Atelier Almario, led by powerhouse siblings Ivy and Cynthia Almario, have the vision of fully realizing the design of your dream home. Their dedication and expertise are seen with every decision they make, from the basic measurements that allow a space to be harnessed efficiently, to their use of trusted companies like the Italian design brand Scavolini in plotting the interiors of a home.
“Interior design is both science and aesthetics,” Ivy Almario, the Design Director of Atelier Almario, said. “People think, ‘oh, it’s a relatively easy profession.’ We may make it look easy, but really, everybody who practices it seriously understands that you are building for longevity and durability and safety.”
The sisters, through their unique “design alchemy,” serve as interpreters to the inner longings of every family, turning intent into lived actuality. Their use of brands like Scavolini ensures that every home is stable and comforting, tailored to each individual living there.
It is no wonder they remain among the most celebrated interior designers in the country; their work is unmatched across all sectors.
One of the advantages of Atelier Almario’s inviting interiors lies in their process: a true collaboration between the sisters and their clients that translates their needs and wants into reality. They merge professional expertise with personal preference, ensuring every design maximizes comfort, functionality, and aesthetics.
“They always say that Atelier Almario are design chameleons,” Cynthia Almario, the Creative Director, shared. “Because, really, what is important is the client: we give the very best version of their dream house. […] Their personality still has to stay in place, because after all, they are the ones who [are] going to be enjoying the place for a very long time.”
“Please understand that, as much as possible, we’re in the service industry,” Ivy Almario added. “Our aim is to make sure that your dream home is delivered to you on time.”
Functioning as a singular unit, the sisters approach their work with genuine care. They prioritize alignment first, ensuring a shared design ethos, before diving into the nuances of the client’s specific needs and lifestyle. From there, they can then bring the family’s unique vision to life.
“Not only are we hired for the project, but we also interview the clients before we actually say yes to the project,” Cynthia elaborated. “What does that mean? We want to find out how they live…what their aspirations are; and when everything is aligned, that’s when we are engaged.”
“For us, when we onboard a client, we already see the compatibility of tastes because it’s an uphill battle,” Ivy elaborated. “If our tastes are so diametrically opposed, then you wonder, did you just like my first name? But that rarely happens, truth be told, because they would’ve known [our] reputation before [we] onboard them.”
Knowing what their clients want is half the battle, of course, but the second half is actually figuring out how to manifest their clients’ desires. Ideas are a dime a dozen, and what makes Atelier Almario different is the rigor and care they put into every design choice.
“We think in centimeters, we think in yards, we think in inches,” Ivy said. “Everything is calibrated for comfort and also to not waste material. We all know that plywood is four by eight, 120 by 240; so you kind of design within that module so that nothing is wasted.
“You mine your talent so that the money of your clients goes a long way—aided by your dedication—to really make sure when you deliver a dream project, it delivers on all points: timeline, budget, and of course, the happiness factor.”
For the Almarios, good design extends far beyond comfort—it is defined by sustainability, efficiency, and longevity, achieved by seamlessly integrating science and technology.
This shared commitment to excellence is why the Almarios often specify or recommend Scavolini. With a portfolio that extends from the kitchen to the living area and bathroom, the brand offers a cohesive design language that the sisters can expertly tailor to the unique rhythms of each family’s life.
As an Italian design brand, Scavolini is one of the most prestigious companies for its innovative models within the interior design scene. Starting out as an artisan workshop in 1961, they have since expanded into the furnishings giant they are today.
The brand has updated itself for the times, moving towards a more modernist aesthetic while maintaining the strong quality that made it a name in the first place. They offer traditional designs that follow European norms, like the Favila or the Baltimora, for a classic, luxurious feel, and they have also adapted to the times, like the Poetica or the Caraterre, with minimalist styles that better reflect our current sensibilities.
It showcases Scavolini’s ability to go where consumers have gone, becoming a collaborative effort to fit into any home, wherever it may be. Scavolini is flexible with its models, using a variety of materials like metal, stone, and wood to create the aesthetic they aim for, and offering a range of color palettes from sleek black-and-white to brighter pastel colors to light up a room.
With those kinds of choices in materials, it is no wonder that Scavolini is one of the preferred brands of the Almarios.
“For us interior designers, where we are always balancing so many balls in the air, a complete solution makes our job easier,” Ivy said. “The quality across the bar is the same, but the aesthetics are also the same.”
What they both find admirable about Scavolini is that, for them, many of the project’s non-negotiables have already been addressed. It makes it easier for them to focus on the smaller details when the products are reliably assembled with precision, assuring customers of their longevity.
