A touch of Almario

MANILA, Philippines - Ivy Almario considers herself an eclectic artist. Whether it’s a deadline that’s pushing her to think creatively or a motif that gets her hands on a sketchpad, she naturally draws inspiration from whatever’s in front of her.

At one point it was an attractive black-and-white fabric she found that decided the theme of one of her works. “I was inspired by the material and I really wanted to use it,” says the interior designer. This explains the black-and-white upholstered walls of Romulo Café, the upscale restaurant that pays homage to Filipino diplomat, journalist, and family man Carlos P. Romulo.

Put in charge of the restaurant’s design, Ivy works with partners Sandie Romulo — the late diplomat’s granddaughter — and husband Enzo Squillantini, who handle the business side of Romulo Café. “I was lucky that Carlos Romulo is so esteemed. He achieved a lot and his life was very well-documented by his family. Sandie gave me a photo album of Kasiyahan, his home, so I had so much content to work with.”

It was the black-and-white tile flooring and wrought iron design that the house was adorned with that Ivy immediately fell in love with. “These two elements were most prominent, so I extracted them and made them the design DNA of Romulo Café,” she shares. Meanwhile, the floral patterns on the floors and walls of the restaurant were taken from the cross iron lattice motif that was also seen in the Romulo house.

Side-by-side on the monochrome walls of Romulo Café are framed photographs and mementos of the late diplomat, which Ivy arranged to look like a gallery. “Each area represents a certain part of his life,” she reveals.

The result is a cozy yet sophisticated restaurant with a homey vibe and a modern design. While bringing in elements from the family heirloom and preserving the history of their beloved grandfather, Ivy was keen on bringing in contemporary elements to the place to make it impactful.

 â€œThe second floor is my favorite place in Romulo. I like that I’m able to look down to the first floor,” says Ivy. Even her sister and design studio partner, Cynthia — “my toughest critic,” she adds — agrees that the second floor overlooking the first is the best place in the house, and it makes her “feel like she’s in London.”

Another favorite of the artist is the trompe l’oeil design at the terrace area of Romulo Café. “Because there were so many walls in that part of the restaurant, I wanted to make it interesting and fun. I made the walls gray and white to add dimension,” she shares.

Looking back, Ivy recalls the hard work it took to incorporate that “touch of Romulo” into the design of Romulo Café. “Because it was an old house, it needed time to be cleared up before I could finally go in and take a look,” she says. “But the moment I entered, I knew right away what I wanted to do.”

With a remarkable knack for making the most out of what she’s handed, this self-confessed eclectic interior designer can certainly find inspiration in anything, anywhere, and turn it into a remarkable work of art. Just take a look at Romulo Café.

Romulo Café has branches in Makati (148 Jupiter St. cor. Comet, Bel-Air Village) and Quezon City (32 Sct. Tuason St.). For inquiries, reservations, and more information, call 478-64-06 or 822-02-86 (Makati) 332-72-73 or 0915-662-31-21 (Quezon City), or visit www.romulocafe.com.