There are only a handful of spaces I instantly connect with—the kind that feel familiar even on the first entry, as if they’ve been waiting for you. Twenty Third, tucked discreetly at YMC Building in Makati, is one of those places.
The space is the project of interior designer Deanne Ashley Lim, whose eye for globally sourced, one-of-a-kind pieces feels both instinctive and deeply intentional. During the launch of Twenty Third’s first Manila outlet last December 9, 2025, the gathering felt less like a store opening and more like a homecoming, one where stories, textures, and people came together naturally.
From the moment you step inside, the boutique’s elegant aesthetic reveals itself. Neutral palettes of browns, burnt orange, and earthy hues set a calming tone. A couch greets you upfront, inviting you to sit, linger, and talk—an understated but thoughtful gesture that immediately blurs the line between retail space and home. To the right, a bedroom vignette and a pocket living area unfold, complete with a table that doubles as both a receiving desk and writing nook.
Deanne Ashley Lim
Further in is where the magic quietly asserts itself. A bar anchors the space, its checkered tile island a standout design moment. Part lived-in country kitchen, part modern city bar, it captures the duality that defines Twenty Third and Deanne herself.
“I really love mixing new and old,” Deanne tells me candidly that evening. “I like that there’s a contemporary feel, but there’s always character and history as well.”
That philosophy runs through every corner of the store. When asked to describe her aesthetic, she calls it modern organic but quickly adds that it goes deeper than styling alone. “There’s more to just things,” she says. “I don’t want it to feel overly curated and collected. And that’s really what Twenty Third stands for.”
From California to Manila
Though Twenty Third feels deeply rooted in Manila, its beginnings trace back to California. “The business actually started there,” Deanne shares. “A lot of my expression comes from California's lower, more casual vibe.”
At the same time, the pieces are unmistakably global. Rugs and textiles from Turkey, objects from Indonesia, China, and India with each item shaped by travel, curiosity, and a designer’s trained eye. Deanne worked as an interior designer in San Francisco, and during the pandemic, Twenty Third quietly took on a life of its own. What started as an online side project—beginning with pillows—slowly grew into a full collection.
“I’m Filipino and this is my home,” she says simply. “So I had to bring it back.”
There were nerves at first. Would this aesthetic resonate with Filipinos? Would they connect with something that felt intentionally different?
As it turns out, yes.
“I think Filipinos really appreciate unique, one-of-a-kind pieces,” she reflects. “Especially vintage. There’s value in that now.” For Deanne, character is everything. “I don’t want everything new. I want pieces with good character. And I feel like us, we have character.”
Each item in Twenty Third carries a story, and that narrative quality is what gives the space its soul.
Design that feels like home
Deanne studied at the College of Saint Benilde, and while her design work spans residential projects, she’s refreshingly honest about her process. “I carefully choose my projects,” she says with a smile. “I have a very specific taste, and I want clients who trust me with that.”
It’s a sentiment many designers quietly share. For Deanne, alignment matters. She wants to translate—not compromise—a vision.
That same clarity is evident in Twenty Third. From the get-go, the space offers a lived-in look. It’s the kind of place where you catch yourself saying, “That looks like my couch… my bed… my home.”
That reaction, she tells me, is exactly the point.
“The intention is ‘welcome home,’” she says. “I want people to walk in and think, ‘I want this to be exactly my home.’ That warmth is where everything starts from. If you’re happy at home, that translates to everything outside.”
And she’s right. Inspired spaces have a quiet way of shaping the life lived within them.
More than a name
Twenty Third isn’t just a name, it’s personal. It’s Deanne’s birth date, close enough to feel intimate, but subtle enough to stand on its own. Her first collection focused on pillows and textiles, many made from vintage Turkish rugs. The process is meticulous: rugs are sourced whole, professionally cleaned, and then carefully cut into pillows with each one singular and no two exactly alike.
“Pillows are the easiest and most affordable way to switch up a home,” she explains. And from there, the collection expanded to layering textures, finishes, and materials.
Not everything is vintage, and that’s by design. “Vintage pieces are more expensive because they’re one of a kind,” she says. “But we also need pieces that are accessible. It’s about mixing both being practical, but never losing character.”
That balance—between old and new, global and personal, design and feeling—is what makes Twenty Third resonate.
It doesn’t shout. It welcomes. And long after you leave, it stays with you, on your mind, and quietly, at home.
