“Sometimes I even play Christmas music in July …,” Rowena Gonzales admits. Stepping into her charming Spanish townhouse on the island of Ma Wan, it’s clear that Christmas isn’t just a festival for her and her family, it’s a state of mind, much like how a house isn’t just a space for the interior designer, it’s an extension of the occupants’ character.
“Your home should be a reflection of your personality, connect the people inside, enhance your well-being and connect you to our earth harmoniously,” Gonzales says about a “good” living space. The Filipino-Canadian interior designers established interior designing firm Liquid Interiors almost two decades ago with a specific approach of creating bespoke spaces fitting for the homeowners’ holistic wellbeing, goals and dreams.
The Spanish arched windows that drew Gonzales to this home in the first place
For her own home, Gonzales says, “I designed this place to be our family sanctuary — it’s relaxing, rejuvenating and connects us to each other and our deeper meaning in this world.” It only makes sense that Christmas resonates with her family so much when the festival, for them, is a culmination of just that.
Gonzales and her husband Jeff, daughter Mila, and son Mateo exchange presents before the fireplace
Past her home’s front garden is an ornate black iron front door embellished with an intricate capiz parol — a star-shaped ornamental lantern traditionally hung by Filipinos during the festive season. Inside, an elaborate Christmas tablescape of flickering candles and gilded plates twinkle on the long dining table next to the windows where light filters through, casting shadows of the garden foliage on the billowy sheer curtains. Next to the cosy fireplace sits a Christmas tree topped off with a capiz star and festooned with glinting capiz doves. Gonzalez reminisces on visiting the craftswomen at Hacineda Crafts in the Philippines with her son Mateo who was only 2 at the time. She left in awe of the craftswomen’s care for the planet, making crafts only using the resources available including the iridescent capiz shells commonly found in the Philippines. Years after her visit, Gonzalez custom ordered these capiz doves from Hacineda Crafts for the dove’s symbolism of tranquillity and peace which resounds through the home itself.
An elaborate Christmas tablescape of flickering candles and gilded plates twinkle on the long dining table
“I lived in this area for 7 years and every time I passed this home I would always tell my running partner that I wanted to live there,” Gonzales remembers when she first fell in love with the house, “I think I was like a broken record.”
Gonzales adds a fireplace in the living room, moving the television away to create a peaceful living space
Little did she know that the terra cotta house that originally served as a vacation home in the 70’s also housed a fire-engine-red kitchen and rundown washrooms. Yet there simply was one exceptional feature Gonzales couldn’t pass up on: Spanish architectural designs. These elegant details later became the heartbeat of her renovation.
Gonzales custom made capiz doves from Hacineda Crafts for its symbolism of peace
“I have always wanted to live in a Spanish villa and this townhouse really stood out architecturally,” Gonzales explains. The exterior white stucco walls are dotted with arched windows that peep into the welcoming open-concept space complete with an ornate wrought iron staircase that echoes the wrought iron front door. Keeping with these Spanish trappings, Gonzales decided to go “traditional” with the interior design by including rustic wood detailing in the bathroom cabinets, classic brass sanitary fixtures, a feature exhaust hood in the kitchen and the addition of the fireplace in the living room.
Liquid Interiors Founder Rowena Gonzales wearing Vania Romoff Studio
Gonzales adds rustic wood detailing in the bathroom cabinets and pairs them with classic brass sanitary fixtures
“Our home has a lot of family bonding space, but I also love how we have many spaces for everyone to have their own personal daily retreats and get some alone creative time,” Gonzales says. While the pink front garden is her daughter Mila’s dream come true, the TV room is her son Mateo’s retreat, and the living room her husband Jeff’s favourite place because it’s where the family spends most of their time. As for Gonzales, the bedroom brings her the most joy.
“After many years with kids pushing me off of a tiny bed in our old place, it’s such a nice feeling to have more space,” Gonzales says, “I wake up every morning and can see the greenery outside.” On her bedside table is a different kind of greenery, a small Christmas tree made of pearls, the same type used in the dove ornaments. Next to her tall potted plant is a powder blue armchair where she loves to spend time reading or helping her son with homework. Somewhere nearby, a desk name plate reads “Best Mom In The World”.
Editor
Karrie LamCredit
Photography: Natalie Dunn
