Philippine Tatler – August 2018

occupants retained the magnificence of the

original façade, the once-elegant interiors

were converted into standard corporate

working spaces. Indeed, by the time the

current owners bought the house in 2012,

the interiors had been virtually stripped of

their original elements. Voorjans, however,

saw this as a chance to bring the house into

the 21st century by incorporating his vivid

aesthetic with the family’s own preferences.

AVANT-GARDE COSINESS

As the new owners work in the fashion

industry, Voorjans’ vision entailed a

180-degree turn from coldly staid and

formal to warm and whimsical. He has

given the house a bohemian makeover that

is as luxurious as it is playful, bold, and

vivacious. Here, the designer has woven

together the elements of colour, expert

craftsmanship, and homage to the place’s

history into a hip, exuberant whole.

Guests coming into this home will

find themselves ushered into a salon

with subtle yet palpable references to

the building’s French past. On one wall,

Voorjans has embedded a neo-Renaissance

trumeau mirror which he has completely

redesigned with Art Deco sensibilities—a

piece that works harmoniously with the

Aubusson carpet on the floor and the

exquisite, vibrantly coloured, and hand-

woven Lyons silks that cover the walls

or hang as curtains in the windows. The

same silks, all crafted by the historic fabric

studio Tassinari & Chatel, also cover the

mèdaillon and chauffeuse chairs in the room.

It is an interesting blend of classic and

contemporary elements, one that reflects

the owners’ flamboyant personalities as

well as their penchant for modern art

and travel.

Voorjans also pays homage to the house’s

original owner in his transformation of

the winter garden into a dining room

with plenty of tropical flair. Villinger’s

love for exotic materials can be seen in

the designer’s use of textiles with funky

floral patterns, whimsical accents such

as a porcelain parrot, and a custom-made

fumoir built out of beautifully polished

rosewood. It should also be noted that

Knownforvividlycolouredinteriors

filled with a mix of exquisite antiques

and avant-garde furniture, Voorjans has

transformed many spaces into eclectic

wonderlands that captivate the senses

PLAYFUL

JUXTAPOSITION

Earth tones and

bare wood add

rustic warmth

to the family

room; (opposite)

Voorjans plays

with colours,

objects, and

materials to create

vivid spaces

philippine tatler. august 2018 145