Extra care is given when the homemaker takes charge of the family home’s design
Mothers know best, be it in the home or for the family. A mother can combine her instinctive knowledge of her family, and luckily, with her interior design degree, she will surely get a home that tailors the occupants’ wishes.
Joy Ejercito’s home can attests to that. As a designer, Joy admits that it is still a feat to create a design that will fit the needs of her family. Their biggest consideration was their extended family and the need for a bigger space for birthday celebrations, anniversaries, and get-togethers.
The family found their dream 1600sqm home in the south back in 2010. They were able to move just a year after construction, with the help of Architect Arlen de Guzman and Marvesan Construction. From here, it was up to Joy to fulfill all of her family’s requests.
The house had an open and accessible layout in both of its floors. It is important to consider the tropical location and climate that both the architect and the interior designer make sure that there will be a passive cooling system in the space. Once you enter, there are big glass windows and transoms that let natural light in and create an effective airflow throughout the house. There is a high ceiling in the living area, folding doors that extend to the lanai and the lush garden beside it. A pond and a swimming pool are also added to aid as passive cooling system. These will also allow the kids to enjoy the home even during summer days.
Joy added her own artistic touch in the practical layout. “For the two floors of the home, if you walk through each of the rooms, you will end up in the same room where you started,” Joy says of the floor plan. “The flow is circular, representing infinity.”
Joy and her husband Don had decided that the look of their home should be timeless and low maintenance. They used earth colors, with touch a bright colors. And for simplicity, they painted the walls eggshell white. The result is a cozy yet elegant ambiance in the living room, with high gloss tile flooring and a curation of furniture pieces in gold and brown. The ceiling, stair railing, and stair tread are all finished in solid wood, which give warm appeal of the interiors.
Joy saw the house as an opportunity to both display their collection and fill their home with pieces that they love. Statement pieces like the Barcelona piece by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and a black acrylic chair by Louis XVI stand proudly in the living area.
There is 1948 La Chaise by Charles & Ray Eames armchair in the foyer that serves as a great focal point. On the walls are paintings from renowned Filipino artists including Arturo Luz, Carlo Magno, and Rodel Jacintos. Sculptures by Ovvian Castrillo, Seb Chua and Murano are also on display. Some of the functional accessories were made by Castrillo, such as the handles on the main door and dining area. Joy shares that they want their home to be like an art gallery. They also included some pieces they accumulated from their travels which are either from stores or galleries both locally and abroad.
For her husband’s request, Joy added a space for Don’s luxury motorcycle collection. He is an avid motorbike collector and a former Ducati motorshop owner. He placed his Ducati and Harley-Davidson bikes on display in his home. “The garage is for the cars, but sometimes, he does park his black Camaro inside his man cave,” says Joy, referring to another area specifically requested by her husband. “Those motorbikes are precious, so we want to display them in the house.”
Meanwhile, the four children also gave their requests to their mother that she fulfilled. The four children all wanted separate bedrooms and a spacious garden to play in.The three girls wanted to paint their bedrooms in their respective favorite colors. The unico hijo wanted a nautical theme.
Of course, a spacious master bedroom with a walk-in closet is for the couple. There are tall glass sliding doors that connect the master bedroom to the garden, that not only added luxury but also a green landscape as the room’s own wallpaper. For herself, Joy added a space for her arts and crafts where she would indulge in scrapbooking, painting, and sketching.
For Joy, the living room should be the heart of their home. It is her favorite part of the house because it is where her kids will always lounge and can spend their time together. “Since it’s spacious, the kids use it to study, take a nap, play video games, play the piano, and watch movies,” she shares. “And we get to do those things with them as well.”
By definition, interior design is the art and science of refining the interiors of the home. Adding a mother’s touch, Joy was able to create a space—by instinct and by good design—that was truly home for her family.