Achieving a timeless look for the Sonria home

MANILA, Philippines – The construction of Sonria, an upscale mid-rise residence in Alabang, is now in full swing. Future residents are preparing to come home to their units and as such are already envisioning their interior design. More than anything else, homeowners hope to achieve the distinct Southern living that Alabang is known for.

Because of the ongoing real estate boom that began more than a decade ago, condominiums are fast becoming a dime a dozen commodity. They are virtually sprouting everywhere. But Sonria, with its enviable location at the Madrigal Business Park in Ayala Alabang, is different from its contemporaries by successfully integrating high-quality contemporary homes with the laidback appeal of country living.

Stonebridge Corp. and GeoEstate Development Corp, the developers behind the project, have meticulously thought of and executed distinct offerings for Sonria. From its architecture to landscaping and interior design, Sonria exudes modern sophistication, comfort and durability.

As if the thought of living in this elegant sanctuary isn’t enough, the developers teamed up with Tina Periquet of Periquet Galicia firm to make moving in an incredible experience for homeowners.

“At Sonria, we invested more time in choreographing the experience of coming home.  The primary focus has always been in making each homeowner feel that the entire building is home,” explains Periquet.

Periquet shares some of her practical design techniques to give future residents professional advice on how to make their homes more comfortable and exquisite.

•Make a positive first impression. Any room that looks well-composed right at the entrance or any vantage point will establish its overall tone. First impression truly counts. 

•Create the illusion of more space. Sonria offers generous living spaces, but if the future tenants — say, an empty-nester couple from nearby Alabang Village — had lived for several decades in a large property, it could be a bit of a change for them. The solution is to create an illusion of bigger space. According to Periquet, the use of glass and other reflective or translucent finishes makes a cozier home look twice its size. Different types of glass create different effects and each kind has its own way of manipulating light that enhances the sense of space.

•Go for timeless elegance. It is tempting to ride on the current design movement, but fads eventually get outdated. A timeless home design will always look classy and will never reveal the true age of the house. One way of achieving this is to use timeless materials that do not degrade and last for a long time with careful use. Marble, granite and natural woods are some examples of materials that enhance the investment value of a home.

•Go easy on colors and patterns.  Color, textures and patterns may help make a home look timeless or overwhelm a small-scale interior. Use them judiciously. A neutral base will always look chic over time. For a pop of color, accessories, art or throw pillows can be used as foils to the base color.  

•Buy functional furniture. Bringing in bulky furniture is not recommended for condominium living. There is a wide choice of modern furniture out in the market that combines form with function. Periquet also advised homeowners to consider dual-purpose furniture “for their practicality and space-saving features,” she said.

•Not sure of what color palette to use? Look out of the window. Every one of us has a child within that never fails to get excited at the thought of playing with different colors. But when deciding on a color motif for the home, the goal should be to create visual harmony for that chic, timeless look. To achieve that, window vistas must be considered in the design.

“A room on a high floor will have blues, whites and grays outside the window, while one on a lower floor may have greens and browns.  If you incorporate these into your color scheme, you can visually extend your space to include what is outside it,” explains Periquet.

Periquet also cautioned that when designing living spaces, the owner and designer should have an integrated approach to generate a seamless overall look. As many of Sonria’s future residents would have previously lived in big homes, she said, “With creativity and careful planning, you can manipulate space and perception to create a richness and variety of experience — the kind you would normally expect to find in a large house on the ground.”

With the construction of the first high-end condo development in Barangay Ayala Alabang now in full swing, more homebuyers are discovering the benefits of owning a Sonria unit to be able to participate in the growth and trademark lifestyle of the progressive and laidback Ayala Alabang at Southern Metro Manila.

For details on Sonria, visit www.sonria.com.ph, call 475-3702 or 0918-9906317 or drop by its model unit at the Sonria Pavilion at Industry corner Finance Streets, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City.