Zen scenes from the home of Edwin & Jecelyn Gumila

Two heads are better than one, we are often told. I have been somewhat skeptical about this, but my latest Talking Design foray has somehow assured me that, yes, whoever said that couldn’t be more accurate. Informed that a husband-and-wife tandem designed a Zen-like domain that they now call home, nothing stopped me from hounding them. And with the magic of texting plus the good old telephone, I recently found myself braving the pesky traffic to get to this house ensconced in a gated enclave northeast of Makati.

Very promising – that was my initial conclusion upon spotting the very unique front door of the house. A man polishing one of the parked cars in the open garage informed us that the door is the masterwork of kinetic sculptor Gabby Barredo, as well as the homeowners, Edwin and Jecelyn Gumila.

Upon entering, my initial survey of the place justified the opinion of Egay Meneses (the guy who told us about the house) that the Gumila place is Zen-like in its almost spartan simplicty. A couple of Bracelona chairs and a handsome Eames recliner, accompanied by a matching footstool, say it all in the high-ceilinged living room. For additional seats, the living room ensemble also features a sleek armchair and a three-seater sofa, both of woven tan leather strips.

Sharing an enclosed garden with the living room is the inviting dining space, that can comfortably seat eight. The area is adjacent to the kitchen separated only by a marble-topped serving counter. Eight straightbacks in rich mahogany and linen-covered seats accompany a streamlined glass-topped dining table. To maintain the linear and spare appeal of the setting, a trio of conical droplights hangs from the ceiling, giving the table perfectly distributed illumination. Before the table is set for an informal lunch, there sit three wooden boxes planted with faux grasses by local decorators, which are so very now.

The spacious Gumila kitchen is an exercise in more linear style of design. It’s neat and clutter-free. An exhaust hangs from the ceiling, lowered at a precise height so it may automatically siphon whatever smoke or odor is emanating from the burners of the island stove. I was particularly delighted by the large collection of Michael Graves kitchen gadgets the couple picked in several outlets in the US. From can opener to coffeemaker, these modern gizmos are both decorative and functional.

That architects gravitate towards art more than just decoration is evident in the Gumila place. A large work of Gerry Navarro dominates a section of the living room. A wall facing the hallway, that connects the kitchen and the dining room to the rest of the house, is dramatically accentuated by a lyrical piece from Tam Austria. Another wall, this time facing the dining table, proudly holds a small Ang Kiukok. Next to a corner of the same wall is a gilded sculpture by Solomon Saprid, which rests on a simple wooden pedestal.

The Gumilas, together with their young partners at the architectural office Group Three, are more involved in corporate accounts such as offices and other commercial concerns. This design sensibility somehow manifests itself in their home. They are partial to modern pieces like the Christian Liaigre X table, starring a huge lacquer plate propped on a stand of their own design. Or the Barcelona and Eames recliner we mentioned earlier. But despite the modernity, they astutely succeeded in maintaining the house’s hominess. The sitting room converts to a guest room when friends come for a visit. Chinese antiques have invaded this particular area. A straight-back chair, a coffee table featuring rattan weaving, an old baul and a Persian carpet assert themselves in this setting.

During a brief tete a tete, Jecelyn and Edwin wondered aloud how they were to take the reaction or comments of some of their guests regarding their simple abode. One comment was that it feels like being inside an office. Another was, "This is like a toy house." With their present stature in the design world, it seems that the Gumilas cannot be bothered by such comments. They seem secure in the fact that they have fashioned an environment they are truly happy and comfortable with. As far as the Gumilas are concerned, the rest of the world can have all the layering and juxtaposing they want. To each his own.

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