Ikoniq Design Studio

For any growing family, we dedicate a space in the home for their ever-changing needs. In this case, we were able to keep a corner free for their daughter's own special creative nook, which will grow with her and accommodate her interests. She looks forward to spending her weekends here because it feels like a staycation in a hotel with her very own teepee. Freeing up the corner will eventually allow her to place a study desk there, a big bookcase or even a pillow fort!

Meanwhile, we restored the bedroom's accent wall by placing a subtle brick tile behind their existing mirror, which is very similar to the other industrial elements we've seen in the living and dining areas of the unit. Incorporating recessed side tables made the sides of the bed more spacious and neat. The bendable wall sconces are functional for nighttime reading, while the pendant lights above serve as a playful ambient lighting option.

Sometimes we are overwhelmed with something so small that it clouds our imagination and creativity. Collaboration and trust in the process are two important ingredients in creating something big that packs in function and character — delivering a space that is both familiar but better. 🫶

Lead Designer:
Contractor:

Small spaces can pack in a lot of character. To complement this home's existing accent wall, a floating cabinet in a seafoam green hue was installed to create a break on the wall and pop of color. Freeing up the space below could be used to store ottomans or extra storage boxes.

The shared open space is tied in by similar wood accents found in the dining table and built-ins, plus the industrial glass door and mirrors that separate the common area from the semi-private bedroom.

Having a blank canvass in a space doesn't mean you have to work with whites or flat neutrals. Experiment with other special finishes to make a statement too!

Lead Designer:
Contractor:

In this home away from home, restoration was a guiding factor. The one-bedroom unit already had character when we stepped in but lost its light during the pandemic. With a few but significant additional design details, we were able to make it shine brighter than ever. ☀️

The kitchen had the biggest glow-up by means of using PVC cabinet boards in a playful two-toned color palette. PVC boards are a great option for cabinetry because it's more durable against mold and termites, plus it's waterproof. Despite it being tucked in a corner, that didn’t stop us from experimenting with a geometric backsplash pattern. Now it draws your attention to the multi-functional space and makes it more functional to work in.

Retaining the existing mirror was a no-brainer because we appreciated the way it made the space feel bigger. At the same time, along with the new pendant light, the French Industrial mirror highlighted the dining set, which was refurbished to look brand new.

Restoration projects can be tricky and challenging, but the light at the end of the tunnel is bright. 🌟

Lead Designer:

In this home away from home, restoration was a guiding factor. The one-bedroom unit already had character when we stepped in but lost its light during the pandemic. With a few but significant additional design details, we were able to make it shine brighter than ever. ☀️

The kitchen had the biggest glow-up by means of using PVC cabinet boards in a playful two-toned color palette. PVC boards are a great option for cabinetry because it's more durable against mold and termites, plus it's waterproof. Despite it being tucked in a corner, that didn’t stop us from experimenting with a geometric backsplash pattern. Now it draws your attention to the multi-functional space and makes it more functional to work in.

Retaining the existing mirror was a no-brainer because we appreciated the way it made the space feel bigger. At the same time, along with the new pendant light, the French Industrial mirror highlighted the dining set, which was refurbished to look brand new.

Restoration projects can be tricky and challenging, but the light at the end of the tunnel is bright. 🌟

Lead Designer

Moving into a new home is exciting and a huge blessing. However, it is also a daunting task to get every space ready to help you feel more "at home." Sometimes, you even have to sacrifice some pieces of furniture or decor to leave space for new ones; and it's only difficult because these pieces are near and dear to you.

Do you really have to let go of the old to bring in the new? 🙂‍↔️

We believe that with a little planning and preparation, we can definitely mix and match new and existing furniture in a brand new home. It makes it more charming and familiar. Plus, these pieces hold so many stories that are just waiting to be shared with your visitors and guests.

Like in this home, our clients wanted to reuse their existing furniture. We chose a few key pieces to stand in different parts of the home, to pay homage to the family and their history.

In fact, we experimented and placed a beautifully carved étagère and wooden piano front-and-center in the foyer paired with an upcycled sewing machine lamp and anita houseplant.

