For this design-loving couple, Italy is where the heart is
Gerry Sy is an IT guy and Samsung distributor, while his wife, Jinky Tobiano Sy, works in her family business, but the couple are so passionate about home design that they decided to turn their hobby into a business.
Opulence Design Concept is a home store that specializes in Italian brands like Fornasetti and Versace by Rosenthal, and the Sys recently opened their third branch in The Podium.
“It's all Italian brands because we feel that Italian is one of the finest when it comes to design,” says Gerry, “so when it comes to luxury, Italians are known for that.”
Adds Jinky, “We selected brands that we think are really top-of-the-line in Italy.”
Fornasetti is famed for its distinctive furniture, wallpapers and tableware based on the works of artist Piero Fornasetti, whose signature is his stylized portraits of opera singer Lina Cavalieri.
“What struck us about Fornasetti is the artwork,” says Jinky. “Each piece is carefully hand-painted by the artists.”
Emblematic of the brand is the Fornasetti console from the Architettura collection, a personal favorite of Gerry’s. “It's like architecture,” he explains. “This design is patterned after the Colosseum. It's made of wood but everything is hand-painted; that's why it's very expensive (P700,000).
Despite its price, the console sold very well during the pandemic. “We realize that there's a lot of crazy rich Filipinos here in the Philippines,” Gerry laughs. “There’s really a market; maybe because they cannot fly out yet.”
Versace by Rosenthal is tableware and décor with Versace’s flamboyant brand of gilded glamour combined with Rosenthal’s expertise in porcelain.
MisuraEmme produces modern furniture crafted in luxurious textures and materials.
Sambonet’s artisans create stainless steel or silver-plated flatware made in Italy’s silversmith tradition.
Thomas offers dinnerware designed in a trendy, youthful yet casual style that’s ideal for everyday use.
“I love cookware, so I'm very excited to try Sambonet and Thomas,” said Stephanie Zubiri, who hosted the event. “Sambonet have their flatware and metals, but there's also really lovely Sambonet cookware. And Thomas — that's a really fun and fresh take on your cast-iron cocotte. It’s a little more edgy, and a little bit younger.”
Stosa Cuisine is known for its sustainable kitchen designs that you can customize in 100,000 ways to create your dream kitchen.
And since Gerry distributes Samsung, Opulence also offers appliances like The Frame, Samsung’s flatscreen LED TV. “It's like décor, so it’s not the traditional TV,” he notes. “In interior design, usually the TV’s an eyesore, but this one looks like a painting.”
In the near future the couple plan to bring in more Italian brands (in fact, they’re probably in Milan right now). Versace furniture will be launched soon, and Gerry says they will also carry Swarovski x Rosenthal — lovely crystal-porcelain collections sure to beautify your table.
When I note that Swarovski’s not an Italian brand, he points out that Rosenthal, which Sambonet bought, is, so technically it’s in the Italian family.
For this design-loving couple, Italy is really where the heart is.
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Opulence Design Concept is on the third level of The Podium, Mandaluyong. Download the Opulence Design Concept app from the Play Store and App Store for app-exclusive promos and discounts.
