30 CEMEX+ME 1st Half of 2004 /MANILA, PHILIPPINES Text by Gay Domingo Photos by Alfred Mendoza Shot on location at Deco Centrum EDSA corner Annapolis Street San Juan, Metro Manila (telephones 7225592 and 722-5596) PASSION +STYLE Design by Jonathan G. Matti
JONATHAN G. MATTI, DESIGN DIRECTOR of Jonathan G. Matti Design Associates, is passionate about what he does. It shows in the excited way that he relates how the visitors in a home that he just finished were so im<strong>press</strong>ed with the finished product that they made a very tempting offer to the house’s owner. “They fell in love with the house and the price they gave was quite attractive!” Jonathan enthuses. The homeowner, who had no intention of selling his place, is still pondering the sale. Sale or no sale, Jonathan is very pleased. For him, the offer to buy was one of the best compliments that he received. “It’s heartwarming to know that we did a good job,” he says. Jonathan believes in working closely with his clients and making sure that he is aware of his clients’ needs and budget. “One should be sensitive to the expenses that the client will incur.” “Involved” describes how Jonathan does business. “I’m on top of each and every project,” he admits. Their firm only accepts a maximum of five projects at a time so that Jonathan could focus on each and every project. He’s thankful that through the years, he’s built up a steady client base, many of whom have become close friends. “I feel so blessed that clients keep coming back,” he says. “Most of them are repeat clients.” TRENDSPOTTING WITH JONATHAN Being in the design business <strong>for</strong> over a decade, Jonathan has developed an eye <strong>for</strong> upcoming trends. His <strong>for</strong>ecast? “These days, there’s a backlash of the bare sphere. Today, we see more detail, a little bit of color,” says Jonathan. He cites tribal art, crystals, chandeliers, and photographs (not family pictures but dramatic images) as the new accessories <strong>for</strong> today’s homes. Tribal art, Jonathan singles out, could be easily mixed and matched with antique colonial furniture. Silver is always a staple in Jonathan Matti's designs. "Silver always gives a place a subtler shimmer," he says. Opposite page: Interior designer & architect Jonathan Matti in his office Above: Minimalist is out, elaborate fixtures like chandeliers are in. About Jonathan: Jonathan G. Matti went into design, simply because he loved it. He finished BS Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas. He wanted to live in Europe after graduation, but then his first project came along. In the beginning, he did everything himself, including drafting the plans. When more projects started pouring, Jonathan was able to hire people so that he could focus on giving the clients quality and personalized service. Their firm has done designs <strong>for</strong> residential, commercial, and retail establishments. Jonathan reveals that most of their projects are still homes. "Homes are the lifeline of our company and I just get immersed in each and every one of them," says Jonathan. He is an avid collector of arts and antiques, particularly paintings and colonial Filipino furniture. One of the projects that he’s involved in right now is his own home, which is taking <strong>for</strong>ever, as he is his hardest client.
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