Minimal Isms

In keeping with my aging preference for color, I have renovated my mental home from  having nice wood on white, to all white with steel and glass accents. I refuse to be put down by the simple fact that white rooms cannot work without a wash of natural light (a feat, as most urban homes experience sunlight rarely unless you're in a condo unit twenty floors up, facing the east and without a neighboring building - by the way, I dream of still living in Makati). This paradigm shift in my interior design preferences came about so fast, I don't know how it happened - it just did.

I think it's not the age that made me choose this color palette (or lack of) - it's more influenced by my being young (can older people tolerate stark white, all glass and steel? I think not.) and my being single. This also developed a concern I might have more testosterone than female hormones.

My recent trip to Ms Patrice Ramos-Diaz's office summed up my wants for my dream home. I wish I took pictures, but I hope there's a next time where I can do that for leisure. She had dark wood floors, plenty of huge mirrors, some on smaller scales for contrast. She also had tall, sleek vases and the one furniture I was lusting for: the Louis ghost chair by Philippe Starck (not sure if hers was a Starck, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were).

So here's a board I laid out a la Polyvore (they have an Interior Design group!) of the elements I want the design to center on:

1: Clean lines and comfort. I want my dining chairs to be cushioned so that there's more reason to stay at the table and eat and mingle and have a good time. The tufting is a nice element that balances the rigid lines of the chair. From AdvancedInteriorDesigns.com.

2: Open spaces and light, light, light. It's the only way an all-white room will ever work beautifully. Though I don't want a loft, I like its open floor plan and high ceilings. CribCandy.com

3. Because kitchens are my thing, if I am going to use stainless steel as part of the decorating picture, I would have it in this running brick pattern as a backsplash. Steel/ chrome/ silver will ground the space instead of traditional black. No green-bluish things for me, although I thought they were cute in some home renovating shows. From Remodelista.com.

4. Mirrors. Mirrors. Mirrors. And clean spaces. This white bathroom from StyleatHome.com is neat and relaxing. The mirror is also practical for when trying on your clothes and wanting to see how your dress will look like as you twirl.

5 & 6. So the space will look free-flowing, glass/acrylic/crystal is a must. These Pilsner vases from TowerVase.com will add height to a room. I love how the straight lines soften with just a small curve and balance its rigidity as was with the tufted dining chair.


The only problems I expect to have for my own home are that generous flow of sunlight without hindering my being private, the sourcing for good quality and affordable materials, and the money to buy them. Minimalist always tends to backbite you by being so unbelievably expensive.