Sister Act
Two teams of creative sisters behind the design houses, Philux and Bea Valdes respectively, come together and unleash their Hearth furniture collection
The hearth is the centre of any home. A space for leisure, relaxtion, and play, moments here eventually create the inspiration that are the undercurrents of any successful project. The hearth, too, is a space for minds to meet, under a convivial spirit where creativity serves as currency.
Two tales of craftsmanship intertwine in this design collaboration by Philux and Bea Valdes. Behind these brands are the Kienle and Valdes sisters who come from generations of families in the furniture and fine jewellery businesses, respectively. Both brands are proudly homegrown and employ all-filipino teams of craftsmen: from carpenters to upholsterers, and seamstresses to beaders.
It all began when Stephanie and Jessica reached out to Bea and Marga for a potential collaboration. The four ladies sat down for a meeting a few weeks later. As serendipity would have it, Stephanie and Jessica Kienle, and Bea Valdes were all pregnant then. One year and three babies later, the fourth baby is finally here—hearth!
The creative process between them was quite fluid and instinctive. Things evolved naturally with inputs flowing freely from both sides. Each piece of the Hearth Collection developed organically without necessarily following a structure. In essence, everything just all came together.
Bea Valdes and Philux have joined forces to create unique pieces that convey Filipino craftsmanship and artistry. The sisters selected the pieces together, all of which are existing Philux designs—some classic, some more contemporary. They wanted to enhance the contrast of raw natural materials with Bea’s signature detailing—always very ornate and beautifully meticulous. This collaboration is all about textures and details. A lot of sequins, beads, crocodile skin, and paint went into the Hearth collection. From Philux’s signature furniture styles in combination with Valdes’ artistic hand work, emerges a tribute to the contemporary Filipino home, a playful perspective on local luxury.