Inside the inspired home spaces of Shaira Luna, Vania Romoff, Kelly Misa

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MANILA, Philippines – What’s the difference between a space and a place? It’s a question many of us have probably pondered at least once. While the two words are often used interchangeably, a quick online search reveals a key distinction: spaces are abstract and neutral, while places are lived-in and mean something to someone.

What makes a place uniquely yours? Thoughtful interior design. Three female creatives — Shaira Luna, Vania Romoff, and Kelly Misa — believe that interior design is more than just aesthetics; it’s about crafting spaces that reflect personality, lifestyle, and identity.

When real estate brands like Avida Land market their properties, they’re typically selling a generic, hotel-like space. But during the Avida Bespoke: A Collection of Inspired Spaces event on March 21, Avida collaborated with these three renowned creatives to illustrate how a space can be transformed into a home.

“I think we’ve seen it more and more that homes are a reflection of one’s personality. It’s no longer looking like a showroom or like a tear sheet of a magazine. Your home should represent who you are — it should tell your story,” Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran, vice president of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) said during the event.

Whether it’s Luna’s vintage charm, Romoff’s timeless elegance, or Misa’s organic luxury, their homes tell a story of who they are, brought to life by expert interior designers.

Sheer Romance: Vania Romoff x Rossy Rojales

Vania Romoff is a renowned fashion designer known for her timeless and unapologetically feminine creations. Whimsical lace, tulle, chiffon, and structured and sculptural flowers and bows are all hallmarks of the distinct Vania Romoff brand. Romoff creates especially for her muse: the modern woman — she has always dedicated her work to the progress of women.

It took an innovative interior designer with a profound understanding of color, materiality, and human-centric design to translate the femininity that Romoff celebrates into a living space.

Licensed interior designer (IDr.) Rossy Rojales, Hurray Design’s principal designer and visionary in transitional design, created a space that echoes Romoff’s ethereal aesthetic. The design features graceful drapery, the one-directional lines mirrored in the floor and panelling, creating harmony; clean, sculptural pieces; and muted tones that mimic the color and texture of a sheer dress — all reminiscent of Romoff’s designs.

The collaboration is a timeless, woman-centric, and lifestyle-driven home.

Beyond her career, Romoff is a wife and mother of three, so Romoff shared that “one of the key elements that [she] always looks for in a home is a sense of calm.”

It’s a place that should also foster family connection and creativity. “So that you wake up every day inspired as well,” said Romoff.

Aperture and Atmosphere: Shaira Luna x Paolo Castro

Shaira Luna is a fashion and commercial photographer who has worked with major fashion brands and magazines and captured some of the country’s biggest personalities. One of our most influential creative talents, Luna is also celebrated for her sense of style, which she curates by synthesizing second-hand thrift pieces — solidifying her as an inspiration for Filipino creatives.

Given the vast array of mediums in Luna’s artistic repertoire, only a skilled interior designer can capture Luna’s creative essence without trapping it, guiding it gently, and letting it flow and move about.

IDr. Paolo Castro, president of PIID, has 15 years of experience in interior design under his belt. His expertise lies primarily in creating functional spaces, like restaurant designs. He specializes in the “multisensory” approach to interior design that appeals to all senses, immersing you into the space.

Inspired by the concept of aperture in photography (the opening in the camera lens where light enters), the showroom is designed to manipulate light, depth of field, and perspective through its glass motifs — much like how you adjust the size of the aperture to let in less or more light for the shot you need.

There are textured glass panes and midcentury-style jalousie windows. They tie into the vibrant, retro aesthetics diffused throughout the home: in the paintings, photographs, and other pieces — inspired by Luna’s unique fashion sense.

“My favorite thing ever is coming down in the morning around like 8 or 9 am. And then the sun is just shining through the sheer curtain,” said Luna. “That’s how I love lighting my photos.” With Castro’s design, the room will always be filled with the warmth and grace of light that Luna craves for inspiration.

Organic Luxe: Kelly Misa x Cyndi Beltran

Kelly Misa is a TV host, model, lifestyle influencer, and blogger. Over two decades, she has built a dynamic career with experience in modeling, hosting, column writing, and content creation. Her diverse work is a testament to her versatility and grace as a creative.

With a resume as impressive — and as extensive — as Misa’s, one can imagine the sheer talent required of an interior designer to assemble the different aspects of her personality into a harmonious whole, with the same grace that Misa exhibits as she moves through them.

IDr. Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran is the PIID co-founder of Moss Design House, the first Philippine design firm to integrate different design disciplines in their interior design practices. She is a multi-disciplinary designer known for her innovation and intuitive blending of form, function, and personality, boasting over 20 years of experience in interior, event, and exhibit design.

Misa and Fernandez, together, have designed a two-story home that exudes quiet luxury and comfort, with its different textures — travertine stone, linen wallpaper, and plush fabrics — all made harmonious with one another through the design’s neutral, monochrome palette. The end result is a simple design that masks its fluidity and functionality, perfect for everyone in the family.

Perhaps given her many disciplines and tastes, Misa shared how “working with Cyndi, I had so many ideas, and she narrowed it down.” According to her, when Fernandez put a name to it, Organic Luxe, she could suddenly envision the space that she wanted — “earthy tones, very grounded furniture and colors.” Selecting certain items and design elements became easier with Fernandez’s expert guidance.

“One of the things that we really advocate for,” according to Fernandez, “is making people aware that there are actually licensed interior designers and we do study four years for it and we do take a board exam for it.”

While anyone can come up with a design, not everyone can turn that design into a functional, livable place — that’s where the technical abilities of licensed interior designers come in. Interior designers have studied flow and function and have spent years honing their expertise.

“I work with an interior designer for my home,” event host Stephanie Zubiri shared. “And even though the look was all my style, she knew: where does the outlet go? Where does the light go? This light for that painting… It’s things we don’t think about, but they do,” she added.

Through these three showrooms, we celebrate artistry and the creative life, and this includes the interior designers who helped bring Romoff, Luna, and Misa’s visions to life. – Rappler.com

Bea Gatmaytan is a Rappler intern studying Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

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