When it comes to furnishing the home, it’s important to bear in mind that furniture, no matter the price tag, can make or break a space. Choosing the right pieces can transform even the simplest of homes from drab to fab.
The same guy who redefined luxury home furnishing almost 20 years ago recently expanded his offerings with the opening of Sovrano at the Shangri-La Fort in Bonifacio Global City. And this time, the link between fashion and the home has become more defined, the line separating the two more blurred, as three of Italy’s foremost fashion houses venture beyond fashion and deeper into lifestyle, which now includes personal spaces.
To understand where Sovrano is coming from, let’s first look at what preceded it and the man behind it all. Living Innovations was formed in 2002 by businessman and purveyor of fine tastes Ferdie Ong, who saw how limited furniture options back then were for Metro Manila’s discerning homeowners. This inspired and further emboldened him to bring to the country European brands, which reflect not only the stature, but also the discriminating tastes of his prospective customers who want only the best attributes of form and function when investing in high-end pieces for the home.
Starting with pieces ranging from indoor and outdoor furniture from brands such as Minotti and Dedon to kitchen systems and appliances from Gaggenau and Bulthaup to audiovisual systems from Bang & Olufsen, Living Innovations has constantly supplied discriminating Filipinos with high-end and top-quality furniture and accent pieces without the need to go or oder from abroad.
As a leader in its class, the company is now providing the market with easy and accessible options by showcasing home and lifestyle collections of notable Italian fashion houses such as Armani/Casa, Bottega Veneta and FENDI Casa. While Ong slowly redefined the landscape of home living, it was his patrons who gave him the idea of opening up Sovrano, his latest venture.
“We see a continued trend in heightened elegance and luxury,” he shares.
And following fashion trends as translated into exquisite home items by these three Italian fashion houses “is something we see [getting involved with] going forward,” Ferdi adds. “Filipinos have a sense of individuality on how luxury is perceived in their eyes and these brands offer them with more choices to consider.”
Although designed and made by fashion houses, there’s still a distinct difference between fashion and interior design. And the home items these three Italian global brands offer are no different.
Compared to bags and shoes, these furniture pieces give the customer more color and wider patterns and luxurious materials to choose from, not to mention a longer lifespan in terms of styles and workmanship. In other words, unlike fashion items, these pieces are more impervious to passing seasons.
As distinct houses in themselves, the three brands also offer unique pieces that are far from interchangeable from one another since they each represent their respective brand’s DNA.
Strangely though, as Ong also attests, they also compliment one another: “Armani/Casa is very clean with straight lines, but offer really nice textures and printed patterns. FENDI Casa, although offering generally more colorful pieces than the other two, has also managed to produce elegant pieces. Bottega Veneta pieces are very evident in the way they highlights the house’s woven leather heritage, creating subtle luxury through craftsmanship.”
Armani/Casa is veteran Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani’s adaptation of dressing everyday living spaces in the same way his classic and handsome designs dress people. His furniture pieces are said to define sophisticated comfort through simple lines and seamless proportions with elegant and refined finishes.
Italian high fashion brand Bottega Veneta, on the other hand, is widely renowned for its use of letter and intricate intrecciato pattern. The brand’s distinct use of the finest materials to create their fashion pieces were extended to the same refined designs seen in their furniture and accent pieces. Indeed, as Ong reiterates, Bottega Veneta’s home items are marriage between fine luxury and impeccable craftsmanship.
FENDI Casa paved the way for the Rome-based fashion house to launch its line of furniture and home décor, specifically upholstered furniture, with an elegant, sophisticated and timeless look. Since it ventures closer on the vibrant side, pieces from these brand provide an ideal contrast when mixed with the other two brands.
And what’s the secret to Living Innovations’ longevity. Nearly two decades later, its success, without a doubt, is traced to Ferdi’s passion, keen eye and hands-on approach. His personal touch extends to the furniture pieces that will go into his showroom, personally choosing particular pieces and styles he knows would appeal to his clients. At the same time, he allows these brands to shine by giving them an ideal venue to showcase their best pieces.
“Of course, a great deal of input comes from me. But at the same time, I allow my appreciation for the finer points of each brand to point me in the right direction,” he concludes.
Living Innovations’ newly opened showroom, Sovrano, is located at Shangri-La at The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For more information, visit www.livinginnovations.ph and www.sovrano.ph.
