The past two years of being mostly home bound has shifted many Filipinos’ focus to sprucing up their personal spaces. The opening of lifestyle stores that carry home decor and accessories, whether big (IKEA) or relatively small (Design Story), has only made the pursuit more exciting.
Just last week, a new jewel box of a store opened at the hip Karrivin Plaza in Makati (where Design Story is also located) and it’s called Shop/1335, the lifestyle arm of the 1335/Mabini Art Space. It boasts an eclectic collection of one-of-a-kind art, antiques, and objets d’art that would thrill decorators and homeowners alike. Running the shop is Marisa Gutierrez who has enlisted one of Manila’s stylish dressers and decorators, Ram Lopez-Vito Bucoy II, to curate the varied treasures that found its way here.
“Our lifestyle space aims to elevate the traditional retail format by creating an immersive lifestyle experience, showcasing products in a realistic and livable but also surprising setting,” says Ram, a former marketing and PR guy who transitioned to the world of interiors. The shift, says the 39-year old, was no less than a leap of faith. “I really just had to trust my gut and things eventually flew. I’m at a happier place now.”
We know he’s talking about his new career but he could very well be talking, too, about Shop/1335, which is packed with various eye candy including exclusive furnishings and one-off pieces from Portugal, France, Italy and the Philippines. How much does one need to shop in this gem of a store? “We have pieces ranging from PHP 1,850 to as much as PHP 400,000.”
Eager to find if the decorator’s mind is as intriguing and colorful as the space he’s come up with, we asked Ram about his personal style, his approach to decorating, and his favorite places to visit.
You’ve assembled quite a treasure trove in the store – where did you find these pieces and what are the criteria for these objects to make it to SHOP/1335?
They were sourced locally and abroad and we made sure every piece in SHOP/1335 is a nod to the past and the current, and every piece has a story to go along with it because that is how the furnishings in your home should feel.
You say in your Instagram you’re not a fan of making plans when decorating. How do you put together a space?
I don’t really have a design process. I do what feels and looks right. My entire aesthetic veers towards lived-in and collected. I like things that are a little bit worn-looking and roughed up, mixed in with something new.
How would you describe your personal style? In both clothes and your home.
One thing I don’t like is for a space to look contrived or predictable. I try my best to veer away from using greige (beige and gray) walls and instead paint them in deep raspberry, Kelly green or aubergine. My easy vibe and personal style on the clothes I wear matches the stylish yet approachable spaces I create and curate. I’m definitely a maximalist, a curated maximalist.
What drew you to decorating?
At an early age, my artistic and creative potentials were already formidable and was considered to have been inherited from my stylish and Ilongga mother Stella Valderrama Lopez-Vito. She was chic and her taste was impeccable. I was easily drawn to her growing up. Having grown up in Southern Philippines, I enjoy creating beautiful and timeless interiors that embody an indoor/outdoor lifestyle, also mixing traditional and modern with chinoiserie.
Who are your influences when it comes to interior design?
I’m a big fan of Architect and designer, Isabel López-Quesada, Mark D. Sikes’ preppy Americana, Nicolo Castellini Baldissera’s play of colors that takes a strong inspiration from Tangier, and John Derian’s eclecticism. Each one of them have their own distinct style and not one of them follow another’s aesthetic.
What are your most favorite places to visit?
I always enjoy shopping around Hollywood road in Hong Kong for antiques and quirky thrifted prints, tassels, old photographs and artworks at Cat Street and Upper Lascar road nearby. The old quarters in Hanoi always excite me and estate sales here and in the US. When I’m bored on a slow weekend, you can find me hanging out with pickers in Bangkal (Evangelista St., Makati).
What design advice would you give a new homeowner bachelor who has no idea where to start?
Collect what you can afford from art to furniture. Don’t be pressured to follow what is out there. You need to love what you have and never follow trends. Enjoy the process. Your home is your opportunity to showcase not only where you have been in your life, but also who you are now and, most importantly, who you hope to become.
Photos from @buddhbanana on Instagram