Written By: Marge C. Enriquez

Like it or not, Filipinos are pack rats. It takes a great deal of time and justification to get many of us to part with even certain possessions that never leave the storage areas. 

Since most houses come with built-in cabinets and shelves, it is the easiest thing to stash items and blur them from memory until full-on clutter spills out of closets and into every aspect of domestic life.

Inveterate shoppers often end up forgetting what’s inside those boxes piled up in their cabinets. Hence, designers prescribe modular storage, an ergonomic system with more, and better thought-out, compartments.

“Professional designers can help put such a system in place,” says interior designer/entrepreneur Jigs Adefuin. The system is conducive to efficient organizing and, therefore, helps in the swift location and retrieval of items.

Seamless look

If aesthetics is a dealbreaker, modular storage lends a seamless look to any space by keeping appliances in cabinetry and possessions neatly tucked away. Static shelves, by contrast, tend to attract dust and look messy, simply because objects are left out in the open.

For so long, Adefuin found it challenging to find the right modular system that would fit his designs or his client’s budget. “The options for wardrobe compartments and kitchen cabinetry are limited especially in the finishes, materials and configurations. Other brands are too expensive,” says Adefuin.

“European brands are valued for their advance technology, hardware and heritage. The lifespan of European modular kitchens lasts for more than 20 years. But the market needs options which offer quality systems at a fraction of the cost of famous brands,” he adds.

A principal from ZBom (pronounced zee-bom) Home Collections, a specialist in cabinetry research from China, approached Adefuin. A major Asian brand, ZBom manufactures its products with German intelligent machinery and uses German hardware. The global brand was looking for an interior designer who had a showroom to showcase its systems.

Adefuin’s namesake Sigvard Selections at LRI Plaza in Makati was fit for the company. Adefuin and managing partner Oliver Ortiz agreed to be franchisees because the brand would fill the gap for an affordable modular system. He explains that in condominium projects, expensive carpentry labor must be maximized within the short working time allowed by the property management.

 Moreover, toxic paints, though durable, are prohibited. Modular storage units are the solution since the ready-made shelves, cabinets and drawers are easily installed on the walls.

 Price

Adefuin says the price of the system depends on the configuration of the storage and the materials. The most affordable materials are laminates or artificial composites while the most expensive are sintered stone, a sturdy material with a natural stone base.

 These systems deliver versatile solutions. A modular system in the living room will frame the entertainment system while the sides are flanked with bookshelves and knickknacks in glass cabinets.

Backlit panels add visual depth. In the dining room, a modular system can display the china and silver. “Some systems can double as a buffet cabinet with drawers to hide the tableware,” says Adefuin. Kitchen systems can supply a wine storage and hide bulky appliances for a clean look.

“You can have shelves for plates and glasses for daily use, storage for heavy-duty pots and pans and a small pantry,” he adds. If your home can afford a walk-in closet, you can have the luxury of cabinetry for shoes and bags. “The shelves can be enclosed in glass and each system can be lit from inside. It’s a great way to display personal collections,” says Adefuin.

 “As hoarders, Filipinos think they can never have enough storage space. A storage system was invented to provide order and easy access to their belongings.” —CONTRIBUTED INQ

ZBOM is at Sigvard Selections, Suite 117 G/F LRI Design Plaza, 210 N. Garcia St., Bel-Air II, Makati City; tel. 88901508; email inquiry@zbommanila. ph; zbomhome.com

ADVT