The moment you step foot into Io Regalado’s modern Japanese-style space, you immediately see his intent in every corner. A testament to how specificity, as a discipline, cuts the drabness out of simplicity, every placement in his open-layout co-working den is purposeful. Almost all items have the distinction of being present, and most notable, is the absence of any lifeless empty space.
“I actually treated this place like it was an entire painting,” shares Io as we enter his home. Strokes of symmetry and purpose wash over the entire space as you see a comforting palette of light woods, ceramic, black, and white. A select trio of crisp rubber shoes, slides, and loafers adorn the lower edge of a wall with racks to hold keys and bags and a seemingly minimalist clock that was actually built to tell the time in reverse. Turn the corner and a lovable feline sits in its own cozy corner with a matte black food bowl.
The color that brings life to this space is green, provided exclusively by different well-kept plants in pristine pots. This is Io’s own way of harkening to a childhood of breezy afternoons surrounded by flora. How could you not carry a love for plants when you grow up in Antipolo, home of lush trees and an epicenter for pilgrimage in the Philippines?
Io’s horticultural know-how largely stems from the influence of his mother, whose career is all about maximizing the life that stems from the earth. Underneath the seemingly cool facade is a lot of heart, with plenty of thrifted delights making up the most inviting pieces in the space. By a lush white couch in a wooden frame sits a bespoke book rack DIY’d by Io himself, another careful execution of his vision.
01 - Jude Wood 4-Layer Bookshelves,
02 - Weaved Food Serving Tray,
03 - Platform Paletta 2 Seater Living Room Sofa,
04 - 2-Seater Sofa,
05 - Madison Brown Coffee Table with Glass Top,
06 - Mr. Chuck Alpha Lofted Pet Bed,
07 - Beanie MNL Nori Orange Large Floor Cushion,
08 - Trill Seave Mattress,
09a - Wink Pure Pillow,
09b - Senso Memory® Bolster Pillow,
10 - Grace White Ash Wooden Bed Frame with Headboard,
11 - Rolf Wood Console Table with Wine Rack,
12 - Fernando Light Wood Shelf
Every corner matches the size of the walls and never feels like things are too small or too large. Even the art pieces are decidedly sparse, with every single one that gets placed on display being impactful and curated to fit its space. Naturally, every single piece is purely dedicated to a single color – captivatingly simple in a digital age that often gets lost in overcrowdedness and excess.
The window treatment does wonders in bringing natural light into the home, with magnet-mounted sheer shades that allow you to be, as always, keenly specific with how you want your shades to drape. No matter how high or how low you want the cover, you will be able to do so with precision. This complements the strip light that has been crafted to diffuse light from DIY wooden covers lining the ceiling.
A bleached two-layered bookshelf in light mahogany serves as both a storage solution and a divider that separates the co-working area from the living area. Lined with books on design, food, and philosophy, this is the first piece that Io worked on himself. You see its storied history, with little imperfections that ground it as the years go by. As it becomes the tentpole for everything else that would be built out, it’s not hard to feel exactly how every aspect has been designed to serve and simplify life.
13 - Tripod Lamp White
14 - Umbra Natural Spoon Clock
15 - Orb Ceramic Flower Vase Large
16 - Halo Design Luann Black Wall Lamp
17 - Soy Candle Aphrodite
18 - Fresh Green Grass Reed Diffuser
19 - Bodum Titlis Glass Double Wall S
20 - Bodum Caffettiera White Coffee Maker With Plastic Lid
21 - Ayumi B Hanging Ceiling Lamp
22 - Halo Phoenix Solo White Marble Bedside Table Lamp Shade
23 - Saul Eucalyptus Scent Diffuser
24 - Umbra Potsy Black 3-Pack Planter
25 - Carved Black Marble II West Coasters
26 - Carved Cream Marble West Coasters
27 - Mach Wooden Desk
28 - Shimoyama Shallow Gray PE Plastic Storage Box
29 - Shimoyama Shallow PP Plastic Storage Basket
30 - Shimoyama Big Deep Gray PE Box
31 - Shimoyama Deep PP Plastic Storage Basket
32 - Little Hoomin Pet Bed
33 - Columbia Glazed Ceramic Pot
34 - Siberia Glazed Ceramic Plant Pot
Just above, the centerpiece is a flat rectangular light that produces a soft light diffused across the entire space. Layers of soft fabric have been built into the fixture to emulate a sunroof.
Leading to the dining room, everything is crafted from scratch again to ensure that every dimension is built to perfection. Amidst wooden shelves, chairs, and tables, the eye turns to the shiny Japanese racer bike resting on the sill. “I built this from scratch,” Io shares as he gently pats the handles and shares his love for building bikes. The more you explore the home, the more you find just how much Io has built himself - a continued testament to how much time and effort he has poured into manifesting his vision.
35 - Lou Writing Desk
36 - Brabantia Bo 36L White Touch Bin
37 - Faye Wood Chair with Rope
38 - Grace White Ash Night Table with Drawer
39 - Smart Side Table
40 - Calauag Wooden Bench
41 - Soho Bar Stool
42 - Hagen White Outdoor Table
43 - Seth Metal Dining Chair
In the kitchen, a spotless white wall is lined with different ceramics, some matte, others glossy, but all in hues of black and white. Curated ceramic plates go from smallest to largest, created by Io’s own aunt Lanelle Abueva. A hanging ladder Io built to match his sleek doorway carries a patterned selection of towels and cleaning tools.
We turn our attention to another corner and see a long white table with wood accents (smartly designed to hide and manage any cables) stretching from one end to the other. Here, Io dives into his work as a brand consultant and designer, with ample room for colleagues to come over and collaborate.
Aside from a beloved Balete bonsai in a kokedama, a Mac, speakers, and a mug of coffee on a saucer, there are no distractions to be found in this area. “I intentionally left this wall blank because I really wanted this area…to be my personal home theater.” Here, it is revealed that the wall is reserved for a projector that works for both client presentations and movie nights with friends. A comfortable black fabric couch with wooden cylinders remade by Io faces this wall, complete with the enigmatic cat lounging easily during the walkthrough. Once again, ingenuity and purpose are injected into seemingly minute areas of the space.
44 - Little Prince's Flower mixed media painting
45 - Old painting on canvas
46 - Mars acrylic painting
47 - Life acrylic painting on canvas
48 - Over The Horizon mixed media painting
49 - Titian Study Table Lamp Shade
50 - Railway Switchman mixed media painting
51 - Study No. 02 India Ink on Abaca Paper
52 - No Favorite mixed media painting
53 - Izabella Bedside Table Lamp Shade
54 - Broken painting on canvas
Finally, we peer into the sleeping quarters. Tucked away behind muslin fabric, the wide bed in cream fabric rests end to end in its precisely measured corner. An airbrushed art piece made by Io hangs on the wall, only opposite one of the standing mirrors that dot a few sections of the home. Looking around the space, it’s truly a painting brought to life by his own hand, born from care, dedication, and a particularly refined taste.
