“It’s Asian-contemporary-meets-Australian-coastal,” begins this home’s owner, gesturing to the two-storey suburban house he shares with his wife. What a quirky yet very apt description—the house does seem like it’s meant to evoke an image of perpetual summers.

The resort-like ambience of the residence is emphasized by the absence of clutter and a uniform color scheme. In keeping up with the desire to replicate a typical Sydney beach house, clean white has been chosen as the predominant color, from the walls to the doorframes and windows. The choice of using white for the door and window frames is a deliberate deviation from the Filipinos’ tendency to choose dark timber and dark framing, notes the couple.

What the couple loves most about the house is “the place has a softness to it. It’s almost tactile, even if it’s concrete. Even the pool is soft on the feet. Everything’s meant to be soft,” says the man of the house. This softness translates into a certain kind of serenity that is often lost in the urban setting: “It’s the peaceful nature of the house. It’s how you feel when you walk in.” And so this home is always cool, breezy, private, and absolutely lovely—just like a beach house in Sydney.

(First published as "The Great Escape" in the "Real Home" section of Real Living Philippines' May 2011 issue. Photos by Miguel Nacianceno. Pictorial direction by Gwyn Guanzon. Adapted for use in Female Network.)