HOME/WORK

DO SOMETHING- Do It Yourself, or Do It With Help

It is empowering to make something yourself, or in some cases, supervise the work being done.

Tatler Home Philippines Vol. 27 Cover

Artisanal Work, the Hand Made’s Tale

Our work was on the cover of Tatler Homes Philippines this month, and our home was featured in the magazine. We would like to share some of images from the shoot. A big thank you to Stephanie Zubiri, Tatler Homes Philippines Editor-In-Chief. We hope you like them as much as we do.

Time is the ultimate element we can never replicate or return, and so objects formed by time, whose patina and beauty were woven in the sands of time have become, for me, what is truly luxurious. The beauty of the found object is that it really does not have a strict nominal value attached to it (it has already had a life, and has served its purpose), but rather what the finder declares its worth to be. So open up your grandmother’s bodega as many treasures might be hiding, waiting for you to give it a new lease on life.

In addition, before the advent of the internet, there were only a handful of shops in Manila that offered handmade luxury pieces, primarily imported goods. These days, we are able to contact an antique dealer in Milan, or an artist in Switzerland (as I was messaging a Zurich based curator friend about artist Junie Fischer’s work, link to Rindermarkt gallery here) ourselves. In the same way, we can send a message to weavers in remote parts of the Philippines and place an order for their work.

The world has changed, and technology has played a role in bringing artisanal pieces to people’s homes. It is indeed ironic that something digital is the conduit through which what is made by hand is delivered in those happy brown parcels, to our doors.

What A Mess

Instagram vs Reality

Swatching on site making sure scaffolding doesn’t hit my head can sometimes feel like an olympic feat. It can be distracting to see things scattered around- a reality when working in construction. No matter how neatly you keep things, there might be that one painter who likes to leave his paintbrushes lying around. Wanting to keep things tidy and easy to find, without losing your mind? Try these.

Project Management

Managing Construction Sites

I noticed a growing trend among my friends where they no longer hire a contractor but rather hire workers directly, and manage construction sites themselves with the help of an engineer, foreman and other professionals.

There’s a ton of drama and excitement when you are building a structure. Seeing the wallpaper you chose covering entire walls and newly upholstered furniture arrive, is a joy that in some way I can compare to bringing home a newborn or crossing a finish line. If you are interested in how to manage your own project, I offer a few tips I learned the hard way here.