“ Scavolini aligns with the way we design,” Cynthia said. “Its systems are rooted in precision and proportion, but they never feel rigid. Their attention to detail is extraordinary. The engineering of the hardware, the modularity, and the richness of finishes that are both luxurious as well as durable.”
“When you choose a kitchen like Scavolini, they have many entry points, so don’t get scared,” Ivy added. “You can have a starter kitchen and then progress as your life and prosperity progresses. Why am I saying that? Because from the get go, the fundamentals are already addressed, and that’s what’s not negotiable.”
Ivy and Cynthia believe in the importance of the kitchen in making a house a home. The kitchen functions as the central hub of the Filipino home and a social anchor to the residence. As the backdrop for everything from festive gatherings to quiet daily rituals, the Almarios treat its utility with paramount importance, crafting spaces that are as efficient as they are inviting.
“How do we design kitchens?” Ivy started. “First off, we ask our clients [and] we listen. How immersive is your relationship with the kitchen? Are you really going to use it or is it just a pretty thing? If it’s just a pretty thing, then we know where to put the big guns. And if they say, ‘no, I really use the kitchen,’ we also know how to address it.”
“ I always approach a kitchen as both a workforce and an emotional center of the home,” Cynthia continued. “Functionality is the foundation of any kitchen. There has to be flow, ergonomics, storage, and intuitive movement. I always study my client: the way she moves, cooks, and lives in a space.”
The design duo confidently relies on Scavolini’s precise execution to address the complexities of the modern kitchen. The brand offers robust solutions to common design friction points, grounded in ergonomic principles and a cohesive material palette, ensuring harmony within the space.
Because Scavolini resolves these workflow issues effortlessly, the Almarios are free to focus on experimentation and high-level design, crafting bespoke environments that showcase the homeowner’s personality.
“ For the most part, I would think that Scavolini has done their homework so that all your non-negotiables are [already negotiated] with them: in that even before you think about it, they’ve already gone through the process of thinking about it for you.”
Scavolini’s extensive material library—spanning from veined marble to warm wood and industrial steel—allows for limitless expression. These textures coalesce into spacious, luxurious layouts designed to cultivate intimacy and conversation.
The sheer breadth of the portfolio invites deep personalization. Whether it is the Mira, with its elegant glass cabinetry that opens up a room, or the Moda, tailored with hyper-minimalist precision for compact spaces, the brand offers distinctive choices that stand apart in the market.
Crucially, Scavolini’s robust construction supports this customization without compromising the kitchen’s inherent ergonomics. The result is a space that facilitates genuine connection, where homeowners can focus on the people around them rather than on maintaining their surroundings.
The Almario siblings and Scavolini put in the work so you can focus on enjoying your time instead.
“ Poetry for me is expressed through materiality and atmosphere,” Cynthia added. “The interplay between warm wood and cool stone. The gentleness of a matte finish and the way the light plays in a beautifully grained panel. I love creating spaces that invite quiet rituals. I love preparing and brewing coffee. I love preparing meals and lingering at the counter. For me, a functional kitchen supports life and a poetic kitchen enriches it.”
Atelier Almario’s influence has spanned decades, evolving into an intergenerational success story. Grounded in a methodology defined by beauty and precision, the firm cultivated a lasting trust, prompting families—generation after generation—to rely on the sisters’ instincts to breathe life into their homes.
“I’m excited because I’m realizing that it’s a full circle moment for Atelier Almario,” Cynthia shared. “Because we started with the mom, and the daughters start getting married, and then we do their homes.
“What’s beautiful is you think that you’re only a designer for the parents, but we actually broke the generational gap, because we are designing for the daughter and the kids of the daughters. That makes us happy because it means that we’re very relevant and that interior design is here to stay if you really do the work, if your vision is there and your clients love you.”
Atelier Almario has earned this success through years of hard work, supported by partners like Scavolini that help them deliver well-made designs suited to Filipino homes. It also makes their work more seamless, with quality that lasts.
“I am so happy that not only with Scavolini’s technology, but also with aesthetics, that the uniformity and the ease for decision-making is considered,” Ivy said. “Because building a home is one of the most stressful undertakings [one] can go through. We thank Scavolini for making it very easy for the stakeholders to make informed and intelligent decisions.”
Photographer: Ed Simon.
Hair and Make Up: Pong Niu
Sittings Editors: Geewel Fuster, Maita de Jesus
Art Director: Raechel Oro
Associate Producer: Mae Talaid
Read more: Fulfilling Aspirations: Cynthia and Ivy Almario on Luxury in Interior Design
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