It's a warm welcome to step into a new home with pieces that hold memories so special, and join it with new pieces that have yet to witness and enjoy the memories the family has yet to make.

Designing 's newest coffee kiosk at Two/NEO was a latte fun for the entire team at Ikoniq Design Studio. After a round of friendly competition among our designers, Team CSB was hailed the winner, and their design was brought to life. 🏅

They took cues from the cafe's interiors in Five/NEO, which was our very first project with them, and put a contemporary flare to it. The design challenge was to work with the stainless steel structure of the kiosk and its design limitations. With the use of acrylic, wood strips and a striking electric blue hue from Frank and Dean's branding, they were able to create a replicable coffee bar ready to serve the freshest brews.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be a part of your coffee journey, neighbor! ☕️

Designers: |

We see the potential of every space, which is like a blank canvass on an easel. 👀

For this condominium unit, there was very minimal construction work involved and we were able to focus on primarily styling the space to make it feel more like home.

Guided by three words — homey, cozy, flexible — we brought in functional and purposeful pieces to create a clutter-free environment. Choosing major furniture pieces in neutral colors allowed us to be playful with accessories in earth-toned accent colors.

Interior styling is all about being resourceful and attentive to how the space will be used. It is still very much possible to make a box feel like a home with the right mix and placement of furniture, accessories, and furnishings.

Let's not forget about the lighting 💡 — while newly-turned over units only provide minimal provisions per room, it's an opportunity to either enhance the ceiling further to create a different mood in the space, or work with it by choosing appropriate and beautiful decorative lighting pieces that are available in the market to make the space look brighter and interesting.

So, go on, start painting on that blank canvass. The possibilities are endless. 🤩

Every new home should have opportunities for the family to add their own personal touches to the space, and make lasting memories in it. In this casa, our clients were able to style their own corners and vignettes with elements that spark joy.

If you’re worried about that blank wall or missing furniture in your home, remind yourself that it’s reserved for something special, like a unique artwork from a trip abroad or the furniture piece that’s been on your wish list for so long and it was finally on sale. 😍

Enjoy the process of making a house a home that speaks volumes of your family’s personality, values and dreams.

Happy 2024, everybody! Let's continue designing spaces with intent, empathy and love. 🌟

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The powder room tells a different story. We love how this space in the home can be completely different from the rest of the house. In this case, it’s a serene boho chic oasis with a bit of quirkiness.

The movement in the variety of textures used add visual interest to the space that’s not too bold or loud. The shades of terracotta, brass fixtures and warm wood finishes complete the powder room’s thematic appearance, making it a conversation starter among guests. 🧡

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Rounding off this year’s completed projects is this charming home in the East.

A Modern Farmhouse appeal dressed their show kitchen in two-toned cabinetry, large bell pendant lights and brass handles. Pops of navy blue were paired with off-white shades, leather upholstery and subtle hints of charcoal black details.

The island is big enough for both intimate breakfasts and wine night with friends, while there is a dedicated nook to prepare coffee or tea.

The kitchen is an essential part of any home, big or small. It should have all the elements you need to make it work for you and your growing family, especially when they're over for the holidays. 🎄 Designing it with a theme follows after the function of the space is in place, and that’s when the real fun begins — making this space completely your own.

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Never be intimidated by the limitations a small room may bring.

For the smallest bedroom in this home, the homeowners can easily use it for two functions — a playroom and a guest bedroom. The light gray plastered wall adds a sense of maturity to the space, shying away from typical pastel-colored walls or wallpaper you see in nurseries (although those are cute too!). We placed a daybed in front of it for nap time, but when guests are staying over, it can be converted to a king-sized bed.

A space can be easily transformed for another function by choosing the right furniture pieces that address the room's function. Since this room is also a playroom, we chose economical yet functional storage pieces from Ikea as storage for toys in rotation.

To tie everything together, we used the artwork as inspiration for the room's overall color scheme. Keeping it free from more graphic patterns and decorations allowed the room to showcase a pattern play of light at different times of the day too, care of the perforated fins outside that shield it from the warm rays of the afternoon sun.

