ARTISAN LVTN: interior

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chinese

PROJECT: Hungry Mao's Kitchen | Greenfield District

Inspired by the charm and character of the old hutongs of Beijing, Hungry Mao's Kitchen is a modern-day restaurant with an ecle...

Inspired by the charm and character of the old hutongs of Beijing, Hungry Mao's Kitchen is a modern-day restaurant with an eclectic mix of modern-industrialist and traditional-oriental interiors. The design brief was two-fold, one is to come up with a design for a Chinese fast-food concept but at the same time addressing the challenges of the existing space. Contrasting the traditional with the modern, the space has an overall subdued palette, but with bright red accents that pop out.
Having a narrow space, and with a myriad of ducts and pipes crowding the space above, renovation of this space into Hungry Mao's was a challenge. Having a low headroom due to the large air ducts, the place felt really tight. Addressing this problem is the addition of multiple LED panels lining up the plain white ceiling to make it look like a river of light, curving off towards the end. This added illumination brightened up the place and created an illusion of a wide expansive space.
Increased seating capacity was also needed, so a portion of the kitchen was removed to make way for more patrons. Situated at the far-end corner of the restaurant, diners can enjoy a bit more privacy with Chinese style dividers against an Ando-inspired cement wall- finish backdrop. Making use of the existing wooden tiles, but wanting to add a modern twist, a mix of red and gray hexagon tiles were installed in the new dining area. These touches of geometry and color on the floor blend well with the rest of the interiors, dictating further how old and new merges together . Modern plastic chairs in red are partnered with rustic wood benches; while traditional-looking gray brick tiles contrast with white square tiles.
With a great deal of challenges, creative thinking was key to turn problems into design solutions. A playful mix of old and new also create an interesting twist, allowing us to introduce the traditional into the fast-paced and modern lifestyle of Hungry Mao's Kitchen's diners.

blue

PROJECT: TAMPAY CAFE

Tampay (n.) serenity. Nestled somewhere in the mountains of Orani, Bataan, the Tampay Cafe aims to serve guests of the nearby bed a...

Tampay (n.) serenity. Nestled somewhere in the mountains of Orani, Bataan, the Tampay Cafe aims to serve guests of the nearby bed and breakfast in Sinagtala Farm and Resort. The cafe, a later addition to the property, is built beside the existing Tampay House along the sides of the mountain. Although the cafe rests on a small and irregularly shaped lot, it feels very spacious with the abundance of natural light not to mention the breathtaking views just right outside.
Being one of the few establishments far from the city, my idea was to make this a relaxing cafe that still has a unique and quirky vibe. Despite its modest size, each corner of the cafe has a different look and vibe. Inspired by the surrounding nature and mountain views, the wood-tiled wall gives a sense of warmth with deep earth tones. Taking cues from the resort's namesake of 'sinag' and 'tala', midnight blue represents a star filled night sky and has a more solemn mood. In contrast to both, blush pink has a livelier and more vibrant personality, acting also as a backdrop to the plentiful green accents in the cafe.

Working on this project was quick and easy even with the 3-hour drive from Manila. Owned by very accommodating and outgoing clients, it was easy to establish a connection and work remotely on the project with the owners taking lead during construction. Almost all coordination was done on mobile, from the choice of tiles and furniture to coordinating changes with the design. Lighting fixtures were also discussed over the phone, with designer and client coordinating which items to buy. The diamond lights I chose where then purchased by the client and installed over the white granite counter, also with lighting accents on its pink facade. The finishing touches were done over a span of a few weekend trips to the resort, with various items like faux greenery and quirky art pieces brought in to style the cafe, bringing in the charm of the outdoors in.
Unique on its own with a playful twist, the Tampay cafe still manages to reflect the serene nature of its surroundings while complementing its changing seasons. As day turns to night, the mix of different colors and materials allows the mood to shift from a vibrant energy to a more relaxed tempo. From first light to after dark, the Tampay cafe caters to all kinds of travelers who wish to enjoy an early morning pick-me-up or a soothing night cap.

classic

PROJECT: The White Kitchen

Change is always a constant, especially for this home of almost thirty years. After going through a number of renovations in the ...

Change is always a constant, especially for this home of almost thirty years. After going through a number of renovations in the other areas, the main kitchen finally had it's chance for an upgrade. This kitchen project had three major requirements, to create more storage, to make it long-lasting and to make it beautiful. Simple as it may sound, the process was definitely tedious. First, there was a much needed change to the size of the existing kitchen, including the need for a larger window for more natural light. This meant a lot of demolition, relocation and restoration work before installation of the kitchen cabinetry and other finishing work could begin.

Keeping in line with the dated look of the house, the design direction for this kitchen was to combine the timelessness of the colonial style while incorporating modern materials and plenty of new kitchen accessories. A color scheme of different whites and ivory served as the base for this design. Wood plank tiles created a warm and cozy look to create a balance with the vanilla-white cabinetry and the white subway tiles. Moldings and trims lined up the edges for a more classic look as well. Plenty of storage was needed so the cabinetry was designed to cover every inch of the kitchen. A variety of trays, wire baskets, pull-out systems and other accessories were also added for more efficient storage solutions. Easy to clean and with a modern look, glossy acrylic laminates was used for the cabinet doors. Adding more storage and working space, an island counter was added in the center which doubly serves as a dining area as well. Combining the best of both worlds, two different kinds of stones were used for the counters. The perimeter counter is topped with white quartz, a very hard and durable material best used in kitchens. On the other hand the island counter is clad in beautiful hand-picked Romblon marble which features more veining and visual impact. All this, illuminated by the cherry on top, a brass chandelier with a modern-vintage look, truly making this counter the center of the show.

With so much design work and detail put into this, all this effort will go to waste if it did not last, so stainless steel was the material of choice for all cabinet interiors. A definite pick due to previous experience of the owners to water damage, warping and termites. Beautiful with its classic look and both functional and durable, this new kitchen is definitely a worth it investment that will stand the test of time.