Sonny is a film director and writer.
He wanted a home that is functional, warm, cozy,
but also like a modern art museum.
We wanted to maximise the space and make the living area
really feel like a respite for him in the middle of such a busy city.
My name is Mara Manalo.
I'm an interior designer, production designer
and founder of Studio Mara in the Philippines.
The apartment building is in Quezon City,
one of the biggest cities in metro Manila.
The neighborhood is a bustling area
right in the middle of a busy highway.
For this project, we wanted to create the space where Sonny
can work from home, enjoy films, cook
and sometimes entertain guests.
When we first found the apartment, it was a bare shell.
We kept the open layout,
which included the sleeping area, living area and dining area.
Then we added a custom kitchen, bathroom
and extra storage.
The entrance opens to a view of the dining and living areas.
From here you can get a peek of the sleeping area too.
There's an arch full length mirror to the right of the dining table.
This helps to make the space look larger.
The kitchen is along the wall on the left.
It is compact but has everything Sonny needs.
There is a hidden fridge and microwave as well as a comfortable sink.
Induction cooktop and oven
We mix closed cabinets and open
shelves to make it visually interesting.
The closed cabinets hide the unwanted kitchen clutter and the open shelves
showcase Sonny's Le Creuset and mug collection
For all the cabinets
we use finger holes instead of door handles to make it
look less cluttered.
We used bleach solid wood and plywood with wood stain for a unified look.
A water resistant solid wood was used for the kitchen countertop
and splashback.
We added a floor to ceiling pantry that can be accessed
by sliding open a polycarbonate door.
On the other side is a larger built in storage.
It has space for personal items like books and a Blu ray collection
and closed storage for shoes.
Texture was added through the use of wooden slats
on the cabinet.
We chose green floor tiles for the kitchen
to make it easier to clean.
It also helps to create a separate zone for the dining and living.
There is a small curve to soften the transition between spaces
For the dining area.
we used the custom round table with green quartz top
and a fluted wooden base that can seat up to four people.
This also serves as Sonny’s work table.
The living area serves
as the entertainment area.
A light gray L-shaped couch seat 2 to 3 people comfortably
and also serves as an extra bed.
We prioritised having a 65 inch TV that could be viewed
from both the living and the sleeping area.
We used a small side table instead of a large coffee table
so it can be easily moved around
for the curtains.
We added block out roller blinds to fully conceal
light when watching films during the daytime and sheer curtains
to provide privacy without completely blocking light.
It also adds softness to the space.
The bedroom
is in the part of the open space living area.
We used a textured cement wall to define
the living and sleeping area.
It creates a nice contrast to the other white walls
We added a platform, which raises the sleeping area
from the rest of the apartment.
The platform also serves as extra storage
for cleaning materials.
There is a large built in closet that almost spans
the entire length of the bedroom for all of Sonny's clothes.
At the end of the bed,
there is a counter that also acts as a room divider.
Sonny can also use this counter as a workstation when working from home.
The entrance to the bathroom is behind the sliding door by the kitchen.
We use polycarbonate instead of fluted glass,
since it's more cost effective and easier to source.
The translucent nature of the materials allows some natural light
to enter into the bathroom.
In a way, it also looks like a window, creating more depth.
To provide a different mood
we played with color and textures in the bathroom.
The ceiling is in a salmon pink paint finish
and the upper half of the walls were painted in army green.
The walls that are more prone to water splashes were tiled.
Using a mix of materials
also made it more economical to build.
Beside the shower is the laundry space with a combo washer and dryer
and some storage.
We made sure that the lighting design addressed all the functions
We used and under cabinets lighting for the kitchen countertop.
A soft pendant lamp over the dining table, and another pendant lamp
for the platform desk.
We placed a reading lamp
beside the bed to accentuate the space and utilize track lighting
for a general light because it's useful and flexible in the long run
In a busy place like Manila
people don't really have a choice but to flock to city centers where jobs are.
This makes repurposing small inner city living spaces with clear
and deliberate intentions even more important
because the limited space needs to be maximised.
These spaces need to be their residents refuge from their work days,
made to feel like homes and safe spaces.
Thanks for watching.
And if you're an architect or designer with a project we could feature,
please share it with us at nevertoosmall.com/submissions