A note to Real Makeover hopefuls: Sometimes it takes nearly a year before you get (potentially) chosen as a winner, so don’t lose hope!

This is sort of what happened to the homeowner—but instead of thinking that they hadn’t won, she just completely forgot about joining the contest, and thus had a confusing conversation with an equally perplexed Real Living staffer. It turns out that it was her daughter who had sent the entry, using her mother’s name. “I told her [what I did] before but I think she forgot about it,” says the daughter. Luckily, the situation was sorted out and the makeover was duly awarded to this family of females.

The house had several problems to begin with. “We had this remodelled and the contractor didn’t finish it,” the letter sender says of their first floor. Clutter was also a huge issue. Enter Grace Moslares, a designer who’s worked on two previous Real Makeovers (RL, May and October 2008). While the past two makeovers had more of a contemporary Filipino look, Grace sought to go to a different direction this time. “I just wanted a modern look,” says the homeowner’s daughter.

Was Grace able to deliver what the makeover winner asked for? Read on to find out.

Get more home makeover ideas from the October issue of Real Living Philippines, out on stands now! You can also subscribe to the magazine's digital edition.

(First published as Style and Substance" in the "Real Makeover" section of Real Living Philippines' March 2009 issue. Words by Tisha Alvarez. Styling by Issa Villar. Photography by Miguel Nacianceno. Adapted for use in Female Network.)