What started out as a comfortable home for a newlyweds was reinvented to reflect a family's love for wood and the unique culture found in Southeast Asia. The home was originally built on a 650sqm lot, but with the arrival of children, the owners renovated their home to accomodate their growing brood. The purpose of remodeling the home was built around the family's comfort: the original French-Provincial style - which, while pretty and homey, didn't quite fit the family anymore - gave way to earthier wood furniture and accents that were reflective of the owners' travels around Asia.

This Asian theme works well as the perfect middle ground for the family. The Asian accessories are intricate, quaint, and elegant, appealing to feminine sensibilities, while the dark wood furniture pieces are masculine enough for the men of the house.

But in the end all the hard work, compromises, and monumental changes paid off. Like a mature person who has come of age, the house now has its own charm and character. But best of all, it is now a house that perfectly works for all who reside in it.

(First published in Real Living, Real Homes section, as "Keeping Up With The Times" in June 2007. Photos by Jun Pinzon; styling by Issa Villar; adapted for use in Female Network)