5 Designers Share Improvements They Did Around Their Home During The Pandemic

Karisa Yee's Bedroom

“Last year, at the start of the pandemic, I upgraded my bed by reusing my sister's old four poster bed. It’s a budget-friendly upgrade, plus I got to have something of hers.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Karisa Yee

Angel Fabros' Work Space

“With the ongoing pandemic, it was essential for the working class, including us designers, to prepare and create an efficient work-from-home set-up. We all had difficulties doing so as the work environment suddenly had to invade our safe space for relaxation: our home.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Angel Fabros

“The best home improvement I've done was modifying my former writing desk into a mini office area. I ensured to make it neat, organized, and clutter-free for a more efficient work situation. Doing so has improved my creativity and focus, as clutter usually creates a busy mindset for me.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Angel Fabros

“It was also helpful that I added in some new features, such as a mechanical keyboard, speakers, a webcam for zoom meetings, a deskpad that serves as a huge mousepad and prevents scratches on my glass tabletop, and a laptop and iPad stand to neatly store all of my gadgets. I opted for an ergonomic approach, considering that sitting all day strains our body and can lead to poor work posture.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Angel Fabros

“With this home set-up, work seemed more exciting, and every day seemed better and brighter—motivating me to create beautiful interior spaces for my clients from the comfort of my home.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Angel Fabros

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Angel Fabros

Kat Guiritan's Work Space

“Given our company’s current work-from-home arrangement, we decided to change a corner of our previous bedroom into our home office. Our goal for this office space is to make it look different from the rest of our house by incorporating a bright and striking color as an accent and adding paintings that matched the wall.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kat Guiritan

“As a designer, we want everything to be organized, neat, and functional. For my space, I have the following ‘must-have’ items on my working desk.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kat Guiritan

“One, my work computer, where I customized a few accessories like my personal keyboard and my wireless ergonomic mouse. Two, a notebook and a small sketchpad where I can jot down notes during meetings and send sketches for my site instructions.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kat Guiritan

“Three, a small basket on my desk where I put materials/finishes or items that are in need of urgent approval, which also serves as a reminder of my priorities for the day.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kat Guiritan

“And finally, a ring light for meetings and a task light above my computer monitor to aid in my work activities.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kat Guiritan

Architect Cathy Saldana's Series Of Home Improvements

“Cocooning at home in a live-work-play environment meant that we have the connectivity, space, and the right furniture to match our lifestyles. I created and built so many changes and additions to our home through the pandemic to suit our new needs and the segregation of spaces.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Cathy Saldana

“I went on a series of home improvements that began with rebuilding our outdoor patio into a receiving room so that guests do not enter the inner sanctum of our house. Since I commenced on several master planning and infrastructure projects during this period, we marked that milestone with a sculptural art piece from Jinggoy Buensuceso called “Topography”, defining the new entry point by the relocated front door. Alex, my husband, also started a new interest—paragliding, so I carved out storage spaces with solid Narra doors within this new room that he now calls his Clubhouse.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Cathy Saldana

“We further spruced up our home-office by defining our own work corners with a new pair of Aeron chairs by Herman Miller only from Fred Yuson of CWC. These matched our wooden desks by the eminent Italian furniture maker based in Cebu, Carlo Cordaro of Atelier A, so that our set-up would still look homey. Paintings on the walls and stacks of books blended perfectly with antiques and an exercise bike with its desktop.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Cathy Saldana

“With some small tables, accent seats, and another Aeron chair, I also ensured that there were many areas around the living and dining rooms where we could park ourselves independently for virtual meetings. I strategically placed plants in tall vases and art work to be the Zoom call background. As a result, Alex and I have fun constantly moving around the house to work and plug in.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Cathy Saldana

Architect William Ti's Garden Upgrades

“I've been planting around my flat over the last year or so, learning what types of endemic and foreign species would thrive at various levels as well as their needs. I've planted so many species—from water lilies to narra trees to plum blossoms, on various heights and with different shading levels, just to see what works and how we can better incorporate vertical gardens in the work that we do.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of William Ti

Photo Credit: Courtesy of William Ti

Photo Credit: Courtesy of William Ti

Photo Credit: Courtesy of William Ti

Photo Credit: Courtesy of William Ti

Photo Credit: Courtesy of William Ti