How does one make over an 'okay' space?

(The Philippine Star) Updated October 17, 2009 12:00 AM

The lanai after the makeover: What used to be a table with plastic chairs around it now sports new seats draped with beautiful shawls.

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MANILA, Philippines - Beth Ferrera’s house usually got positive reactions even before the makeover, but there was still something about the house that needed fixing. Except that even Beth herself couldn’t figure out what. So, how does one refurbish an already “okay” space?

FORM. Ever since she got the two-bedroom bungalow from her parents, Beth has spent a considerable amount of time designing and redesigning the living room where she had a small work area, loveseat, TV and an eye-catching lounge chair. And since she loved entertaining friends in her lanai, she decided to give the area a facelift as well. But when Beth looked at the area, she noticed something: “Somehow, the pieces did not seem to fit no matter what I did,” she sighed.

She realized then that she needed help and…fast! Real Living and Robinsons Appliances came to the rescue.

Function

“The place was okay as it was. It was noticeably well-kept and clutter-free. The fixtures were beautiful,” interior designer Kat Villanueva said. “However, the beautiful fixtures and furniture were not well put together. Rearranging was what I had in mind.” So Kat worked on the space marrying form and function.

Living Room Makeover

Kat considered Beth’s flow of daily “to-do’s.” So the home-office nook stayed. So did the love seat (which was re-upholstered into a beige hue to blend with the brown-woodsy color scheme) and the floor tiles. No repainting was needed as the white walls were in good condition. Curtains were changed from dull yellow-and-white to beige with nature-inspired design. A geometric rug, ottomans, large mustard-colored vases, ceramic pieces and cushion pillows all blended beautifully with the color scheme. The once gloomy living room is now airier and more spacious. And to finish off the look, Robinsons Appliances gave Beth a 26-inch LCD TV with a home theater system and DVD player atop a hanging shelf. “I used to stay inside the room to watch TV because I didn’t like how my living room looked; now, I can spend the whole day here!” Beth exclaimed.

Lanai Makeover

Beth loves the outdoors and prefers entertaining friends in her lanai — a small space which was supposed to be the garage. With the recent makeover, the lanai became the ideal place to hang out. It now has new driftwood-type stools and benches with green and orange shawls draped on top. There’s a stylish wooden curtain hanging from the orange-and-white fabric covering the lanai ceiling, giving room for natural skylight. All these improvements stand out amid the lush green garden background.

Beth knows the importance of making her house look good all the time: “It is where your heart is and if the heart is not well, it needs a doctor to be able to function properly.” She has wanted this to happen for so long, and thanks to Real Living and Robinsons Appliances, she said, she “can function properly!”