When the owner bought this home in Quezon City, he already knew he wanted it to have a Filipino-inspired flavor. But he also knew that he didn’t want the typical, traditional Philippine design heavy on the dark, carved wood and tribal themes. For this four-bedroom, three-storey townhouse unit, which he bought to be able to accommodate his nephew and niece who were to stay in Manila for school, he wanted something different.

"He wanted it Filipino, but he didn’t want it to look old," shares interior designer Gwyn Guanzon. The owner also wanted the polish and picture-perfect quality of model units. But to avoid the expected generic quality of designer homes, Gwyn deftly balanced this one with the owner's personality and preferences. The result of this updated take on Filipino design elements, integrated with modern furniture pieces and modern art, makes for a picture-perfect home that the owner has always wanted.

Browse through the gallery to get design ideas from the modern Filipino space.

(First published as "The Perfect Weave" in the "Real Home" section of Real Living Philippines' April 2011 issue. Photos by Ocs Alvarez. Styling by Gwyn Guanzon. Adapted for use in Female Network.)