PALM SPRINGS MEETS MOROCCO AND NEW YORK IN MACTAN
The home’s vibe feels like the Californian desert oasis with the sleek silhouette, whitewashed walls, patterned with breeze blocks and air vents, jolted with pops of color and patterns
The crystal blue swimming pool, nestled between a white mid-century-inspired house and a lush landscape and cacti, could have been in Palm Springs or Miami. But the cosmopolite owner and decorator, Stephen Aznar, said he echoed Morocco’s bohemian style in decorating his residence in Mactan, Cebu.
“Morocco is a clash of time and culture. You don’t know if you live in the present or in the past because there are cars and carriages. It won’t be long until it’s completely modernized,” he said.
The home’s vibe feels more like Palm Springs with the sleek silhouette, whitewashed walls, patterned with breeze blocks and air vents, jolted with pops of color and patterns. Breeze blocks are adobe blocks that have been piled up to form mosaic designs. They facilitate the breeze in the humid island and provide relief from the sun while the whiteness bounces off the sunlight.
The large windows and doors open to a landscape, paved with Mactan stone and smooth pebbles, and softened by large plantings. Hibiscuses, philodendrons and cigar plants are oriented toward the pool while monsteras and ti plants overlook the garden. The jacuzzi faces hedges of dragon’s tail and herbs such as curry leaves, galangal and turmeric. Flowering ginger plants grow in front of the gazebo.
Sojourns
The interiors reflect Aznar’s sojourns. The scion of one of Cebu’s most prominent families studied dentistry at Southwestern University, once owned by the Aznars. Instead of practicing dentistry, he went to New York and worked in the menswear department of Saks Fifth Avenue.
Following his passion for cooking, he studied culinary and wines at The New School and worked at the famous Chanterelle restaurant. Aznar ended up being a sommelier, working for Sherry Lehmann Wine and Spirits. He has visited the wine regions in California, France, Italy, South Africa, Australia
and New Zealand.
In the early aughts, he returned to Cebu to look after his father. Before the pandemic, he ran two restaurants—Café Elysa and Cocina dela Casa.
Channeling his hospitality roots, Aznar designed the Mactan property as an entertainment place with areas for conversation and intimate dining. “I entertain small groups. But the house isn’t enough for 15 guests. There are cabanas where you can eat anywhere or find your spot,” he said.
While the exterior suggests Palm Springs, the interiors feel more New York with the layered, eclectic look, slender white sofas and divans, and quirky Moroccan touches.
Culture-rich
Culture-rich like a New York abode, Aznar’s house displays a wooden cheetah on the table and tribal printed upholstery from Cape Town, a cabinet from Bhutan, Chinese chests and mirror frame, a mini Balinese ceremonial costume and sculpture, pillowcases from Istanbul, to name a few.
Then there are the Moroccan touches—stone flooring, horseshoe arches, hand-carved side tables, beaded pillowcases and wrought iron lanterns.
A Cebuano home is not complete without representations from local manufacturers. Kenneth Cobonpue’s Noodle Chairs and Marguerite Lhuillier’s lamp and accessories lend playfulness to the gazebo. Token contemporary chairs by R&Y Augousti contrast the vintage dining table and chairs.
To add to the resort feel, Aznar brings nature inside by using bold, patterned floral rugs and birds and leaf prints on throw pillows.
Despite the poolside view, the main living room with a surreal portrait from the Guggenheim Museum is not his sweet spot. He prefers to lounge around the pool or his boudoir in the morning; sit at the gazebo or chill on the 1910 antique daybed by midday and make use of the Wi-Fi signal on the second floor in the afternoon.
While most visitors would find solace in this place, Aznar feels restless, itching to fix up his other residence in the city and travel again.