Exploring the unique interior of a countryside home in the Philippines by Studia 54
The owners challenged the designers to create a space where each room evokes a specific country and historical period, turning the home into a sort of time machine. The result is a unique interior that blends various styles and eras, with every detail thoughtfully crafted to convey meaning and set the mood of the space.
One of the most impressive spaces in the home is the indoor garden, designed to evoke the feel of a Versace garden. This slice of nature within the house offers the sensation of being in a European café, surrounded by lush greenery and fragrant flowers. The space blends various motifs — from classical Byzantine to ethnic, Eastern, and Art Deco — creating a unique and harmonious fusion of styles.
The floor, paved with cobblestone tiles, transports you to the narrow streets of Europe, while the wicker chairs with rattan weaving add a touch of lightness and comfort. A transparent roof lets in soft daylight, enhancing the connection to nature, making it feel as if you’re sitting under the open sky.
The centerpiece of this space is a fountain inspired by Christopher Klein’s sculpture "Airborne." Its mirrored surface and rounded forms evoke a sense of lightness and movement, as if air and water are merging into one.
Surrounding the fountain is lush greenery, creating the feeling of a secluded oasis. The entire interior is rich with a harmony of natural and artificial elements, making the garden a vibrant and inspiring corner where nature and art seamlessly come together.
A massive wall panel with ethnic motifs and the elegant floor lighting add an air of mystique and intrigue, perfectly complementing the overall concept.
Particular attention is drawn to the terracotta soldier figures, standing like guardians at the entrance, protecting the home's residents. These sculptures infuse the space with a sense of historical significance, serving as a reminder of the grandeur of ancient civilizations.
Living room – cozy elegance in a dark palette
The owners, who favor dark interiors, desired a secluded atmosphere, and the designers achieved this by using deep, rich tones complemented by light accents to highlight the space's sophistication and refinement.
The furnishings in this area were carefully selected from the St. Petersburg brand FiftyFourms and the Italian brand Minotti. The tufted details in the furniture, which reference classic designs, seamlessly integrate into the overall aesthetic, emphasizing the elegance and meticulous attention to detail in the space.
A captivating feature in the living room is the crystal installation hanging from the ceiling. The crystals shift from black to white, creating a gradient that adds a touch of magic and lightness to the space. This design plays with light and shadow, infusing the room with a sense of mystery and elegance.
The support column in the living room is artfully camouflaged with vines, adding a natural accent, and framed with mirrored surfaces that reflect light, enhancing the feeling of openness and airiness.
In one corner, a bonsai tree introduces another natural element, bringing a sense of harmony and calm to the room. This addition highlights the designers' goal of creating a serene and peaceful environment.
A standout piece in the room is a Minotti chair in a rich wine hue. This accent furniture creates a striking contrast against the marble floor, which serves as the foundation of the design, lending the space a sense of coolness and luxury. The wine-colored chair not only blends seamlessly with the overall style but also adds depth and dynamism to the room.
The master suite living room – a space for relaxation and solitude
This area is designed for lounging, unwinding, and enjoying your favorite activities, whether that’s reading, watching movies, or simply savoring the quiet.
For the finishing touches in this space, the designers chose coffered ceilings, which emphasize the room’s traditional and classic style. These elements add texture and depth, creating an elegant backdrop for other decorative pieces. The classic motif is further enhanced by the presence of antique busts.
A major highlight of the living room is the expansive onyx portal. This luxurious natural material introduces elements of grandeur and refined beauty to the interior. The onyx portal serves not only as a functional feature but also as the room’s visual centerpiece, drawing attention with its intricate texture and rich color.
The metal elements used in the decor create an intriguing contrast with the classic features. These details bring a sense of dynamism and vibrancy to the space, adding both shine and structure.
The furniture in this living room comes from top global manufacturers. The coffee table by Longi and the sofa by Minotti not only blend seamlessly with the overall style but also offer maximum comfort for relaxation.
Master bedroom – a room with personality
The designers aimed to blend raw natural materials with refined accents to create an interior that is both striking and relaxing.