What can your small room do? We're sure there are plenty of ways. Tap into its potential. 👌🏼

Be our guest. 🙏🏻

Calming neutral colors paved the way in putting together a welcoming guest bedroom. One trick we used in decorating the space is by getting inspiration for the room's color scheme from the artwork above the bed. As the central point of the room, you are instantly drawn to the queen-sized bed and its soothing layers of texture and colors. The addition of a glass table by the window allows anyone to use it for multiple functions. At the same time, the glass table top creates an illusion that it connects with the window and blends in with the sheer curtains in front of it.

Symmetry creates balance in a space. 🧘🏻

We really enjoyed working with the high ceilings of the unit's main floor and didn't shy away from designing display shelves and a built-in buffet cabinet that reached the ceiling. It was the perfect spot for our client to display her favorite home accessories, family portraits and plants. The mirror in the center lends a view of the living area and over time, can be changed to a painting or a cluster of photographs.

The dining area is particularly highlighted by the unit's existing recessed ceiling. Instead of removing it, we worked with it and applied the same wood stain as the vertical wood panels to make both elements cohesive. A modern brass chandelier hung above a custom-made dining table with beautiful hand-crafted dining chairs.

On the far side of the dining room was a niche overlooking the compound, and our clients wanted a special nook for coffee or for "me-time." To make that corner feel cozy, we cladded the walls and ceiling with varnished wood panels. It subtly created a separate space from the rest of the floor.

Inside the kitchen, their hanging pantry and breakfast bar awaits morning conversations and warm cups of coffee. We wanted to have a separate space for these kinds of moments in the heart of the home, a few steps away from the hustle and bustle of a hardworking kitchen.

Overall, this interior design and styling project sparked joy. 🫶🏼

Minor changes can also achieve major impact. 🙌

For this townhome unit's powder room, we worked with the existing wall tile and changed up the two lateral walls, focusing primarily on function.

To make it feel bigger, we used a black colored mirror on the opposite side of the water closet. The dark tint gave the room character and a sense of dimension too.

Above the water closet, we added both concealed and exposed storage along the wall. Cladding the countertop and backsplash in sintered stone added a touch of luxe and durability.

Lastly, for a bit of ambient lighting, a decorative wall sconce was added to the space, which lent a soft glow. 🌟

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For this young family's townhouse, they wanted a cool and stylish Californian design theme that they can enjoy decorating and making their own. 🤎

We treated the unit's finishes as a ready canvass and painted a picture of neutrals by coloring the walls an off-white shade, adding softness through arches and curves, and topping it off with the warmth of wood and other natural materials like solihiya.

We love the afterglow of this home and how our client's collection of stylish trinkets and accessories completed the entire look.

☝🏻 When you go through your own residential design journey, always leave space for growth and evolution. Let it be a canvass that projects your passions, your family's values or what ever makes you feel happy and giddy inside. 😉

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There is not one definition of a tiny home. Top of mind, a home is regarded as "tiny" because of its size. An average tiny home is anywhere between 60 sq.ft. to 600 sq.ft., according to thetinylife.com. Simply put, a tiny home is a smaller than average dwelling that contains the basic necessities of a standard-sized home, making it a comfortable place to live in despite the size. Remember, you need to consider how many people will live in a tiny home at the same time — this is why some "tiny homes" are surprisingly "larger" than expected.

For this home, our client wanted to use majority of the lot area for outdoor activities, whether it be for cooking, entertaining with unobstructed views of the city, dining, and most importantly, for her children to enjoy the fresh air in their very own playground. When we zoom in to the interiors of the family's out-of-town home, it's at 48 sqm or about 516 sq.ft.

What can you find inside this family home?
✔️ Kitchen bar with a view — Framing the priceless views of the city skyline and Laguna de Bay are accordion sliding windows, which lets you turn your home into an entertaining bar at any time of the day.
✔️ Strip kitchen under the staircase — Most of the time, the space under the stairs is used for storage or a small powder room; but in tiny homes, a lot of homeowners get creative and use it as an extension of their kitchen.
✔️ Full toilet & bath — Using a sliding door to access the bathroom allows you to have more space inside because you don't have to worry about the door taking up too much space.
✔️ Bonus space — In larger homes, we have a bonus room for multi-use. In this tiny home, we left space in between the kitchen and the bathroom as a bonus space for the family to use as a living room, karaoke hub or even as an extra sleeping space for guests.
✔️ Sleeping loft — No rooms were requested in this home because the family wanted everyone to be in the same space at night, like a sleepover! The railings were designed higher than standard for extra safety, and the tempered glass allowed the space to feel much bigger.

