Your studio unit doesn't have to resemble a plain white box. Make it look and feel spacious with these easy-to-do design hacks. By Katherine Lopez


Living in a small space sure has its challenges. A studio unit nowadays can measure 20 sqm or less, but this doesn’t mean you are confined to living in a shoebox of a home. There are several creative ways to make a studio unit look bigger and no, we don’t mean tearing down walls or combining it with its adjacent condo unit. Here are some of these design hacks:


1. Use horizontal or diagonal elements.

“Owners can add horizontal lines as [accents] to get the illusion of a wide space. It could be a ceiling treatment, a floor layout, or wallpaper. They can also play with a diagonal pattern,” says architect Anthony Yan of Yan + Sotto Architects and Builders. If the shape of your studio unit is rectangular, place the horizontal elements on the shorter side of the wall to visually extend it.


4. Say no to bulky furniture.


5. Go for bespoke, multi-functional pieces.


opps read more : 5 ways that to create Your Studio Unit Look larger

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ALVEO Land recently introduced to the media an impressive 43-story structure called The Gentry Residences. This is part of the new masterplanned, multiuse development that includes a premium-grade office building on top of a prominent retail podium comprised of upscale commercial concepts.



Designed by internationally acclaimed architectural and design firm Benoy, The Gentry features a two-tower development - residential and office-with impressive façades that both sit on top of a common podium structure. The retail occupies the first three floors of the development.

The Gentry enjoys a premium address. It is located on Valero Street inside Barangay Bel-Air, Salcedo Village, which is the preferred location of the affluent. It is within the Makati central business district (CBD) and near the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati’s urban oasis.

Being both directly adjacent to the prominent Ayala Avenue and within the serene Salcedo Village, this premier location brings unparalleled access to all the city’s major business and social conveniences. Makati CBD’s retail and shopping destinations, recreation and leisure spots, hospitals and health facilities as well as churches and schools are easily accessible.

Rare investment chance

“The Gentry will enable you to own a piece of the Makati CBD,” said Jennylle S. Tupaz, chief operating officer of Alveo, the innovative real estate brand. “A prime location boasting of a strong multiuse concept makes it a rare and exciting opportunity for our clients,” she added.

The opportunity to own a piece of Makati CBD is very rare as the area is mostly built-up and property prices are high. The Gentry offers the chance to invest in a prime property that is located in Makati CBD and Salcedo Village, with a strong multiuse concept.

3 different components

According to Tupaz, The Gentry will feature three different components: an upscale residential tower with 40 percent glass ratio; a premium grade, LEED certified office tower; and a retail podium.

The three levels of upscale retail shops will house handpicked merchants to serve the round-the-clock needs of the residents, the office-goers and the neighboring Salcedo residents.

The integration of the different components will promote a unique lifestyle, making it a new convergence point which will gentrify the neighboring streets in Salcedo.

Each component will have seamless access to the rest of the district, while ensuring security between the private and public spaces.

Sustainable features

The development has two ventilation notches for residential corridors to maximize natural lighting and cross ventilation of fresh air, LED lighting in common areas and bathrooms, dual-flush toilets and low-flow valves.

The 40-percent glass ratio will allow more natural light in the building for enhanced living experience.

Unit configurations

Soon to rise in MCBD’s prestigious social and business hub, The Gentry Residences will comprise of a mix of studio units at 30 square meters, one-bedroom units at 54-65 sqm, two-bedroom units at 95 sqm and three-bedroom units at 124-145 sqm.

Units in the The Gentry Residences will be offered for an average of P170,000 per sqm.

The Gentry Residences will have a lobby designed to suit the upscale taste and lifestyle of its affluent residents.

Its amenity level on the ninth floor will feature a 20-meter lap pool and a kiddie pool, male and female shower and changing rooms, kid’s play area and flexible function rooms with outdoor spillover area. Amenities occupy more than 1,000 sqm.

Parking slots

Parking floors for the residential tower will be located at the podium level. There will be 391 residential parking slots. Residential parking entrance to podium parking levels is located along the 12-meter access road southeast of the property.

The Gentry showroom is located on the ground floor of Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City.

The Gentry Residences and retail component will be turned over by 2022.

Alveo Land sets the benchmark for innovation in Philippine real estate today. Armed with sharper foresight, unparalleled excellence and total commitment, it finds the means to provide the most innovative homes to make you live well. Alveo Land is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Land.

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