August 10, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Ferdinand “Ferdie” Ong, general manager of Living Innovations, loves to explore space — that is, his own personal space.
On a bright balmy day, Ferdie welcomes us to his place at 9 Sheridan St., Mandaluyong, amid the vibrant greenery of the Greenfield District. “This is our newest, biggest showroom,” he tells us as we sit on a long sofa. “We have different showrooms all over Metro Manila, but this is the biggest space (all of 1,200 sq.m.) where we collaborate all the brands that we have, around 10 to 12. We are a multi-brand destination for all your home lifestyle needs. We have everything here — living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, outdoor accessories, lamps, vases, little things to put in the home. Sometimes, we also have paintings from Europe.”
Enter the state-of-the-art Living Innovations Experience Hub and get ready for a space adventure like no other. In a simulated home space, different brands come together to create a cohesive setting. These home solutions, each one a loyal partner of Living Innovations over the decades, showcase the best in luxury and design that the company has long been known for.
The Hub boasts a double-height central space with a six-meter ceiling, simulating a magnificent living room for customers to envision and fully appreciate the grandeur of their future homes at scale.
Ferdie Ong, Living Innovations general manager, welcomes customers to the Living Innovations Experience Hub, where they can work with in-house designers and simulate their desired living spaces, choosing pieces from a range of European luxury home brands.
Buon Giorno, italy!
It was 23 years ago when a dynamic young man of 22 flew to Milan to look for a business partner. “Milan is usually where you get exposed to commercial spaces,” Ferdie relates.
We ask Ferdie, “What makes Italian furniture world-class?”
He quickly replies, “Just like their clothes and luxury goods, Italians have very good taste in terms of design. The area where they make furniture, all of them are in that space. In that region, they’re all specialized furniture people — one does the fabric, one does the glass, one does the feet. The whole community cultivates that kind of quality.”
Indeed, it’s the quality that makes Italian furniture (and other European brands you’ll find at Living Innovations) world-class. “We have things that last for a long time, like 30 years, like forever,” Ferdie asserts.
Mari Jasmine Concepcion, co-founder and creative director of Hong Kong-based textile brand Flowe, created a space highlighted by a she-shed (a private room where a woman may indulge in her hobbies and interests), using the brands Tacchini, Knoll and Lema.
Create your own space — and memories
With its elegant showcases, the Hub is a place to explore realistic mock-ups of various design options so clients can visualize and refine their choices with confidence. They can select the best pieces from a whole range of furniture and furnishings from renowned brands like Casamilano, Gallotti&Radice, Tacchini, Knoll, Lema, Gandia Blasco and Dedon.
Recognizing the need for interactive spaces, the Hub’s modern meeting areas feature mobile screens, digital whiteboards and projectors to eliminate the guesswork often associated with traditional consultations.
“We can create different spaces for you,” says Ferdie. “This is a flexi space, our warehouse is right within the structure, so we can bring out the items for you to choose.”
In addition, Living Innovations typically works with interior designers, architects, people from the trade to help clients create a space that perfectly reflects their unique personality and lifestyle.
Living Innovations is as passionate about the quality of its products as it is about after-sales service. “Service is very much a part of our business,” Ferdie stresses. “More than the product, the company takes care of its clients and it’s important how we serve and treat them. We don’t just leave them after buying from us. We’re here for the long haul.”
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