A SENSE OF HOMELINESS Genteel Home hopes to revitalize the local home furnishing industry through its handwoven solihiya design

What makes a house a home?

Some might say it’s the people who reside in it who give it life. For others, it’s the familiarity of the area, knowing full well you are in safe hands when you know your surroundings well enough. What most might not think of right away would be the furniture silently living alongside its tenants. Can you imagine a home without furniture? It’d be nearly impossible. Just thinking of a barren apartment would fill your mind with ideas of how to occupy every empty space before your eyes. Even a minimalist, whose home might seem barren given how spacious their places tend to be, finds ways to fill in empty spaces to make his domain feel lived in. And what better way to find ways to fill such empty spaces than at a furniture expo? Recently, the 11th Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation took place at the Marquee Mall in Pampanga. Taking center stage was Genteel Home, a premier furniture design studio in Angeles, Pampanga, which had just celebrated its 10-year milestone in the industry. It prides itself on its collection of meticulously crafted bespoke furniture pieces, a result of the talented Filipino craftsmen’s labor of love. “As a proudly Filipino brand and as a Kapampangan who takes immense pride in our craft, Genteel Home’s mission is to help revitalize the Philippines’ home furnishings industry,” says Genteel Home’s founder and principal designer Katrina de Leon. “By participating in events like this, we believe we are one step closer to our goal of making our country one of the top destinations for thoughtful, curated furniture pieces.”
Genteel Home’s brand is known for its handwoven solihiya design, where each rattan weave embodies the perfect marriage of form and function. The repetitive pattern not only reinforces the structure but also provides essential airflow, particularly in the tropical climate of the Philippines. Through the furniture, the brand has the power to turn any house into a home with the careful thought that goes into its curated furniture pieces. “We embrace you with our pieces, ensuring that we capture your essence and cater to your family’s every need. We are dedicated to enhancing not only lives but also the smallest spaces within your hard-earned investments. This is the essence of how we live to love,” said de Leon. With its awe-inspiring showcase, Genteel Home promises to captivate visitors and leave them with a profound appreciation of the artistry and elegance of bespoke furniture.