People often misconstrue interior designers as decorators. However, the interior designer’s job extends beyond the aesthetics of a space. They are also responsible for functionality, lighting, materiality, and ventilation, including technical and structural constraints. Interior designers take into consideration various factors before planning a space, including understanding their clients and the functionality of the space. […]
A Pocket of Instinctive Design by Kix Suarez
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The pursuit of a truly personal sanctuary often transcends meticulously planned layouts and curated aesthetics. For homeowners who see their space as an evolving reflection of their life, this condo unit by Kix Suarez offers a fascinating study. Amidst an amassed collection of art, furniture, and mementos within defined walls lies proof that his personality can still flourish unbound.
A Return to Independent Living
Living independently in Tokyo’s vibrant creative scene for almost five years allowed Suarez to shape his living space entirely to his own vision. It was a period of profound personal freedom in an abode that served as a direct extension of his artistic sensibilities. But upon returning to the Philippines, he became familiar with the constraints of staying with his parents once again. While his room in his family’s residence offered a degree of privacy, the underlying feeling of being in a shared home is a persistent reminder that the space, however personal, was not his to command.
The desire to regain a self-directed lifestyle led to a decisive move: acquiring a condo unit in one of the metro’s older buildings. Upon purchasing the 84-square-meter unit, Suarez found it already midway through a renovation. The space was in a reasonably clean state, with termite treatment completed and fresh white paint applied throughout. The bathroom had also been updated, and the lighting fixtures were already installed.
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However, the current trajectory of the renovation didn’t align with his vision for the space. So, he decided to stop the work and undo most of the recent changes.
In collaboration with his contractor, Suarez let his unbridled nature infuse the confined space with an authentic projection of himself.
Starting Anew
Like an artist facing a fresh canvas, Suarez saw the need to start with a blank slate. He stripped away the already laid out vinyl flooring to restore the original raw concrete base of his new space, which was polished to a smooth finish.
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Interestingly, the seasoned creative kept the installed lighting fixtures. He shares that he doesn’t use them much, seeing them more for function than for aesthetics. But he was keen to transform the walls in the living and dining areas, painting them a muted dark blue hue.
“I’m in denial because I like black a lot. But blue is the color that I’m now accepting as probably my favorite color,” Suarez admits. “I don’t really [turn on] the lights in my apartment. So, it’s kind of just daylight seeping in. It’s darker [inside]. And I don’t like bright places. So, blue felt like [the right] color. It was also [the color of] my childhood room.”
Unscripted Style
Suarez’s “no thought” display of these beloved items is precisely what renders it so thoughtful. It naturally showcases his support for his friends in the creative field, serves as a tangible recognition of his dedication to past work collaborations, and embodies the joyful fulfillment of childhood desires. But more importantly, this space embodies his hard-earned independence.
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“The more I curate, the more it’s not going to feel authentic or organic,” he states. By skipping a rigid aesthetic and trusting his instincts, Suarez created a space that echoes past memories and fuels his present growth within its walls.
“I think there’s always this thing where I wanna express myself. And I think this [condo unit] is kind of like a culmination of that,” Suarez continues. “I never really intended to leave Japan, but I had to. It was kind of like an extension of that… That whole thing about my life there, I can have it here also.”
Read the full story by grabbing your copy of BluPrint Homes, available at the sarisari.shopping, Shopee, and Lazada. E-magazines are available for download here or through Readly, Press Reader, and Magzter.
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Photographed by Ed Simon
Read more: A Studio Type Apartment That’s Big on Style
Frequently Asked Questions
His five years living independently in Tokyo’s creative scene served as a period of profound personal freedom where his home was a direct extension of his artistic sensibilities. Upon returning to the Philippines and feeling the constraints of a shared family home, he sought to recreate that self-directed lifestyle. His 84-square-meter condo serves as an emotional and stylistic extension of his life in Japan, allowing him to regain the command over his environment that he had lost.
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Although the unit was already undergoing a renovation with fresh white paint and new vinyl flooring, the trajectory did not align with Suarez’s vision of an authentic, raw space. He made the decisive move to strip away the new vinyl to restore and polish the original concrete base, effectively starting with a “blank slate.” This allowed him to replace a generic, clean aesthetic with one that felt more honest and aligned with his specific preferences for materiality and mood.
The choice of dark blue was a deeply personal transition from his usual preference for black and served as a nostalgic nod to his childhood bedroom. Functionally, Suarez prefers spaces that are not overly bright, opting to let natural daylight seep in rather than using installed lighting fixtures. The dark blue hue complements this desire for a darker, moody atmosphere, transforming the living and dining areas into a sanctuary that feels safe and grounded.
Suarez follows a “no thought” display philosophy, believing that the more a space is curated, the less authentic and organic it feels. By eschewing a rigid aesthetic and trusting his instincts, he arranged a collection of art, furniture, and mementos—many of which were created by friends or acquired through past collaborations—in a way that feels unscripted. This approach allows the space to function as a living canvas that reflects his personal history and creative journey without the pressure of forced perfection.
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The unit is the culmination of Suarez’s need for self-expression and serves as a physical manifestation of his hard-earned independence. It proves that a person’s personality can flourish even within the defined walls of a condo when the design is driven by intuition rather than trends. Ultimately, the space is a repository of memories and a fuel for present growth, providing a “pocket” where he can be his most authentic self.
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