The focal point of the bedroom is a rugged stone wall, which adds unique texture and a sense of natural strength to the space. The stone, with its uneven surface and inherent beauty, is encased behind a glass panel and illuminated to enhance its visual impact, adding an extra layer of sophistication to the room. The lighting gives the wall depth and warmth, making it the centerpiece of the room and creating an atmosphere where natural beauty meets modern technology.
Furniture from the FiftyFourms brand perfectly complements this master bedroom. The stylish Vida Classic bed invites you to relax in comfort. The Drum bedside tables and Aria daybed continue the theme of harmony and coziness, creating a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The rich wine hue, a trend of 2024, makes another appearance in the interior, adding a touch of sophistication.
Hallway – an Asian-inspired corner with a touch of palace luxury
One of the standout features of the hallway is the luxurious frescoes done in an Eastern style. The ceiling, covered in red suede, evokes the opulent interiors of Eastern palaces, where luxury and attention to detail are paramount. The red suede creates a striking contrast with the black and gold frescoes, enhancing the visual impact of the space.
The Sicis floor tiles also deserve special mention, as they resemble exquisite mosaics. With their intricate details and complex patterns, these tiles are not just a backdrop but a key element that complements the overall theme of the interior.
Powder room
The powder rooms in the home are truly noteworthy. The centerpiece of one of these rooms is a luxurious onyx sink. This noble stone, with its unique natural patterns, adds a touch of elegance and depth to the interior.
Special attention was given to the color scheme, as the homeowners have a preference for red. The designers boldly incorporated this rich hue into the decor, creating a harmonious blend with natural motifs. The result is a unique installation gently cascading from the ceiling, reminiscent of fantastical vines.
The walls are crafted from veneer of fine wood species. The natural textures of the wood create a striking contrast with the bold accents and metallic elements.
The dominant tone of this powder room is set by the dark, deep hues that prevail in the wall and floor finishes. Black marble with white veining is used for the countertop, which seamlessly extends up the wall, creating a sense of unity and solidity. This marble accentuates the premium feel of the interior.
The focal point of the room is a large mirror, softly illuminated around the perimeter to create a cozy and warm ambiance. The lighting features a red tint, adding a touch of sophistication and creating a striking contrast with the dark surfaces.
Master chef kitchen – a space for culinary creativity
This unique area is specifically designed for hosting entertaining events and culinary masterclasses. Inspired by the ambiance of a French café, the designers at Studia 54 infused the space with a touch of romance and sophistication, making this kitchen the true heart of the home.
The centerpiece of the interior is an extraordinary marble portal that sets the tone for the entire space. The marble surfaces, featuring intriguing golden veining on the floor, add elegance to the design, highlighting the meticulous attention to detail and the careful selection of materials.
Metal accents in the decor emphasize the kitchen's modern character, adding a touch of industrial charm that harmonizes beautifully with the romantic style of a French café. These elements create a balance between the classic and the contemporary, fostering an atmosphere that inspires culinary experimentation.
The overall ambiance combines grandeur with elegance, turning the act of cooking into a true art form and making time spent in the kitchen a genuine pleasure.
Music room – bar
The owners, avid music lovers, wanted to create a space where they could host intimate concerts, enjoy their favorite tunes, and savor a glass of champagne, all without leaving the comfort of their home. The result is a unique interior that blends the ambiance of a cozy bar with a stage for private performances.
The bar is designed in a "speakeasy" style, reminiscent of the secret bars from the Prohibition era in the United States. This style, infused with an air of mystery and exclusivity, perfectly aligns with the owners' vision of a space filled with dim lighting and luxurious details. The interior is crafted in the best traditions of the genre: the use of rich wood, soft lighting, deep burgundy velvet, and substantial bar counters create an atmosphere where every guest feels like they’re part of an exclusive club.
The guitars from the owners' personal collection play a significant role in the interior, having been styled as works of art. They are framed in brass and displayed on the walls, adding a personal touch to the space and reflecting the homeowners' love for music. The boiserie and carved panels emphasize the classic style, while the ceiling, designed as a mosaic tapestry, introduces an element of sophistication and artistry.
