Last May of this year, I was one of the few Cebuanos who are invited to see the Real Living magazine’s style and inspiration come to life at the Avida Towers showroom in I.T. Park, Lahug. You see, I really enjoy myself with household decors and interiors and being the frustrated interior designer that I am, I was super excited to go see the showroom.

Real Living (RL) has joined forces with Avida Land to bring the magazine’s style and inspiration to life for the first time ever in the Queen City of the South.

For this highly anticipated collaboration, RL refreshed the showroom of Avida Towers Riala in Cebu IT Park by designing and styling their model units. Each of the three permanent model units—a 23 square meter studio unit, a 40 square meter one-bedroom unit, and a 57 square meter two-bedroom unit—was designed with a different target homeowner in mind. The designers are also responsible for selecting the furniture and accessories to complete the space.

“It’s one thing to see Real Living’s inspirational spaces in print or on the website, but it’s quite another to walk through those spaces in real life,“ says RL’s Associate Publisher Tom Castañeda. “In recent years, the magazine has worked with Avida to create model units at their properties in Metro Manila that have been styled with our readers in mind, giving them the chance to see first-hand how RL’s designers turn a blank canvas into a smart and stylish home. And, now we’re honored to be bringing our RL Model Unit program to Cebu.”

RL worked with three noted Cebu talents to create the overall look and feel of the spaces: furniture and interior designer Maybelline Te, interior designer Hannah C. Lim, and architect and designer Maya Franco. They worked closely with the magazine and Avida to create the overall design concepts, select and purchase all the furniture and accessories, and bring each of the model units to life.

Studio Unit by Maya Franco

This is a 23sqm studio unit by architect and designer Maya Franco. The founder and now heads Maya Franco Design Group, an architecture and interior design firm with more than 15 years of combined experience in designing hotels, restaurants, and private homes across Cebu, Manila and Davao.

She opted for a utilitarian feel when she transformed this Avida Towers Riala model unit into an outdoorsy bachelor’s pad for someone who enjoys an active lifestyle. Maya installed a multi-functional divider that can house decorative pieces while separating the sleeping area from the rest of the unit. When designing for a studio unit, maximizing the space is the key!

Maya Franco Design Group Inc.
Rm. 201, J. Block Bldg., Apitong St. corner Escario, Cebu City.
Tel. no. (032) 416-0810 / 260-2500
www.mayafranco.com

One Bedroom Unit by Hannah Lim

This is a 40sqm one-bedroom unit by interior designer Hannah C. Lim, who is also behind HL Designs. Hannah earned a Bachelor of Interior Design from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and has a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University of New York City and a certificate course in Interior Design from Parsons School of Design in New York City.

Hannah was given the idea to make a space for a newlywed couple who loves to travel and explore around the world.

Hannah Lim used different storage solutions for condo dwellers who love to travel and bring back mementos from all over the world. As for the kitchen area, hanging rods can do wonders for the nooks and crannies of your home. The potted plants hanging on a curtain rod add an organic, cozy feel to the small kitchen. This way, you can also take advantage of the empty space in between wall-mounted cabinets.

HL Designs
6 Bauhinia Drive, Banilad, Cebu City 6000
Tel. no. (032) 233-0679 / 406-5902 Telefax : (032) 232-9822
www.hldesigns.net

Two Bedroom Unit by Maybelline Te

This is a 57sqm two-bedroom unit by furniture and interior designer Maybelline Te. She earned a degree in Business Management from the University of the Philippines and also attended The Art Institute of Charlotte in the United States where she earned a degree in interior design. Maybelline is now working for her family’s Cebu-based furniture manufacturing companies Arkwell International Corporation and Tequesta International, Inc for 11 years but she is currently in the process of launching her own furniture manufacturing arm, General Blue, where she designs her own line of furniture.

In designing this two bedroom unit, she jazzed up this condo with natural wood finishes and furniture adorned with metallic accents. To make the metallic accessories and furniture stand out, she chose different lighting fixtures that also double as decorative pieces. 

The pieces and materials chosen reflect the passions and personality of the married couple and their four-year-old child.

 

mltedesigns@gmail.com
maybelline.te@premiereallianceproperty.com
Contact no. +63 917 770 7701

 “It has always been Real Living’s goal to bring beautiful spaces to life by way of designed model units, just to show potential homeowners various style inspirations for their own home,” says RL’s Editor-in-chief Rachelle Medina. “And because Cebu designers are known to think outside the box, you would definitely expect very stylish, design-forward spaces at Avida Tower s Riala.”

I couldn’t agree more! Seeing the different units myself, it makes me wanna live in a condo before I decide to settle down. Teehee!

More than 50 guests were the first to see these sleek and stylish spaces at a special launch event.. If you want to see more of these RL spaces in Cebu, you can visit the Avida Tower Riala showroom on Geonzon St., Cebu I.T. Park. The Avida Towers Riala showroom is open to the public. The model units will allow prospective Avida homeowners to see the potential of each space without breaking the bank.

The three RL model units at the Avida Towers Riala showroom were made possible with gracious support from their project partners: Premiere Alliance Property Development Corp., Boysen (Pacific Paints Philippines, Inc.), Architecture & Design Source (AIS), Abenson, General Bleu, Projekt Home Furnishings, Bespoke Interiors, Inc., and Townes Inc.

Once again, Thank you Summit Media for having me!

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