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Home and horizon on the beach -1
Source: Inquirer
Author: Alex Y. Vergara
Date: 2000-06-30
 
HAVING been exposed to literally thousands of

ideas from books, magazines and actual places

here and abroad, the mistress of the house could

have opted for a weekend home inspired by a

French chateau, a Swiss chalet or even an English

manor. Instead she has built an abode in Nasugbu,

Batangas brimming with Filipino and Asian

influences.



The beachfront

property owned by a

prominent

pediatrician from

Makati Medical

Center and his

gracious wife easily

stands out from the

rest for its ability to

blend style and

function so ideal in

this tropical

paradise. Both have

requested that their

identities remain

secret.



Grassy walkways dotted with various plants such

as bougainvillea, champaca, bamboo and coconut

trees lead to the refreshing swimming pool. The

recent rains have washed away bougainvillea

blooms, says the woman, but come summer entire

stretches of green are speckled with white and

fuchsia.



Beyond the concealed perimeter wall is where

powdery beige sand and tranquil blue sea meet.

Tali Beach is best viewed from the sprawling

second floor verandah. Talk about a charmed life.

Since the sea is less than a five-minute walk

away, family and friends can choose between the

pool and the beach, fresh and salt water.



The house also reflects the woman's penchant for

antiques, found objects and cheap but stylish

accent pieces from various parts of the region.

That she has been able to make sense of all this

without an architect or interior designer attests to

her innate talent and exposure to life's finer things.



Her idea



''I love Asia,'' the part-time artist gushes. ''Deep in

my heart I know I've always been an Asian

woman.''



Since this woman has a clear idea of what she

wants, she saw no need to hire other people aside

from a contractor. With so much ideas swimming in

her head, perhaps it was for the better.



''I somehow visualized it already,'' she says. ''All I

needed was a contractor to turn my vision into

reality. Imagine if I hired an architect and interior

designer. Our ideas would have clashed even

before construction started.''



Instead of going against nature, she tried to blend

with it by coming up with an airy, two-story house

made chiefly of hardwood taken from old houses,

and recast to suit certain areas and needs of the

new home's occupants.



Both floors virtually spill into the garden thanks to

a series of sliding doors downstairs and folded

bamboo panels upstairs. Balusters fashioned from

old wood allow the air to flow freely on the second

floor.



''I hate the idea of living in a French chateau with

a coconut tree right outside my window,'' she

adds. ''It's so contrived. Sadly, Filipinos love to

imitate the West. Why do we have to be

somebody we're not?''



Asian touches



Filipino as well as Asian touches are thus reflected

in the roof, walls and ceiling, down to the furniture

and accent pieces. Perhaps the only item that

reeks of the West is a rocking chair best left in a

sunny porch somewhere in Louisiana.



''It's a gift to us,'' she explains. ''Besides, I love the

rocking chair even though it may look out of place

in this house. The rest of the pieces, however,

were all sourced from Asia.''



The roof, for instance, resembles a giant salakot

from a distance. She would have wanted to

replace the roof's GI sheets with nipa, but

practicality won out in the end. Still, for a more

rustic look, she had generous sections of the

ceiling and second-floor walls covered with sawali

and banig. Concrete walls, or what's left of it, are

painted in off-white mixed with yellow ochre.



Shiny Vigan tiles that make up the entire first floor

contrast with the distressed wooden flooring

upstairs. In place of fuzzy area rugs are

stitched-up bamboo slats placed near the main

entrance, living room and three bedrooms.



Items that grabbed our attention include a round,

flat wall accent from the Visayas featuring fish

spread in banana leaves. Wooden statues from

Abra flank the wall accent made of jade, coral and

mother of pearl. We also found a mirror edged with

various seashells from Samar interesting.



But this didn't limit her from showcasing pieces

from Bali, Thailand, Mexico and ancient China. Blue

and white Chinese plates, for instance, hang on a

section of the wall, between the two rooms,

upstairs. A pair of wooden sea urchins and floral

pattern taken from an old bed crown the

collection.

 

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