THE HOME AS AN EXTENSION SELF TO THE
OPULENCE DESIGN CONCEPT features statement-making pieces for the home
Standing in the midst of Greenhills’ Connecticut Street is a newly refurbished space in the mid-century modern style. Rather than being populated by pieces of the Ettore Sottsass persuasion, it is home to some of the most luxurious furniture brands in the metro, like Fornasetti, the famed Italian brand named after the eponymous artist and whose work prominently displayed the face of opera singer Lina Cavalieri.
The brainchild of husband and wife team Gerry and Jinky Sy, Opulence Design Concept was conceived with the intention of making luxury dreams a reality. “We shared a vision for making well-crafted luxury furniture, modular kitchens, wardrobes, and home décor items more accessible to every homeowner,” says Gerry.
This expert curation of home and design pieces belies years of experience in the furniture industry, but surprisingly, the Sys have their background in business solutions and information technology. “Our expertise is in Hotel and Residential Providing Automation Solutions, Audio Visual Systems, and Security Surveillance Systems,” says Gerry. This seems, on first thought, anathema to each other, but Gerry says it actually helps: “With the wide range of clientele, we decided to give more value by expanding into interiors and designs.”
Because of their partnerships with global brands like Samsung, Harman, Microsoft, Dell, AMX, and Bosch, they were able to convince principals like Fornasetti, Stosa, MisuraEmme, and more to enter the local market. “Our ability to establish relationships with clientele from hospitality, residential, architecture, and interior design is what gave us the credibility to these luxury brands to make us their official partner in the Philippines,” says Gerry.
Opulence Design Concept enters a highly competitive local arena full of multi-brand showrooms, which Gerry believes is due to the burgeoning interest of Filipinos in styling their personal spaces beyond necessities. “This is favorable for Opulence because we offer impeccably designed Italian products,” he says. Despite the increasingly saturated market, Gerry believes they stand out because their wares run the gamut of everything one could need and want in a home. “We provide the complete offering,” he says, “from furniture, appliances, modular kitchens, walk-in wardrobe, and wiring devices.”
The Peter Ong-designed showroom, in collaboration with the Sys, was envisioned with the objective to create an image of an opulent home for the guests and as an aspiration for their own homes. The building is complemented with appliances from Samsung, audiovisual by Harman, and wiring devices by Vimar.
“Home,” says Gerry “is an extension of one’s persona. It is an expression of personal style.” He is a proponent in the idea that the choices made for a dwelling are accurate reflections of aspirations, preferences, and inclinations. “In the integration of luxury and strong design elements into space, one essentially makes a declaration and commitment to build a life well-lived,” he says. “With this in mind, we are inspired to bring a piece of luxury to every home.”