Save for the very clever integration of the L-shaped lanai encompassing the entire span of the living and dining areas, this Mediterranean-flavored two-storey residence is not endowed with breathtaking architectural details. Yet the moment one sees the different corners of house, one becomes oblivious to the architecture. Instead, one’s attention is arrested by the splendiferous objects of desire beautifully arrayed and prudently curated all around the place.
Tortoise shells lovingly fashioned into every imaginable item, such as multi-purpose boxes of different sizes, fans and even spectacle cases, are amassed on top of a skirted round table. These delicate pieces are illuminated by a classic lamp standing side by side a vase filled with flowers and a fragile Chinese porcelain figurine of a Mandarin maiden dressed in a flowing robe. I must warn you though that this is just one of the many vignettes inviting attention to the living room.
An intricately carved wedding trousseau chest, functioning as coffee table, holds a whole gamut of sterling silver pieces of various shapes and sizes. On the wall behind the sofa are small gilt frames containing vintage prints and paintings depicting street scenes of Manila of the olden days.
Those two assemblages of objects are merely the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. But I will spare readers the details and discuss the house instead. If one sits at any point in the L-shaped lanai, the lush tropical plantings that saturate the perimeter walls will remind him that the place is securely anchored on tropic grounds – that is, despite all the European nuances from the decor.
Stockbroker Fernando Vasquez Prada and his wife, the former Maricris Sangroniz, are of Spanish lineage. Being members of the old families of Ermita, their love for Filipino arts and culture is strongly manifested in their collections. Their furniture is an amalgam of original, signed European pieces and local adaptations as reflected in the antiques that have Bohol and Bulacan as provenance.
Despite their subscription to the "more is more theory," one thing the lady of the house achieved with flying colors is subtlety in the entire decorating affair. Walls are painted with colors that whisper. This is true even in the den, which is painted in a shade that balances hues of terra-cotta and pomegranate. In the formal dining room, the wooden panels have been faux-finished simulating burl.
Extreme caution in selecting fabrics is seen in the rich yet understated patterns and textures of Manuel Canovas and Schumaker silks covering the upholstered pieces in the different rooms. Brocades in geometric designs are employed in the classic drapery, giving some windows the needed final touch.
Looking at the set dining tables, I was struck by the very subtle nuances which I thought only Edith Wharton could articulate in the manner she did in The Age of Innocence. Crystal stemware and sterling flatware sang harmonious duets while they attended to the bone china proudly resting on equally elegant chargers.
Living well is obviously a mastered art here. This could not be better illustrated than in the sizable all-black powder room next to the den. Some homeowners spoil their guests by dressing up toilet papers – rolls held by narrow swags of embroidered linens – but in the Vasquez Prada home, special drawers were custom-built with hidden dispensers, so only the folded triangular end of the roll peeps through.
More subtlety is felt from the way the different rooms are lighted. The placement of light and the amount of illumination were carefully studied, resulting in scenes so romantic you’d be forgiven if you felt that you were viewing a Rembrandt painting. It may no longer be novel but the firefly lights that highlight some of their classic paintings provide additional elegance to the rooms.
Furniture pieces of rattan and bamboo inspired by the Brighton Pavilion abound in the lanai areas. Teamed with sumptuously dressed throw pillows, they look deliciously homey. I thought for a while they were hauled all the way from Hong Kong where they are usually available but it turns out that Maricris Vasquez Prada was once part owner of the still very famous Murio line of furniture.
The Vasquez Pradas have spent a lot of years abroad. They were once based in San Francisco for more than a decade, which afforded Maricris the opportunity to select the best pieces for her home. One look at the China cabinet told me it was out of the ordinary. Their son Andy explained why: the chinoiserie piece was actually hand-crafted in Barcelona, Spain.
Thus, the Vasquez Pradas’ inventory of objects and furnishings represent the best of both worlds: the sublimely beautiful Far East and the mighty powerful West.