About Me

If you feel overwhelmed or lost on how to start, let us work together so I can help you get what you want without the hassle, the headaches, and the mistakes. As a professional interior designer, I consider all other aspects aside from aesthetics that play a larger role in creating your dream space. That includes all those boring technical details (such as proper space planning, material specifications, and ergonomics) to ensure safety and comfort. I believe collaboration is key to achieve this. After all, this will be YOURS. I will take into account your lifestyle and your goals and collaborate with you throughout the process.

I am Jasmine Ancheta, a licensed interior designer from Manila, Philippines. My passion for design started when I wanted to build my dream house. After reading tons of information online, learning Sketchup (a 3D modeling software) and trying to weed out the important information, I managed to put up my dream home. But was it all I hoped for? To be honest, yes and no! Why? I had no clue what goes together, how to meld my lifestyle with my design aesthetic, and so much more. So what's a girl to do? I enrolled in school! That's right! Funny, you might think... study to put up your dream home? But yes, that is what I did (although it was after the fact). I love my home and I am still constantly changing/rearranging and making it better. In this site, I will tell you what my mistakes were (and how to avoid them), what I did, and most importantly, what I did right!!!

Check out my column at GMA Lifestyle for more TIPS, TRICKS and STORIES about art and interior design.

Now, for the long story!

For those who are new to my site or maybe you just don't know, let me give you a story of how I myself got into interior design. A few months before I got married, my ex-boyfriend, now husband, and I were looking for a home to rent. Yes, it was something that we both wanted. We needed a home where we can build a family. My husband's friend had invited us to their place and it was a small community and we loved it. So we decided to go look around for available townhouses for rent. And that was it... the first time I saw this home, it was love at first sight. The walls were sponge-painted in peach and cream, the trims were a beautiful faux pine (yep, didn't really care it was faux) and it was quite simply a gorgeous country style home. Very unique especially during that time when interior design wasn't as popular as it is now.

It was quite small but I was in love, and my hubby being such a pleaser immediately booked that quaint little country home (in the city)! I had a small garden too and a boxer named Rocky who was our "baby" until we had our own child. We bought our dining set and bed from Blims. Both were Malaysian rubber wood, varnished in the same yellow pine color that matched our home. I had those country stoneware for our plates and the sofa in a bright yellow German leather (gifted by my father-in-law) was simply perfect.

My second home was somewhat bigger, and it was the first time I have ever renovated. Since I loved cooking, I definitely had a bigger kitchen with the mosaic tiles I've always dreamed of. I had a huge built-in closet with sliding doors and a dresser. I loved our space too. My usual way of updating our home was simply buying new throw pillows, curtains or table linen.

Now, my third home where I currently live in was the dream. It was the dream I never really thought I'd get to fulfill that soon. It took us a year to build. I designed everything myself except for the kitchen which somehow, I thought was ok (now with the major regrets!!!). That was it. I fell madly, deeply, passionately in love with design. There was no turning back. I loved looking at tiles, finishes, hardware. You name it, I looked for it.

Oh yeah, there were mistakes. I only realized that when I was living in it. Mostly on making my design cohesive, but also plenty on the kitchen -- which I hardly focused on at all (yeah, I should have known better). It wasn't easy. There were several difficulties during construction as well. Sometimes, I couldn't really understand everything the foreman was saying or there were construction problems I didn't know how to solve. Other times, it was furnishing our home. At the time, furniture sourcing was more difficult. I've now changed my dining set because it was awful! Not the dream set I was looking for too.

After that, I decided to pursue my passion into a career. Being the lucky wife, my husband agreed! So 3 houses and 20 years later, I am now here recalling these moments with you, wishing to share more insights on my passion for interiors and hoping you learn as well from my lessons!

If you're here, I am sure you are interested in how to make things work for your own space, whether it's a condominium unit, a townhouse, your own workplace, or maybe your business. This website is all about learning tips, tricks and interior designer secrets and what goes on behind my creative adventures! 

In my free time, I draw, sketch, peruse magazines online and offline(!), and watch the latest movies. I love traveling to different places, enjoying each country's rich culture, food, history and architecture.

Let's be partners in enhancing your interiors! Check my online design services and follow me on Facebook and Instagram.