As the creative director known for founding the Sunnies brand, Martine Cajucom-Ho’s creative pursuits follow her even inside her home in Makati. For her sanctuary, she created a space that is inspired by play and curiosity.

Martine is known for her aesthetic, which often draws from the 1960s and 1970s, but with a modern twist.  “My design references always come back to the space-age era. I’m an endlessly curious Gemini, so the idea of space travel and other worlds has always fascinated me—which explains my obsession with retro-futurism and how people back then imagined the future. The Jetsons, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Barbarella, and the bulbous furniture forms of that era have all shaped my personal style and design philosophy. They influence everything from how we design Sunnies stores and packaging to how I’ve built my home.”

True enough, her home is filled with design pieces that come together and bring what Martine would describe as “space age coziness” to her living environment.

When asked for her favorite designers, Martine first mentions Carlo Nason, a renowned Italian designer, particularly celebrated for his innovative and modernist approach to Murano glass lighting. Described as light sculptures, his lamps, chandeliers, and decorative pieces emphasize the pure form of the glass material. His popular pieces are made with white opaque glass.

“It has taken me years to find and save up for, but I love my Carlo Nason lamp collection from the 60s.  His glass pieces feel futuristic yet still warm and sensual,” said Martine.

She also gushes over the rare Chabrières floor-to-ceiling lamp from 1971. “It’s also taken me several years to find my Jean-Pierre Garrault & Henri Delord piece.  It radiates the most beautiful sun-like light and makes me feel warm and cozy.”

Jean-Pierre Garrault and Henri Delord were a French design and art duo renowned for their contributions to French mid-century and space-age design.  Their designs are distinct with clean lines and bright, often contrasting colors, reflecting the Space Age and futurist aesthetic of the 70s era.

Martine’s most prized possession, however, is her mom’s portrait from the early 80s. The image of Coroy Diaz as a topless lady smoking a cigarette is a nostalgic piece she had admired since childhood. “I was so thrilled when Mom let me steal it from her, and now it hangs on the wall beside a painting of my daughter Penelope,” shares Martine.

The artwork is just one of the many paintings featuring female family members that decorate Martine’s walls. A psychic once told her that she embodies strong feminine energy and ancestry. “And I communicate that through my art preferences,” she reveals.

Her space is also reflective of her role as a mom. As much as she enjoys making her inner child joyful, Martine also concerns herself with her child's happiness in a nurturing environment. “This home will be part of her first memories. As an adult, she will have dreams of this space, so I wanted to make sure it’s one filled with joy and laughter every day.”

As it turns out, Penelope’s young cousins are fond of staying at their auntie’s home. “They call my place ’the playhouse’ because they are free to explore. They even constantly turn the modular couch into a jumping pit or a stage to do dance performances.  The mahjong couch is also ideal for sleepovers, movie nights, or observing lightning from the living room." 

Ultimately, this home—part playful museum, part loving haven—is the definitive expression of Martine: a creative force who uses design to honor her past, indulge her curiosity, and lovingly shape the world for her family.