MANILA, Philippines—Filipino-Australian actress Iya Villania says she feels safer living in a high-rise condo rather than in a townhouse.

“Security is tight here. Visitors go through routine checks. The guards take down the guests’ names and demand IDs. My mom [Ellen] and I feel secure this way,” Iya says of her four-bedroom unit in the building near the posh Wack Wack Village in Mandaluyong City.

Iya describes the 146-sq. m. spread as “relaxing, laid-back and very rest house-ish.” To achieve this look, Iya commissioned interior designers Jim Jimenez and Rodel Bartolo. She also got framed art pieces by Ross Capili, whose color scheme matches that of the house.

The walls, all done by artist Gina Bocar, differ in design and shades. Iya’s bedroom is painted in blue and red, while Mommy Ellen’s is in green and white. Purple and red are the dominant colors in the living area. For the powder room, the actress said, Bocar created an “aboriginal” design, which “reminds me of my Aussie roots.”

Iya’s bedroom has access to both the living area and the veranda. It is also the only room with a glass-stained door. “The portrait on the door is supposed to be me,” she says.

Iya’s mom adds that most of the furniture pieces, like the dish cabinet and the six-seat wooden dining table, are custom-made. “We used to buy stuff that were either too small or too big. Sayang lang,” says Ellen.

A Japanese geisha doll, a gift to Mommy Ellen, is the centerpiece in the dining area. The hallway that leads to the main door features a Lirio Salvador sculpture—“Sandata ni Juan,” a metallic guitar that Iya spotted in one of Capili’s exhibits. “The guitar actually works,” the actress says.

Ellen recounts, “The designers told me, ‘Mommy, ’di na po pwede dito ang ordinaryong electric fan.’ So I raided furniture shops and found this vintage piece [in the sala].” It cost P13,000.

The kitchen is compact, with a floor made of glossy granite. “I wish this area were bigger. It’s hard to cook Iya’s favorite kare-kare, adobo and beefsteak in such a small kitchen,” says Ellen.

The veranda was a “project” of “At Home Ka Dito,” a now-defunct magazine show on the Kapamilya network. “The perfect time to hang out there is at night. It has a spectacular view of the city,” Iya says.

E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph