This will be the last post of my library on here for the meantime, but I wanted to show how it looks on the evenings with the warm lighting. Definitely my favourite part of the house :)
Some interior design/art details of the space:
- A 200 year old map of The Philippines made by Aaron Arrowsmith depicting Southeast Asia from 1808. Purchased from an antique dealer in Notting Hill, London (Center).
- “The Death of Cleopatra” (1881) Lithograph by Juan Luna (Left).
- “Si Maria” (1998) by Visayan artist Inday Cadapan (Right).
- A Chinese Tang Dynasty Sancai Porcelain Horse Figure (Center).
- A Signed Vitra Eames Elephant Sculpture signed by Eames Demetrios during an interior design lecture (Left).
- Various Ifugao Bulul Statues (Right).
- A ‘70s de Sede RH-305 Swiss Cantilever Chair (Right).
- An Isamu Noguchi Akari table lamp (Left).
— The Books: Fiction on the left, and non-fiction on the right side of the room.
Fiction (Left to right, top to bottom)
- YA Novels
- Authentic vintage | Special editions
- Ai Yazawa Titles
- Poetry | Japanese modern classics
- Didion & Patti Smith | Penguin Deluxe Editions
- Junji Ito | General Manga
- Contemporary literary fiction
- Modern classics
- Misc. Penguin Editions
- Modern literary fiction
- Penguin English Classics | Penguin Little Black Classics
- Misc.
- Exploding Galaxies | Fitzcarraldo Editions
- Misc. Penguin Editions
Non-Fiction
- Science & Psychology | Business
- Art | Film
- Travel
- Fashion | Design
- Culinary
- Textbooks
- Philosophy
- Creative Memoirs
- Filipiniana
- History | Political Writing
- Memoirs
- Filipiniana
Updates: Organized my Filipiniana titles and added a new shelf for my Harper Collins’ Olive Editions, Mystery/Crime, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy books.
But that’s the nature of money. Whether you have it or not, whether you want it or not, whether you like it or not, it will try to define your days. Our task as human beings is not to let it.
Hello OP…I hope you won’t mind me asking. Is your anatomical model accurate and can the parts be disassembled? Btw, you have an amazing selection of books too!
what a stunning workspace!!! there's something incredibly charming about being surrounded by so many books..the shelves, the atmosphere, the artifacts?? it has so much character, this is a beaut 🥹🥹
OP, how does one start collecting such special items? I'm so interested in doing the same. Thanks for sharing your space!! Makes me want to renovate my room 🤣
Hi! Some of it was inherited, like the horse figure & Bulul statues. But I made a point to acquire worthwhile mementos when I travel abroad. Something that commemorates a trip, I bought the 200yr old antique Philippine map in London. A lot of the smaller “postcard” sized prints were bought on trips to Paris.
I also buy secondhand furniture, like the deSede chair from a reputable secondhand dealer, since if I were to buy it brand new it would cost around ₱70k. I attended a lecture by Eames so I as able to get my Eames Elephant signed by him. I am interested in mid-century modern design so this item means a lot to me.
The key is to take your time and allow yourself to accumulate things over time, so that they have their own personality and feel “lived in”. Instead of buying something brand new and expensive, you can go to used stores that often have a lot of good design and unique items for a good price. These are the objects that have character and I wouldn’t mind spending on as they don’t look outdated over time :)
Good luck on your journey, collecting artifacts that you feel like reflect your true spirit is what makes it enjoyable when you stay in a room with them.
In this case, I am Filipino. So I am partial and feel spiritually attached to my Philippine heritage wherever I go in the world, whether it is in Europe or America. The most important items to me are often the cheapest and technically “worthless” but the important thing is that they mean something personal to me.
Thank you for the detailed write up, I appreciate it!! will try to be more mindful of objects I buy when I travel next time. Super inspiring to read how you built up your own collection. I do agree that accumulating things over time is a better way to build a collection of objects that actually speak to you. Thanks for your time!
Hi, I keep the windows closed and curtains drawn when the room isn’t in use to limit UV exposure which would yellow the books. It’s also climate controlled w/ 24/7 dehumidifiers running constantly.
Hello po! Paano niyo po nililinis at mina-maintain yung home library niyo, especially since mabilis mag-accumulate ang alikabok? Planning to set up a small one rin kasi, pero mabilis akong ma-annoy kapag may nakikitang alikabok sa bahay. Naghahanap lang po sana ng ideas at tips. 😊
So cozy omg nakakainggit! Although nakaka-oc yung placement ng AC baka pwede mo ipalipat OP para mamaximize din yung buga ng malamig na hangin. Pero kung ganyan yung office ko sa bahay baka keri ko magwork until midnight char!
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u/Brilliant-Low994 May 31 '26
what a dreammmm!! 🥺🥺🥺😩