A beautiful home is a beautiful home, but what makes it special is the story behind its design and inspiration.
John Paolo Tolosa had been making a living as an architect and contractor, but it hadn't occurred to him to use his skills for his family until his mom told him one day, ‘‘[A]nak, ang gaganda ng mga bahay na dine-design at ginagawa mo. Sana one day ma-experience din namin ng daddy mo na tumira sa ganyang bahay.”
That’s when he vowed to himself to build a home for his parents. “Do’n nag-start yung pangarap [ko] para sa kanila,” he tells the OG team. “Sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘Dapat yung gagawin kong bahay sa kanila is a retirement house na mae-enjoy nila for the rest of their lives.'”
With hardwork, Paolo brought his family's dream house to life during the pandemic. It's a home that was designed with family at the center, and thankfully, his dad was able to experience it before passing away because of a heart attack.
A Modern Tropical Family Home
As a fan of tropical-style architecture, Paolo incorporated the same theme in his family’s house. A lanai sits in front of the home, with a calachuchi tree providing shade, while a mini pond adds to the relaxing atmosphere.A few steps away is the garage which can fit two vehicles, covered by polycarbonate roofing to let light peek through. Cladding-like stone tiles and steel slats, meanwhile, add to the home’s villa feels.
Stepping inside, sliding glass doors give dwellers a glimpse of the various tropical greens outside in the side garden. The Tolosa home’s high ceiling along with its open plan layout lends to the spaciousness of the area. “Gusto ko yung bahay na ‘to is somehow para siyang villa, para siyang resort, kung saan nasa city ka nga, pero yung feel ko para ka lang nasa probinsya kasi maraming halaman.”
The wine collection of Paolo's dad sits proudly in the sleek clean kitchen that was constructed with granite for the countertop and porcelain tiles for the backsplash. Concealed behind a wooden cabinet is their water dispenser. An adjoining dirty kitchen serves as the prep area for heavy cooking, with similar tiles. A washer-dryer sits in the laundry area, with polycarbonate roofing to allow drying of clothes.
The home also boasts of three bedrooms that were thoughtfully designed to match the needs and personalities of his family members. Press play to watch the full tour!
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