Most of us dream of living in a home tailored to our particular tastes. Some opt to hire professionals to decorate their nest, while others rely on their own creativity. But if your home only offers temporary refuge—a place to unwind after a long day's work—would you devote much time and effort in making it fully stylish? For one professional working in Makati, the answer is yes, as her part-time unit exudes full-time flair. "She didn’t give me any clue about what she wanted," admits Lisa Salvador, the interior designer of the unit. "All she said was, 'I have a lot of celadon [Chinese porcelain] wares.' I picked that up as a design inspiration for the entire condo unit," she adds.

Liza describes the unit's look as a mix of Asian and European styles, combining her client's celadon wares and her own "obsession" with Scandinavian designer Hans Wegner's Wishbone Chair during that time. "I was thinking there's Asian and European, so what's the period style that has these two things together? Of course, Chinoiserie."

A well-designed unit like this one just proves that a temporary shelter shouldn't be any less appealing than a permanent nest. And who knows? With a little bit of personalizing, you may be tempted to turn "for now" into "for good," as far as your home goes.


(First published as "Chinoiserie Chic" in the "Real Home" section of Real Living Philippines' March 2011 issue. Photos by Jun Pinzon. Styling by Issa Villar. Adapted for use in Female Network.)