It's fascinating to learn about the world of tiny homes and the deeper reason behind it — the philosophy of tiny living. What ever size your home may be, it's always important to have the basic necessities and creature comforts you know your family needs. It's definitely a movement we want to explore further.

A hidden staircase can be an aesthetic surprise.

We took a simple yet functional approach to this staircase by keeping the risers low and easy to climb without railings. Working with only a slim window above the landing, we paired the seamless stair treads with an off-white backdrop for a clean and bright descent to the second floor of the home. Coming out of the bedrooms, the staircase is also hidden behind a half wall, which somehow created a base for the triptych artwork that mimic the shapes and lines of the home.

How much time do you spend in the bathroom?

This small but significant space in the home must be treated as sacredly as your bedroom. It should also be a space you look forward to using, especially in the morning when you wake up, and in the evening when you get home from a long and tiring day.

No matter what size your bathroom may be, you can make it work for you in many simple ways:

> Choose neutral finishes to make the space breathable, calming and spacious. If you don't want loud colors in your bath, you can opt for textures and patterns in tiles instead.

> Keep it tidy. Whether you're into a 10-step skincare routine or a one-minute shower rush, it's important to have ample space to store your toiletries and laundry.

> Let there be light. Multiple things happen in the bathroom, so make sure that you have multiple lighting options too — task lighting by the mirror, general lighting for the entire room, and cove lighting in your bath area for some ambiance.

When you're designing your home, don't forget the bathroom. It can be your secret weapon to conquer the day ahead, and your alliance for a good night's rest.

A neutral color palette may seem uninteresting at first, but when it's paired with lines and patterns, it strikes visual chord.

makes use of the same color palette throughout the house, but applied it with different materials and textures. From this view, we can point out a few:

📎 Iron grey lacquer painted kitchen cabinets from Scavolini matched with a beautiful sintered stone countertop and splashboard.

📎 Beige bricks in a running bond pattern as an accent wall for the shared open space.

📎Muntins on the sliding glass doors of the bonus room, and the subtle reflection from the glass itself.

📎Furniture can also play an important role in breaking monotony in a space. Here, we chose a white oblong table with curved dining chairs and a custom-made wooden bench. The colors of these furniture mimic the color palette of the sofa set inside the bonus room too. Can you see it? 👀

If you don't want to play with eccentric colors, explore playing with lines, shapes and textures to create visual interest in a space.

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Question: Is a show kitchen really just for show? 🤔

We strongly believe in the marriage of function and beauty, and this is a philosophy we apply in all of our designs -- especially the kitchen.

We collaborated with Modularity Home to achieve our ideal kitchen for . Since it's the first thing you see upon entering the home, we needed a kitchen that blended in with the rest of the interiors, and at the same time, made a statement that lures you further inside the home. Behind these iron grey cabinet boards are hardworking materials and durable mechanisms that will be able to handle the usual daily activities in the kitchen. Can you spot a couple?

🍴 Sintered stone countertops have 0% resin, so anytime you spill your glass of wine or leave a coffee mug on top of the counter without a coaster, it won't cause discoloration. At the same time, it's perfect for placing super hot trays on without leaving burn marks, and cutting fruits and vegetables without leaving scratch marks.

🍴 Since we were going for a modern minimalist theme, we passed up on the traditional handles and used Gola profiles instead.

There are many things to consider when designing a kitchen, that's why it's important to work with your designers and/or kitchen contractor to come up with the most efficient design that works for you and your family.

Remember, as the heart of the home, the kitchen has to be in mint condition. 👌

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A home's "glow" is often an afterthought. Lighting design is an important aspect of architecture and interior design because more than light helping with tasks, it also creates an ambiance that other interior materials and finishes cannot produce. Proper lighting can instantly change the look and mood of a space.

