MANILA, Philippines?A home is a sanctuary, a calm place that stops the noisy babel of the city at its doorsteps. To achieve this, a house?s lines must be clean, accents and accessories are kept to a minimum, and everything is streamlined. A house then should incorporate the functionalities and sleek forms of the Scandinavian design, which is known for its ability to ?humanize? a space.

The soon-to-rise 32-storey Illumina Residences Manila, a sprawling residential oasis by DMCI Homes in the heart of bustling Sta. Mesa, showcases the Scandinavian design strength right inside its approximately 48-sqm two-bedroom model unit on P. Sanchez Street. So while the concept of condo living often brings images of cramped, boxed-like living, the Illumina Residences Manila brings back the sun and the view into everyone?s home.

?Long winters and lack of natural light in Scandinavia created a need for sleek and airy interiors that made most of the available light,? said interior designer Sharlyn Javellana, who worked with co-designer Karen Soriano on the project.

The duo used a white-on-white palette, moving only from warmer to cooler white. Splashes of colors appear on accessories and accent pieces so that the design flow is fluid and continuous. Furniture is painted white with wood stains in light silver wood color (grayish), consistent with the theme?s absence of dark colors.

And since the theme is Scandinavian-inspired, everything is movable with product solutions in mind. The coffee table in the living area, for instance, doubles as a storage space. Curves, another distinct Scandinavian design character, appear in accent balls and candleholder stems.

Window treatments are light and airy, said Soriano. The designers opted to put light layers of screens instead of heavy curtains and drapes. A sliding curtain panel with glass curtain over solid curtain, the screens allow the owners to adjust the amount of light that enter the room while still able to enjoy the privacy of their space.

?There is no complete blockage of light so you don?t feel confined in your own home,? Javellana said.

Cotton and linen fabrics, commonly found in Scandinavian-style homes, follow the natural theme, too. Plain or textured, the color scheme is repeated in many areas of the house so as not to distract the eye.

Unique storage solution Ladder-type open shelves, custom-built against a wall in the dining area, also doubles as storage and showcase furniture. As long as owners follow the rule of stacking together objects of the same size or color, this unique storage solution will not create a serious
visual clutter.

?Pieces with storage as second function will be very useful for condo living where space is an issue,? Javellana said.

A table for four sits in the middle of the dining area. The furniture is a mix of straight lines with slightly curved details. Legs on chairs are thin and tapered. Neutral color blonde wood, such as beech, ash or white pine, is the color scheme of the furnishings.

Glass works are found in shelves and side tables to add a light ambience. In the master?s bedroom, mirrors and glass make the room glow without creating any shadows. Subtle touches of greens, blues and yellows are the designers? way of bringing the colors of the landscape outside into the room. A sliding door with a concept similar to the window-treatment curtains leads toward a long, 9-sqm balcony that leads all the way to the child?s bedroom.

The child?s bedroom, said Javellana, is a dual-functional room. It?s scaled with the adult in mind, and only the accessories, such as books and a colorful clock, disclose its dweller?s age. When the child grows up, no major work is needed to adjust the space to his or her size.

A working area to the right of the room, with side table of glass and steel, also makes it convenient for mom to do her work while the child sleeps, Javellana said.

Toilet and bath, located across the living and dining areas, also serves as the home?s wet area, with appropriated space for the washer inside. Small artworks with subtle colors adorn the area, with a long mirror to bring in more light and add space.

The kitchen area, located next to the toilet and bath, has built-in overhead and base cabinets, and granite countertops. Sleek metallic finish with glass jars dominates the area. The kitchen is almost bare, with major appliances like refrigerators and countertop stoves taking up space.

?With the right use of colors and accents you can make condo living more livable. Space can become less of an issue,? Javellana said.