Picture this: a quiet abode. A view of the nearby hills. A cool breeze blowing and leaves rustling outside. Who wouldn’t want to be in such a place every week? Lucky for the owners, their haven in Antipolo, Rizal, is such a place. An added plus is that it is conveniently located just an hour or so away from Ortigas Center, where they work.

It is their weekend home, but not one that satisfies the common notion of a rustic vacation house full of rattan furniture. A plain, painted cement façade and a 1950s garden set make up the exterior—definitely a no-frills set up. But once guests step in, they'll be surprised to see a bright and airy interior, with mid-century modern furniture juxtaposed with Asian and vintage pieces here and there.

The owners wanted a simple but spacious home, so they opted to renovate it twice. The second and last renovation took four months to finish, and they would come to the house three times a week to oversee the construction. They gutted out the ceiling, adding trusses and a storage loft, emphasizing the 1960s feel of the original structure, and making the small home look roomier.

The home suits the owners' lifestyle and their need for a quiet and peaceful retreat after a stressful workweek. As they, in this house, you wake up in the morning to the sound of birds chirping.

(First published in the April 2010 issue of Real Living, Real Home section as "Weekend Warriors"; photos by Toto Labrador; adapted for use in Female Network)