Love Marie Ongpauco-Escudero’s brand of creativity extends far beyond the Hermes bags and canvases, on which her artistry has found an appreciative market among men and women. As a homemaker and artist, Heart, as she’s known everywhere, also incorporates her unique style identity in her own living space.
During the 32-year-old actress’s recent collaboration with lifestyle brand Ethan Allen, dubbed “Tea Tuesdays”, an exclusive personalized home project staged at Focus Global Inc.’s Bonifacio Global City showroom, she shared: “I’m a homebody, so it’s important for me to create an atmosphere where I can relax, get inspired and paint.”
A towering archway, marble floors, porcelain china stored in a floor-to-ceiling shelving system, and gold wall-mounted handrails are just a few of the noteworthy items that adorn Evangelista-Esudero’s new and elegant abode.
The white finish blends well with her furnishing’s neutral shades, while dark-wood accents and brass pieces create a sense of depth and contrast to her home’s spacious interior. “I like things to look fresh and clean—that would be my style,” she said.
The actress’s walk-in closet serves a dual purpose of showroom and office. It’s also her favorite part of the house. “[In] my walk-in closet, I have a shelf there. It’s where I put the clutch line that I’m working on. Some of my clients’ bags are also there waiting to dry.”
Her artworks, as well as her husband’s pieces—Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is, of course, her significant other—bring color to the otherwise blank walls, while selected hand-me-downs from her father’s complete the character of the French-Mediterranean-themed home. “I like everything white, everything timeless and clean. But since I’m also an artist, I want to see a burst of color, some accent in a piece of furniture, or a splash of color.”
She added, “A lot of people say there are rules or what’s the look na kailangang ganito…na dapat may color scheme, but it’s nice to look at a beautiful mess sometimes. I want a home that’s not too stiff.”
With regard to the thought process that went into designing her house, Evangelista-Escudero said she worked with what she already has.
“I used a lot of my dad’s old furniture, I reupholstered some. I’m very sentimental when it comes to stuff so I want the things to have meaning and memories. I really wanted it to blend with the whites that I have,” the actress shared.
As with every aspect of her life, her design philosophy still remains: mixing the old with the new, and creating a harmony between classic and contemporary pieces.
“It’s really just about putting stuff together. It’s like with clothes: I can do H&M and I can do Chanel, and I can mix them both and in the end, it’s the final look that matters.”
She added, “Also, when you design your home, you don’t buy all of your furniture at once, you accumulate it through time and it slowly comes together. That’s what makes it authentic. The more authentic, the more homey it becomes. The goal isn’t to fill up your house immediately. It’s a journey.”
Finally, when asked about what makes a home beautiful, the actress said not entirely in jest: “Well, I have a beautiful family so my advice would be to have a nice love life. But more than that, it’s about creating a nice atmosphere and a good relationship with people in the house, and the rest will follow.”