MANILA, Philippines - Scottish-born restaurateur Colin Mackay has been known for his uncompromising standards in food and dining.

Sala, a restaurant he opened when he was 30, is over 10 years old, a record in a saturated industry. The Thai-inspired People?s Palace and his new concept Bistro are equally successful. His refined taste and orderliness in running the restaurants are also reflected in the décor of his condo unit.

Mackay?s love for big spaces and greenery was cultivated as he was growing up in a comfortable home in Edinburgh. He pursued a degree in hotel management and business at the University of Strathclyde and did internships in leading restaurants and hotels in Switzerland and Australia.

Mackay then worked in a glitzy restaurant in Lan Kwai Fong in Hong Kong owned by Patsy Ho, scion of one of the richest families in the then Crown Colony. Instead of staying in cramped quarters as was typical in HK, he lived in the colonial district where the houses were bigger.

In 1995, he visited the Philippines, fell in love with it and decided to put up a restaurant with some partners. The world-class Sala set the standard in restaurant dining in Malate.

While expanding his restaurant business, he lived in a prewar apartment that had a lot of character.

When Malate lost its luster, Mackay had to bring the business to Greenbelt. His apartment was also becoming a shambles.

Moving closer to work, he rented a new three-bedroom Makati condominium. He was attracted to the kitchen with a balcony, and the privacy of the premises. The tenants didn?t even know their next-door neighbors, let alone see them. It felt like living in a house.

Mackay decided to decorate the condo himself.

Contemporary decor

The décor is contemporary, with quirky (an adjective that has become abused and misused) elements. A Virgo, Mackay prefers function and order.

He favors a neutral shade for the walls because it?s quite soothing after a long day. His choice is off-white and dark-brown with gray undertones.
When natural light bounces off the neutral walls, the place visually expands and brightens up.

?I like the way light motivates you for the day,? he said.

In keeping with the modern style, the furniture?s color is neutral and the silhouettes mostly boxy and slim. The sofas are L-shaped and low, juxtaposed with a glass-topped coffee table in dark wood.

The shiny textures of the curtains and pillow cases are a foil to the matte surfaces of the upholstery and furnishing. Textured rugs are omnipresent. ?There?s just too much yellow wood,? he said.

His furniture is a mix of old pieces, new ones such as the dining table and a sectional seating sofa for entertaining, and modern classic chairs by Saarinen and Starcke.
A classic wing chair burned by artist Maarten Baas has become a cutting-edge piece.

His choice of artworks ranges from photographs to large-scale paintings. Mackay is one owner who truly appreciates art beyond its decorative function. Some of his favorite works are acrylic paintings by Ralph Kiggel, who applies traditional woodblock printing methods on the themes of the industrial landscape.

?I like the movements, the vitality and the perspective,? explained Mackay.

Denise Weldon?s graphic, black-and-white photograph of a chair reminded him of his old apartment. The work lifts up the dark accent wall in the living room.

Flea-market finds

He also proudly shows off flea-market finds, mementos from trips and pieces given by friends, many with a sculptural minimalism.
The couture cushions, ostrich eggs and lamp, leather trays and Indian prints perk up the neutral-colored furniture by Chito Vijandre and Ricky Toledo of Firma.

Exporter Markus Schmidt gifted Mackay with metallic shells that now adorn the kamagong dining table.

Exotic floral arrangements, which Mackay does himself, add spunk. He plays with scale and volume in terms of length and breadth.
On the dining room, hydrangeas, paper roses, stargazers, oxbloods, calla lilies burst out of what he calls ?a cheap, black vase.?

?The arrangement looks a bit like a wedding, isn?t it?? he jested.

The owner?s hospitality always heightens the experience of the home. Mackay prefers to do the cooking.

?The maid prepares tinola, but my version has lots of kafir lime, lemongrass, green chili and chili paste.?

Between shoots, we enjoyed a proper English high tea. He baked crispy scones (the authentic way without eggs), ethereal whipped cream and luscious strawberries. Oops, I forgot to pour the milk first before the tea.

Get the look

Lend distinctions to the monochromatic palate with natural, metallic, graphite or earthy tones.

In small spaces, make the storage functional and decorative. Recycle old drawers into low shelves. Use attractive boxes to keep the mess at bay.

New doesn?t need to be costly. Segunda-mano, garage sales, Evangelista, Divisoria and mass-market department stores are still favorite places for sourcing.

Period furniture is given an avant-garde look with modern finishing.

Art and photography can play up any living space. A bright artwork can be a highlight in an evenly neutral space, or a black-and-white photograph can dramatize a whitewashed or dark-toned wall.