Growing up in their grandmother’s home, interior design duo Cyndi and Happy Fernandez reveled in objects of nostalgia. An inveterate traveler, their lola, Dr. Felipa Flores, owner of a hospital in Pampanga, collected glass and brass figurines and displayed these mementos in exquisite cabinetry in her formal living room.
“There was an elegant detail in every corner of a room—from the walls that were tastefully decorated with mouldings, beveled mirrors and damask wallpapers to the Italian mosaic tiles in the bathroom,” recalled Happy in an e-mail.
A couple of mid-century modern pieces stood out for the sisters: the butler cabinet and the bar cart.
Today, the cabinet is an indulgence that is making a revival in home decor. The Fernandez’s design and events styling company, Moss Manila Design House, has produced its version of the butler cabinet in Philippine mahogany with a high-gloss finish. Their first version is done in emerald green, laced with laser-cut metal, circular patterns. The inside is upholstered in suede for a luxurious feel and is attached with racks for spirits. It complements a metallic, laser-cut butler’s cart with a mirrored top.
There were other period pieces such as the wing chair done with a pared-down silhouette and the étagère (French-made furniture) with curvy, laser-cut pattern, a reference to their grandma’s cabinet that displayed china. It is updated with a tubular framework, adorned with metallic laser-cut patterns that were welded together.
“These furnishings designed decades ago still look elegant to this day,” said Cyndi. “We wanted to put them back on the market. The design has to be equally sophisticated and visually strong. It’s functional and sensible, creating a sense of balance and order. Function and quality play a major element in timeless design.”
Grandma’s influence
the European influence. Moss Manila also shows its
brand of styling.
The designers attribute their style—a combination of transitional design, maximalism and modern glam—to the influence of their grandmother. Combining straight lines and curves, Moss Manila’s furniture pieces harmonize masculine and feminine, traditional and modern qualities for a comfortable and current look.
The scale of the pieces is ample, and the embellishments are kept simple to emphasize the refinement of the design or the quality of the surface treatments.
Moreover, the sisters wanted to offer unique styles and cater to their clients’ needs. “Clients look for richness in our fabric textures, customized patterns and shapes never seen before and colors that add glamour to their interiors,” said Cyndi.
Refreshing to the eye
Both graduates of the Interior Design program of University of Santo Tomas, the Fernandez sisters initially favored crisp, modern lines in their works. Experience and exposure led them to go for glamorous and edgy looks.
Travel plays a vital role for them. An immersion in Paris inspired them to adopt a refined and delicate scale in the furniture. The quatrefoil, a classical four-lobed pattern, was inspired by Old World designs. It has found its way in the butler’s tray.
While on a holiday, they hatched the idea for the Resort Collection. The sisters didn’t want to create a (visual) theme but rather a refreshing, luxe, resort vibe.
Painted in cool white, the Resort Collection is an interesting mix of individual pieces that don’t match. The combination of the clear Lucite trunk-table and the Art Deco bucket chair and laser-cut console keeps the room from looking too elaborate.
For texture, a faux fur ottoman lends a sensual touch to the pure white color palette. The bucket chair is given an angular frame and is paired with a round, laser-cut drinks table, a hot decor item today.
The white butler’s cabinet looks hip with oversized studded borders. The sisters also favor shiny surfaces such as mirrors, brass and carrara marble.
Happy conceptualizes the furniture and keeps an eye on production to maintain the high quality. She has established close ties with craftsmen, artisans, suppliers and the production facility.
“Mutual respect for each other is a key factor in maintaining the standards of our production,” she said.
Aside from furniture, Moss Manila also sources accessories such as agate from Brazil, brass-ware from India and ceramics from Thailand to spruce up the home.
Happy, who is based in California, constantly travels to source eye-catching collectibles. She and Cyndi have always had an affinity with corals and semiprecious stones; they love them not only for their versatility but also because these materials bring nature and warmth to the home.
“Corals are refreshing to the eye,” said Happy, “almost giving you a sense of being on vacation instantly. And it’s a neutral decor that you can slip it in any part of the room.”
Go-to stylist
Moss Manila has also become the go-to event stylist especially for the upscale market. Among its clients are Hermés, Jul Dizon, Lucerne and the recent Dingdong Dantes-Marian Rivera wedding.
For the latter, the company created a garden setting at the entrance of the wedding reception area.
Being seasoned interior designers, the Fernandez sisters incorporate their trademark style of furniture placement, and space planning, tying up all the details for a pulled-together look.
Their experience in designing events has taught the sisters to work quickly and efficiently in their interior design projects. “For commercial projects, we look at international brand codes for events and wisely marry brand rule and imaging that is translated into an effective commercial interior design,” said Cyndi.
A spinoff of the sisters’ business is Moss Manila Home for home staging, an American term for making a house more appealing. “We are presenting a service for clients who would want to have their house revamped/ face-lifted without the hassle of a full construction and a long timetable,” said Cyndi.
“It is fast-paced and turn key,” she added. “We come in one day for a scheduled ocular and a few weeks of gathering materials, much like in an event. We come back to transform a room through ‘soft furnishings’ such as curtains, accent chairs, reupholstered sofas, throw pillows and accessories.”
Cyndi said she and Happy can easily deal with swift changes.
“With this, our expertise in ‘quick transformations’ in event styling comes into a great advantage for a residential client,” said Cyndi.
We asked the sisters what’s the easiest way to spruce up a room.
Happy said: “Decorate the walls. Add a mirror or some wall art. We carry these sea urchin-looking wall decor that I absolutely adore. They can be easily hung in a random pattern on the wall. They’re bold, dramatic, and definitely not boring.”
Cyndi: “Introduce a pop of color or add a patterned floor or wall. Many are afraid to use color in decorating. For starters, choose fabrics and finishes in the same color family. You don’t need to match them so your room looks put together but not contrived. Patterns add depth to a room. I make sure of incorporating these in our interiors. It can be of different materials—from laser cut metal or wood patterns, to floor patterns or wallpaper. It adds that missing focal point to an otherwise boring room.”
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