Fortunately, a few of Mama's orchids were in bloom when we were creating the gardens.
9.05.2009
Update September 5, 2009
It's been some time since I've updated this site. I've been busy transporting stuff from Manila to the province. The details are more laborious, but equally exciting. I've been transporting lotuses, lilies, orchids, for Mama's garden. I've also been bringing accessories, tables and chairs (new and old), table tops, stone, lamps, appliances, paintings, linens - practically anything that would make the house comfortable for relatives, guests and me!
So here are the latest pictures of what's happening in the Cube and Half Cube:
The wall outside being finished with local stone. We took pains in looking for stone from the province. Not only is it practical, but it gives the structure more meaning when local materials are used.
The interior wall of the main driveway is done. What Fabian has to do is pour muriatic acid to take out the cement on the stones, then finish with an emulsion.
A view of the the Cube, with the pond, a work in progress, as foreground.
I bought fully grown palm trees to frame the courtyard and give immediate shade to the very stark space. More plants are seen on the far end and below the palms, all of them tropical so it's easy to maintain while keeping a sense of place.
MORE HERE...
4.13.2009
HALF CUBE UPDATE: April 4, 2009
So here are the other details of the almost finished Half Cube.
The sliding doors are now working.
View through the sliding doors of the Cube.
Happy to see the three sisters together, exploring the new house; Auntie Edith visiting from the States, Mama in red and Auntie Thelma hidden by mother.
MORE HERE...
The sliding doors are now working.
View through the sliding doors of the Cube.
Happy to see the three sisters together, exploring the new house; Auntie Edith visiting from the States, Mama in red and Auntie Thelma hidden by mother.
Sliding windows have been installed in all rooms.
Glass doors to the pocket garden and a lavatory waiting to be hanged!
CUBE UPDATE: April 06, 2009
We're almost there!
The windows have been installed. The bathrooms are almost done. The wooden flooring and ceramic tiles are complete. The sinks are taking shape. The doors have been primed and installed. The concrete tiles are to be set on the courtyard. I've finally agreed on the grills for security reasons. Fabian is currently fabricating them and will install them.
The facade.
View of the very open dining and living area.
A detail of the staircase to the roofdeck from Mama's room.
A shot from the landing of the stairs right above the dining area.
Railing under construction.
What a dirty kitchen. For now.
The windows have been installed. The bathrooms are almost done. The wooden flooring and ceramic tiles are complete. The sinks are taking shape. The doors have been primed and installed. The concrete tiles are to be set on the courtyard. I've finally agreed on the grills for security reasons. Fabian is currently fabricating them and will install them.
The facade.
View of the very open dining and living area.
A detail of the staircase to the roofdeck from Mama's room.
A shot from the landing of the stairs right above the dining area.
Railing under construction.
What a dirty kitchen. For now.
A glimpse of the powder room.
MORE HERE...
4.03.2009
RESTORATION
My mother is a hoarder. She will accept anything from s children. She will bring home from Manila anything we think is useless or broken. Most of the time, somehow the most of the junk has always a nook and a space in her old house. It's difficult for Mama to part from things that have grown old with her, even if it's a 10-year old Vaseline moisturizer, its contents turned into a murky grey substance or a Planter Cheez Curls Can, probably older than her first great grandson Keith, displayed along with her hundreds of wedding giveaways in her old tocador.
So can you imagine if we even suggest that we provide new furniture for her new home?
We never thought of that. In fact right from the very beginning, we imagined a modern house filled with old furniture, heirloom pieces or not, would emphasize the modern country concept.
We then started taking an inventory of Mama's furniture and contracted Eddie, the best carpenter in town to help us restore and enhance most of the existing furniture.
My mother's platera, inherited from her mother. We discovered there were secret drawers for expensive cutlery!
I love love love this cabin chair! Never thought my mother would have a pair of this!
Old Narra sidetable halfway sanded.
This coffee table was a revelation after it was stained!
My mom's old Narra coffee table. Looking elegant.
One of ten of the dining chairs re-uplholstered and refinished.
This used to be my grand mother's sidetable for her bed. It was baroque in design and in white!
3.16.2009
HALF CUBE UPDATE: March 14, 2009 Half Cube
View of the Half Cube from the Cube's roofdeck. From this vantage point, you can see the small pocket garden of the ground floor bedroom, a portion of the staircase leading to the second floor and the windows of the other two bedrooms.
Flooring of the rooms. Beautiful wide wooden planks!
A view of the Cube's staircase from the bedroom upstairs.
Below the staircase is the powder room.
From the pocket garden of the ground floor bedroom, you see the courtyard and Benjie harrassed by a client in Manila!
3.15.2009
CUBE UPDATE: March 14, 2009
It’s been quite a while since I’ve updated this site. Work on the Samar House is getting to be more exciting but not without the stress, disagreements and the rollercoaster cost of materials. The structure is pretty much done and its finishing started early this year.
MORE HERE...
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View from Mama's room of the walk in closet (right) and the master's bath.
Front door made of the old doors of my apartment in Makati.
Looks great for Mama' house!
View of the staircases from the proposed living room. The stairs look like they're floating thanks to the white walls. Railing to be installed eventually.
View of the main house across the courtyard.
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