City Condos: This 24-sqm Condo Brings the Resort Vibes to Pasay
It's a common misconception that living in a condo comes with limitations. Many people believe you can't have the space you want or do the things you love because of the limited floor area. However, in our City Condos series, we're here to prove there’s so much you can do in a condo unit. We'll showcase condos that offer creative solutions and inspiring interiors, proving that you can always achieve a home that supports your lifestyle and reflects your personality, regardless of size. So, get ready to be inspired and discover the endless possibilities of condo living.
Condo Overview:
Size: 24.1 square meters
Interior designer: Idr. Mika Abad (@mikaabad.interiors | mikaabad.interiors@gmail.com)
Style: Resort-inspired
Location: Shore 2 Residences, Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City
Many families living in the provinces purchase condo units in the city to have a place to stay whenever they visit. It's also convenient if a family member needs to study or work in the city, as they can avoid renting. The owners of this micro-condo in Pasay City had these same reasons in mind when they bought the unit.
Apart from being a home away from home, the owners also plan to rent out the unit on Airbnb to earn extra income when it's not in use. To achieve this goal, they hired interior designer Mika Abad of Mika Abad Interiors to transform the unit into a functional and inviting resort-inspired space. With its convenient location and relaxing poolside view, the unit is the perfect getaway without leaving the city.
The Space:
Entryway
One of the challenges of living in a condo unit is that it tends to feel claustrophobic. In this condo, a structural column near the kitchen counter makes the space look smaller. To create the illusion of having a wider entryway, the designer concealed the column with a full-mirror panel.
Mirrors can make tight spaces look bigger than they really are. Aside from this, the owners and their guests can check how they look before stepping out.
Kitchen
Small condos tend to have one-wall kitchen areas, like the one found in this unit. Contrary to popular belief, you can still prepare meals in a compact kitchen. The trick? Having the right appliances (even the small ones!) and making the area as functional as possible.
The designer used a gray glass backsplash to make the kitchen easier to clean, and the countertop only has minimal décor to give the owners enough space for meal preparation.
Meanwhile, the mirror and glass panels help create an illusion of space and coupled with cool-white tube lighting as task lighting, the kitchen looks more spacious and is ideal for cooking.
Living Area
Upon turnover, the unit had a divider that blocked the window, which serves as the source of natural light. To make the unit look and feel airy, the designer removed the original divider and replaced it with a custom metal and glass divider that doubles as storage for décor pieces and books.
According to the designer, the lighted mirrors beside it were intentionally added to "double up the space visually while creating a symmetrical image of the divider when viewed from the entrance."
Set against the wall is a queen-sized sofa bed in gray that complements the taupe walls. When needed, the living area can transform into an extra sleeping space.
Dining Area
The owners expect that most guests will use the space for sleeping and relaxation, so they chose not to have a formal dining set. Instead of a dining nook, the designer created a multipurpose area where meals can be enjoyed, and work can be done.
A long ledge stretches from the TV wall up to the cabinet, and paired with two chairs, it functions as a dining space, a vanity nook, and a work area in one.
Sleeping Area
Who wouldn’t feel energized when waking up to a beautiful view? To give the owners and their future guests a good morning, the queen-sized bed faces the window, with ample space for luggage to be stored underneath.
To control the amount of light coming into the unit, double roller blinds in sheer and blackout were installed.
Bathroom
In many condo units, the bathroom also functions as the laundry area. Despite the limited area, the designer was able to fit in a small washing machine and a glass shower enclosure to separate it from the toilet area. Opting for a shower enclosure instead of a shower curtain elevates the look of the space and keeps with the hotel and resort-inspired look.
Comfort and convenience are musts in the bathroom, so in addition to sprucing up the private space with plush rugs and toilet seat covers, the designer also installed hooks, towel bars, and racks to keep it organized.
From the Designer:
"Not everyone would have the privilege of a large space, but you could always make the most out of your space. By prioritizing the function of each area, we were able to establish a design layout with good flow, and then just added the personal aesthetic touches as we went along. Instead of basing the design on trendy inspiration photos, we focused on the main function and the mood that we wanted to achieve for this micro-condo unit."
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