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The condo’s entryway gives away the couple’s design vision. Upon entry, a pixelated rendition of Van Gogh’s self-portrait that Patty Laurel-Filart and Patrick Filart—or as their friends call them, “the Pats”—bought online from a shop in Holland, and assembled themselves as a “fun bonding activity” adorn the whiteness of their wall. It is a perfect example of the aesthetic of the two, because it is modern, quirky, fun, and will always remind them of the two days they spent together. 
Opposite their striking wall of contemporary art is their kitchen and dining area. Painting and personalizing their wooden dining chairs, which they bought at a discounted price before they got married, have also been one of their bonding activities. Patty confides, “It wasn’t as easy as we thought!” They ended up having to ask for help from a professional painter. 
Their open floor plan on the first floor reveals their living area next to their dining area. In this part of the condo, they placed a reclining sofa, custom-made for them by Mandaue Foam. Behind the sofa is a staircase—with an understairs storage door decorated with a collage of the Filarts’ milestones—that leads to the couple’s bedroom loft that’s enclosed by glass panels, giving them an overlooking view of the floor below and ample natural light. 
With much thought and love went into transforming this condo into a home. This brainchild of the Pats shows that agreeing on a style that shows both husband and wife’s personalities is achievable with a little compromise, a measure of thought, and a whole lot of heart. 
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*This story first appeared in CondoLiving Vol. 9.1 2014, edits have been made for condoliving.onemega.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
To achieve a “relationship goals” aesthetic, substitute generic furniture sets with pieces that have a personal story. Use a neutral base of white, gray, and wood, then layer in “pops of color” through quirky décor items or contemporary art. This approach, exemplified by “the Pats,” creates a bright and happy vibe that reflects the couple’s unique personality rather than a showroom catalog.
The secret is a combination of white walls and glass-enclosed loft panels. By using glass for the bedroom loft, you create an overlooking view that allows natural light to flow between levels, making the 95-square-meter footprint feel much larger. Pairing this with an open floor plan ensures that sightlines remain clear from the entryway through to the living and dining areas.
A frequent mistake is underestimating the difficulty of technical tasks like painting wooden furniture. While it seems like a simple bonding activity, achieving a professional finish is challenging. If a DIY project “isn’t as easy as you thought,” don’t hesitate to seek professional help to ensure your personalized pieces—like dining chairs—look polished rather than messy in your artsy space.
Maximize utility by using understairs storage as a canvas for a “milestone collage.” This transforms a typically boring service door into a decorative feature that tells your story. This technique keeps the space organized while ensuring that significant memories are integrated into the architecture of the home, rather than just stored in boxes.
The core ingredients are compromise, shared vision, and curated art. Agree on a foundational color scheme first (like white and wood) to ensure the “bones” of the home are cohesive. Then, select statement pieces together, such as a pixelated Van Gogh portrait, which serves as both a modern focal point and a reminder of a shared bonding experience.
