Breathing life into Michelangelo

Maverick real property developer Brittany Corporation has always recognized the value of an excellent interior design as a partner in crafting a dream home. A firm believer that love is in the details, all the properties they have developed are testaments to the sweet life in every aspect, inside and outside the house.

Upon the completion of the Masters Collection’s Michelangelo — considered by far to be the sweetest of what la dolce vita could possibly offer — only a single name was considered to handle the interiors: Almario.

"Michelangelo is not just a showcase home. It is easy to make that conclusion when you’re dealing with a property of that size and scale but it is not merely a display house. It is a real home and what we wanted to show through its interiors is that a large house need not be a cold one. Size has nothing to do with it. You can have a small house yet feel so unwelcome. Michelangelo is about being at ease with your success. The scale may be intimidating from the outside but once you enter, you step into a warm and comfortable home that has, well, maybe a little more room than usual" said Brittany president Jing Serrano.

Michelangelo is the first of the Masters Collection series under the Portofino development which also includes Portofino Heights, Portofino South, Courtyards of Portofino I and II, and WideLots of Portofino. The Italian-inspired architecture features sun-drenched colors, cobblestones, charming arches, and a strong sense of openness that only comes with a thorough understanding of light and space.

For the interiors, the Almarios turned their gaze to Italy as well — taking the various elements of the European nation’s lifestyle and incorporating them with the Filipino sensibilities to create a home that is both beautiful and convenient to its homeowner.

"We were very impressed with the lay-out — it has seven bedrooms. We love the courtyard where everyone can meet and have outdoor activities. We love the cascading waterfalls also. So we wanted the interiors to be really opulent because we wanted to mimic a mini-Italian villa or a Venetian palace," explained designer Cynthia Almario.

Influences of la dolce vita can be found in every room. The chandelier in the living room was custom-made for Michelangelo. In the dining room is a hand-painted wall based on a pattern from Venice that they re-interpreted. The final result was a labor of love by six artists. The whole house, in fact was hand-painted, making use of the rag finish — a very tedious technique but when done correctly can produce very stunning results. Many furnishings have silver gold-leaf finish.

But despite the grandeur that characterized the Michelangelo’s architecture, along with the luxurious furnishings, the completed home is far from being indifferent and detached. Rather than feeling like a museum where one is afraid to roam around freely, the result is very inviting to company.

"What’s amazing here is that you can get lost. If you want to hide, it would be difficult to find you. But you don’t get intimidated. There’s a feeling of warmth, and your voice won’t echo. Even if you’re on the second floor, there is an interaction. There is an overlook — from the second floor you can lean on the railing and see what’s happening in the living room," Almario said.

She stressed that each room has its own story to tell. This, she explained, is a trademark of the Brittany property. They always request for a focal point in each room to give it a personality. In this case, it’s the Francophile touch for the little girl’s room, the textures and patterns in the dining room, and the four-poster muted-gold bed in the master’s suite.

She admits, though, that there is a stronger fondness for the pink, little girl’s room. It reminds her of Paris but with a very refreshing touch such as the franco-chinois toile pattern on the bed and the wicker trims.

"It’s very aspirational. You want to own it. It’s a dream coming true, unfolding before your eyes," she added.

But at the heart of all these details is the basic lay-out which, Almario explained, was what made their job easy. The house was not a single huge hall, she explained. It was broken up into several, more manageable clusters which made it very cozy and less daunting to approach and design.

"They knew how to humanize the scale and that made all the difference," she said.

The Masters Collection is integrated within the entire Portofino development. The floor areas of the six model homes range from 350 sqm to 650 sqm. Lot sizes reach to as much as 1000 sqm. For as long as the client has a lot within the Portofino development within the required lot range, he can opt for a home that is part of the Masters Collection.

The entire Portofino development boasts of premium utilities for its residents. To ensure an unobstructed view of the landscape, cables for power and communication were buried underground. Perimeter fences and buffer trees line the boundary lots to ensure security apart from the 24-hour system that safeguards the entire community. Deep wells and water reservoirs ensure a round the clock water service. Garbage is collected every other day. Most of all, a professional property management team secures the community and makes sure that the high standards are maintained long after the last lot has been purchased.

For inquiries and property previews, call 850 2868 and 850 3084, or visit www.brittany.com.ph.