The bar area is designed in an Art Deco style, reminiscent of the interiors from the movie The Great Gatsby. The centerpiece is a curved installation of illuminated metal pipes, which adds a sense of dynamism and contemporary flair to the space. Behind the gold-toned arch, a glass panel visually expands the room, enhancing the overall sense of luxury.
The bar counter, crafted from MDF with decorative elements, serves as the focal point of this area. For the comfort of guests, brass footrests have been installed, while the granite countertop, with its golden veining, adds an extra layer of sophistication to the interior. The bar stools, upholstered in deep blue velvet, provide a vibrant accent that contrasts beautifully with the dark, rich tones of the rest of the space.
Flanking the bar counter are wine cabinets with gradient glass fronts. These cabinets perfectly complement the overall style of the interior, contributing to a cozy and refined atmosphere.
Pool with a bar
This meticulously designed intimate space combines dark decor with bright accents to create an atmosphere of coziness and elegance. The owners wanted to create an area where they could relax on comfortable loungers under a fountain, enjoying their leisure time surrounded by a stylish interior.
At the heart of this space is a metal display case with intricate weaving, drawing attention with its unique design and serving as a key decorative element. Crafted with a complex technique, the display case adds dynamism and a subtle artisanal charm to the interior. Surrounding it are chic chairs from the Bontempi brand, which emphasize the modern and elegant character of the bar area.
One of the main requests from the owners was to create a spot where they could unwind under the fountain, lying on comfortable loungers. To fulfill this, marble loungers were chosen, designed to contour the body’s curves, providing maximum comfort and enjoyment. Their cool surface is perfectly suited for relaxing by the water.
Additionally, the pool area features soft loungers from Ditre Italia, providing extra comfort and coziness. These loungers, paired with tables from Minotti, create the perfect spot for rest and relaxation.
One of the most memorable elements of the interior is a wall made from unique slats that mimic the shape of mountains. This feature not only introduces a striking visual accent but also references the local landscape, seamlessly connecting the interior with the surrounding nature.
Sculptures by Makhno add artistic value and a sense of completeness to the space. These art pieces, strategically placed around the pool area, enhance the atmosphere of seclusion and tranquility, turning the space into a true oasis of peace and harmony.
Library
The library created for this home embodies a character and aesthetic inspired by the atmosphere of the film Hellboy. The owners wanted a stylish and functional space where they could comfortably work and relax. The interior design was crafted with these desires in mind, resulting in a home office that impresses with its blend of ruggedness and sophistication.
The interior is primarily composed of wood and brass. Most of the walls are paneled in wood, creating an atmosphere ideal for focused work. Special attention was given to the owners' personal guitar collection. Custom niches were designed for 24 guitars, lined with velour and accented with moldings along the edges. The niches are protected by glass doors with metal grilles, adding a touch of industrial rigor and giving the guitars the appearance of museum exhibits.
The furniture in the library was chosen to be substantial, in line with the owner's preferences. The centerpiece is a large, classic-style desk that evokes a sense of reliability and stability. Special attention was given to comfort, as the owner often works while seated and requires a comfortable space for concentration. Most of the furniture, including the chairs and sofa set, is upholstered in leather, emphasizing a sense of prestige and adding a masculine touch to the interior.
A custom-made chandelier was designed to complement the overall style of the interior, serving as a key focal point in the lighting scheme. The coffered ceiling is equipped with integrated lighting, creating a soft and even illumination that highlights the texture of the materials and adds a warm, cozy atmosphere to the room.
The practicality of the space is ensured by thoughtful storage solutions. Under the staircase, concealed storage has been incorporated, allowing for efficient use of the library's area while keeping the space clean and organized.
The journey continues
This project is not just an interior design; it’s a journey through time and across the world. Each room in the house tells its own unique story, creating a rich, layered environment where the present and the past intertwine, forming a harmonious blend of styles and cultures. Studia 54 has successfully turned the owners' dreams into reality, crafting a home that inspires new discoveries and experiences without ever leaving its walls.
