Born into a family that collects the works of local painters (both contemporary and traditional), the former Rosario "Sari" Reyes, now Mrs. Sari Jorge, distinguished the works of the late Fernando Amorsolo from those of Arturo Luz long before she ably recited the alphabet from A to Z. Sari’s folks developed a zest and near addiction for acquiring and enjoying the works of local masters. So Sari and her siblings grew up seeing divine masterpieces proudly hung on the walls of their home.
If Sari had her fill of paintings when she was that high, she is now married to a young fellow who in turn hails from a family known to have been collectors of Filipino antiques long before owning such colonial pieces became fashionable. Owing to their separate exposure, it is but natural that this young couple resides in a discreetly sized home bearing contemporary sensibilities and as you might guess, is generously layered and juxtaposed in a genuinely eclectic manner.
As guests enter the couple’s foyer, they are greeted by remnants of the past embodied in the religious icons and polychrome images mounted in a sacrosanct manner on the walls. A very curious-looking chest of drawers functioning as a hall table props a large-size mirror doubling the actual width of the hallway. From this vantage point, visitors are afforded a sort of sneak preview of what the Jorge interiors are all about.
The living and dining spaces are joined in by abutting pocket gardens. Wood framed sliding glass doors separate the rooms from these gardens, giving it the illusion of greater expanse than they actually have. In the configuration of these adjacent rooms, Sari made sure there are expansive walls that now accommodate the array of paintings she and Roy own.
As one would expect, a special place of honor is consigned to a large-sized Amorsolo oil lyrically depicting a nostalgic rural scene. In contrast, the wall opposite is allocated to a mural-sized Arturo Luz abstraction of musicians in the middle of a performance. Between these two great art pieces another heavyweight reigns supreme – literally. An age-old pedestal table featuring a rare mono-piece wooden top measuring over nine feet in diameter serves as the dining board. In great contrast, modern, upholstered straight-backed chairs keep the breathtaking dining table company.
More old woods make their presence felt in the dining area. A formidable, weather-beaten refectory table robustly stands below the Luz masterpiece. Forming a vignette atop the massive table is a trio of 17th-century santos carved out of molave. This piece becomes a buffet when the couple entertains. The Amorsolo oeuvre, on the other hand, hangs above a quaint sideboard known to local antique aficionados as a Batangas altar table.
If the entire living-dining area teems with layers of Filipino antiquities of consequence gloriously joined by contemporary paintings juxtaposed in layers, the music room, on the other hand, is a good example of minimalism. Roy is a rabid follower of the pared-down approach to decorating. He is a function-over-form type of a guy. So, as the accompanying photos testify, there is not a single stick of unnecessary furniture or accessory invading his media room. A flat screen TV, a reliable DVD, mini sound systems piping classical music into the entire house and comfortable tailored furniture – that’s all one sees in Roy’s media room.
In addition to the exposure the two got in their respective homes while growing up, both can be considered lucky to have stayed abroad before they met, fell in love and got married. After earning her degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management at the De La Salle, Sari worked for more than a year at a prestigious hotel restaurant in Catalina Island, USA. After graduating from the Ateneo with a degree in business management, Roy spent some time in Holland where he studied and worked at the Barnavel Agricultural Schools.
While the couple showed us their brand of hospitality, we were impressed by the seasoned manner by which the hostess entertains. When we requested for a table setting or two, we realized that she has not only the right china to suit her menu, but also sets of stemware, chargers, napkins and elegant antique flatware to boot.
Sari and Roy always knew how they wanted their place to look, but believing that an eclectic setting is a tricky thing to do, they employed the professional expertise of decorator Leo Espinosa to assist them.
With the wealthy inventory of opulent pieces at hand, it became Leo’s major task to curate the available artifacts and artworks where they can be well appreciated. After careful deliberation, wall and floor spaces were carefully and sagely apportioned. Since avoiding clutter was an important consideration, some of the pieces they felt unsuitable to the setting were consigned to storage.
Since this young couple is raising young children, they made certain another imperative requirement is met. Yes, the whole house is child-friendly.