In , when the house is no longer bathed in natural light, the home's lighting layout takes centerstage.

💡 These frameless recessed downlights subtly and evenly lend light to the space without becoming glaring nuisances.

💡 Design your home's lighting and switching layout with your architect and interior designer to find the best lighting combinations that will set the mood that you want for particular spaces.

💡 Focus task lighting where tasks are really done. We don't want daylight clashing with a subtle warm white nearby. Instead, explore two color LED strip lights for your kitchen cabinets or try a cool white. You can also visit any lighting store to experience their products before purchasing.

Remember, your space can transform without a messy paint job. Try playing with light instead. ✨

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Our favorite feature in the master bedroom is placing the bed in the middle of the room.

Why though? 😏

If we placed the bed against the wall, it would be too far from the TV. To solve that problem, we built a half wall behind the headboard and hid the bedroom office there. Can you see it?

Swipe left to see what the office desk looks like at the back. Placing the desk here won't force you to face the wall, and instead let you transform the bedroom into a large office space when you want to feel extra productive.

☝️ Another way we subtly separated the space for rest from work was by applying venetian plaster on the back wall and ceiling above the office space.

Don't be afraid to mix both functions in your bedroom. There will always be a way to segregate these creatively.

After a hard day's work, you do deserve that beauty rest after all. 😴



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Nothing like a sexy geometric side table to make a statement in the bedroom. ✨



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Mirrors or doors? 👀

Inside the master bedroom of , we used colored mirrored doors with minimalist handles that lead to the walk-in-closet and bathroom door. It adds an accent to the space, a cooling factor and breaks the monochromatic walls.



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Having an open floor layout at home allows you to enjoy multiple spaces at once, plus, it lets you entertain more people while you're prepping food and drinks on the island.

In , we maximized the open space by placing the show kitchen and the dining area next to each other.

Other fun facts about this space that you can take note of:

▶️ Can you spot the bonus room? 👀 Instead of keeping the sliding doors plain glass, we added character to the open space by turning it into French Industrial sliding doors instead.

▶️ In the ceiling, we used trimless recessed downlights. Do you think it's turned on? Yes it is! These kinds of lights let you enjoy your space without the glare. Here, the light (not the fixture) plays the dominant role in the lighting design of the space.



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Happy Hump Day! 🥳

Remember to reward yourself with "me-time," may it be five minutes preparing your coffee for the day or plopping down on this sofa.

In , we chose this deep and sinkable couch for the bonus room. It was love at first sit for us! It's perfect for movie nights. Remove the pillows and it's ready to receive a guest for the night.

It's so inviting that we might just celebrate hump day early today. 🤤



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A man cave
A guest room
An entertainment room
A study
An office
A listening room
--- Wait, all these spaces in one room?
We call it the bonus room. ✨

In , we had the opportunity to turn this corner into a multi-purpose room.

🪄 The sleek French Industrial sliding doors are easily opened (look below, no tracks!) when the space is needed to entertain more guests.

🪄 For cozy movie nights or to accommodate a guest for the night, we can install drapes in our curtain cove.

🪄 The entertainment built-in houses the TV, consoles and a floating work space. Across it is a large sofa that can be used as a single bed too.

🪄 Our favorite part of this bonus room is the concrete render on the walls and ceiling. It instantly sets it apart from the rest of the open area.

The bonus room has become a family favorite because it's a space that can be shared and used by anyone in the family.



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We love merging the indoors with the outdoors, especially for homes that don't have enough outdoor space. 🌱

Since doesn't have a large garden, we created an illusion by designing the living room with tall sliding doors at three meters high to frame a strip garden instead.

👉🏼 Glass doors are a great investment especially if you want to enjoy hours of natural sunlight and the views that surround your home. These corner glass sliding doors open up both ways, allowing the living room to expand all the way to the strip garden outside.

👉🏼 But what about the wooden flooring inside the living room? Won't that get wet? We used porcelain tiles for both the inside and the outside, which are durable, easy to maintain and will not rot or seep water overtime. Remember to bring up the drainage system with your glass door supplier too!

☝🏻 Landscaping Tip: If you don't have a million peso view, make one by creating an organic curtain of plants. 🌿



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