tour, we ask the designer to give some pointers when designing a condo. Adefuin’s advice: “Make it as open as possible. In the case of this unit, we needed to remove some walls, since we combined two units to complete the 180 sq. m. area. Also, use standard-size furniture pieces in your condo unit. Avoid making it smaller than the usual size. Some make the common mistake of reducing the proportion of their furniture, thinking that it would help with the limited space. But it would just end up not looking nice.

“Always keep in mind that you’re designing for normal-size people,” jokes Adefuin.