MANILA, Philippines - The attempt to intrude upon people’s personal space, to reinvent life for homes that aren’t your own through art, must not be very easy. But space is a perennial concern — wherever you live and wherever you work, aesthetic background will always influence the way you feel. An Icelandic word for “at home,” Heima is about designing not only space, but a lifestyle. “We know that design is all around us, influencing us in a certain way, both positively and negatively,” says Bong Rojales, one-half of the duo behind the store.
Their third collection, “Life is a Party,” is all about creating the perfect atmosphere — transporting one to a time of unbridled optimism, when your feelings were top priority, and not just something you considered as an afterthought. Because the best designs are those that honor their roots, as well as those of the people who purchase them, “Life is a Party” waxes nostalgic, recalling the past while putting the fun back into function.
The launch of “Paper Club”, a product line-up that includes notebooks, note cards, wall prints, and other quirky crafts, was celebrated on the same night. “We want to create beautiful things for everyone to admire, and maybe own.”
“Life is a Party” blends a monotony of black and gray with a muted color palette of salmon pinks, olive greens, and cool blues in furniture pieces. “We wanted to create a summer collection, but use grays and soft pink and greens instead of neon or lime. We wanted a festive but laid-back type of theme,” explains Bong. “We had different inspirations along the way and it all came out perfectly for us in the end.” The collection, stirred by wanderlust, is proof that you can engross yourself in other cities, get lost in your thoughts, but still find your way back. No matter how foreign the objects may appear, there still remains a nagging sense of familiarity. Because while modern design will remain to be formidable, at the end of the day, after a long day’s work, all we want is to hurry back to a place that feels like home. And therein lies the appeal of Heima.