Cover The Mama chair by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia take centre stage in the living room
The Mama chair by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia take centre stage in the living room
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Her eye for beauty extends to her lovely abode filled with the things she loves most
For a woman with many hats—a loving wife and mum, businesswoman and the vice president of the luxury design and construction firm Draco Builders—it is important to create a living space that not only echoes her lifestyle but also one where she can go cosy at her own pace. Her stunning glass house, for instance, is a perfect example of how she seamlessly combines form and function. It also has plenty of spaces for entertaining, which she and her husband love to do. Tatler sits down with Syjuco to find out more about her cosy home
What was the inspiration behind the design of your home?
A lot came from natural materials—natural wood like narra and natural stones. My husband and I were inspired by organic materials. We wanted to use a lot of wood for our home for insulation and to add warmth to its modern design.
What are your favourite spots in your home and why?
My master’s walk-in closet and bathroom. I love the lighting in my bathroom. It’s perfect for skincare and putting makeup on. I enjoy hanging out in the master’s walk-in because I have a small lounger where I can rest in between trying out clothes and organising my closet.
Read also: The Most Iconic B&B Italia Pieces—Innovative Design Like No Other
Above Nicole Syjuco at home
Nicole Syjuco at home
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In which other area of the home do you spend time the most?
Aside from our master’s bedroom, I spend the most time in our dining room because I entertain a lot of people there—friends, family and sometimes clients and colleagues in business as well.
How do you balance style and comfort in your home?
By choosing furniture pieces that suit my needs and lifestyle. It is important to invest in trusted and reliable brands that offer both. I may have to pay a little more but I know I will get the quality I want.
What is the first thing guests notice when they enter your home?
The high ceiling all throughout our ground floor. And because the ground floor ceiling is so high, the doors are also so tall.
Where is your favourite spot for entertaining?
Our dining and living room have become the ultimate entertainment areas in our home. I noticed that our guests really enjoy lounging around our living area. I love how comfortable our chairs and couches are. Sometimes after a long day of work, I would sit in the living room and just doze off. That’s how I know I chose the right couch sets. For the dining room, I noticed our guests also like having the view of our pool while we eat and drink wine.
Above A B&B Italia armchair adds a pop of colour
Above Hermès cushions strike a contrast with the BoConcepts sofa
A B&B Italia armchair adds a pop of colour
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Above A Kenneth Cobonpue lamp hangs above a marble dining table by Felport
Above The Mart armchair by B&B Italia sits pretty in one corner
A Kenneth Cobonpue lamp hangs above a marble dining table by Felport
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Where do you shop for home items?
I usually get our furniture from Furnitalia, B&B Italia, Casa Bella, Roche Bobois and Kuysen. For home decorations, I frequent Hérmes.
Which pieces are your favourites?
My top two are the Mama chair in my living room and the husk dining chairs from B&B Italia. The Mama chair is so relaxing that I usually fall asleep while sitting there. The dining chairs are so comfortable that I can sit on them for hours at a time without having any back pain. I’m very particular with dining chairs because I need chairs that will make our family and guests feel cosy when they visit since we love entertaining in our home. We love hosting dinners and gatherings.
What’s a typical day like at home?
It usually begins with brunch in the dining area. After that, we would have a few meetings in the den and sometimes have coffee with our clients when they come over to catch up and meet about our projects. Towards the afternoon, my son would arrive home from school and we all would go upstairs to end our day and spend some family time in the master’s bedroom to watch TV and snuggle in our bed. We usually have dinner in our dining room, but when we’re too tired, we just stay in the bedroom together.
Are there any parts of your home you’d like to change? If so, how would you change them?
I feel like as a builder and a perfectionist, there will always be something that I’d want to change and improve on. For my house, I would have wanted to add another floor for more rooms, but we can save that for our next house.
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Whether on assignment or not, Maritess is always on the lookout for off-the-beaten-path destinations as well as the yummiest finds in the Philippines and abroad. In 2020, she plunged into the black hole of Korean la la land. Follow her escapades at @matetreyes.
