WHEN LUXURY IS A NECESSITY

Well-designed private and public spaces can be an impetus for change in the way communities respond to the work/life needs of its inhabitants.

CASA BELLA Home and Living Corporation has been catering to tasteful clients for a decade now. In its beautiful showrooms on Jupiter St. in Belair Makati City, one will find only the most luxurious and elite brands such as Cassina, Moroso,  Cattelan Italia, Ditre Italia, Novamobili, Henge and Kettal, including  reinterpreted iconic pieces from the world’s greatest architects, artists and designers. Casa Bella has introduced brands that have the most beautiful and iconic furniture pieces in our times by well renowned designers all over the world.

Joseph Tay and Stephanie Coyuito-Tay are the young powerhouse couple behind this successful and ever-growing enterprise, proving that life partners can run a business successfully and lucratively together. However, it is Stenie, as family and good friends call her, who has always had this passion for design.  It is a trait which she inherited from her mother, Elena, whom she describes as a “person of eclectic tastes”, and who fancied contemporary style, often mixing classic European pieces with Philippine Art. Her mother influenced her taste heavily.  As a result she developed a love for the modern, minimalist vibe of mid-century as well as the new designs which combine aesthetics with functionality and uncompromising quality. 

While developing strong relationships with their clients, The Tay’s realized that decorating one’s home is a very personal endeavor that can bring harmony and joy to one’s living spaces. They realized that their competitive advantage would be if they can provide not only total design needs and concerns but for the family’s general lifestyle as well. This led the couple to explore other exciting adventures related to this unique service outlook. A cafe lounge as well as the Fig and Vine floral Studio were eventually added to their Belair building. 

In 2014, the couple developed Design Story, now one of the country’s best one-off resources that offers a vast array of exclusive designer brand furniture, home furnishings, and accessories like Hay, with its simple Scandinavian style; the midcentury-modern character of &Tradition and Verner Panton and the Asian aesthetics of Stellar Works. 

Recently, Design Story opened an exciting new showroom right here in our community at The Alley at Karrivin Plaza in Chino Roces Extension, a burgeoning art and lifestyle destination.  Design Story in The Alley is a gallery-like enclave that invites people to check out the most carefully curated designer furniture, light fixtures and home accessories. Building upon the idea of creating an “experiential showroom”,  Design Story aims to provide a safe and relaxing space where home enthusiasts and professionals can admire and enjoy pieces or sets that exude personality, mindfulness, and impeccable taste. It aims to become a haven for anyone in need of dedicated and discerning home solutions to dress up a home office, re-design a living area, spruce up outdoor space, or simply breathe new life into their homes - a challenge all homeowners and homemakers have to contend with since the start of the pandemic. 

As more people spend time indoors, Stenie Tay observed a new surge in home design trends. Good outdoor furniture became needed  as people began spending more time in lanais and gardens, and started building houses out of town. Mid-century modern collectible items are also increasingly popular, proving that in hard times, it is “value for money” prevails. Flexible spaces in the home to provide both work areas for the adults, and study and play areas for the children are also in demand. 

The full Design Story experience is completed by a new cafe /bar  concept called Three Squares located right in the middle of the showroom.  It offers a unique take on signature dishes like beetroot hummus, smoked salmon toast, roast beef sandwich and pasta vongole to name a few, washed down with unique hand-crafted coffee and cocktail drinks. The restaurant gives visitors a feel of the total Design Story vibe and style from food pairing to presentation to settings. 

Then, in September 2018, the enterprising couple launched Taylor Living,

beautifully-designed American contemporary pieces with a touch of Art Deco stylish, sophisticated and functional high end, and sustainable. Taylor Living offered clients an opportunity to create lively luxurious spaces with pieces from a wide selection of genres, fabrics, leathers, finishes and customizations that can transform  their homes into a reflection of their lifestyle and personal taste. Modern desks, bookshelves, cabinets and chairs complemented a comprehensive array of  Pattern Pad wallpapers, Mirrino lighting fixtures to create a stylish yet functional and collaborative “work from home” space easily. Taylor Living also has an outdoor collection that can dress up all outdoor spaces

from the lanai to the garden, from gazebo to poolside, and more.

Completing CASA BELLA’s portfolio of products and services is Contract World, founded in 2015.  It is the collective’s contract business unit and total furniture solutions provider for projects. It targets the private and commercial market sphere, provides for offices, hotels, residential condominiums, resorts, restaurants and other institutions such as schools. Aside from working with all the other brands CASA BELLA already represents, Contract World also works with other global brands that manufacture high-quality office, lifestyle, outdoor furniture and revolutionary accessories  such as Humanscale, Sunon, Anglepoise, Vondom, Ohmmm, Kian and Oppein. 

CASA BELLA’s continued success lies not only in the fact that it markets the most sophisticated, best-designed and most functional products of the highest quality, but that it is also dedicated to meet the total design needs of their esteemed and justifiably demanding clientele, the cream of Filipino socio-political and business elite. This proves that well-designed private and public spaces can be an impetus for change in the way communities respond to the work/life needs of its inhabitants.

Joseph and Stenie Tay’s CASA BELLA has truly become the New Normal standard of quality and stylish home and office furniture and design solutions.