My parents have a thing for wooden furniture. If you walk into our home, everything—from the tables, chairs, storage spaces to the artwork hanging on our walls—is made of some type of wood. One of the reasons why they lean towards this material is because it’s “cooling.” Bagay siya sa weather dito sa Pilipinas, apparently. But as time passed, I realized it was more than that. A lot of the furniture we have are heirlooms—a piece of our family. And even though for the longest time, I didn’t quite understand the appeal, the pandemic changed all of that for me.
Spending more time at home with my family shifted my preferences and priorities this year. Now, when I look around the house, I can identify a couple of pieces I would want to take with me to my future home. And apparently, this applies to a lot of millennials.
Speaking to Tanaw Studio’s interior designers Chelsea Magbanua, Ella Castañeda, Arvel Alvarez, and their marketing head, Arvin Alvarez, they’ve noticed a difference in what their millennial and Gen Z clients ask for in their personal spaces.
Because they’re in different stages of their lives, millennials tend to lean towards sentimentality, incorporating heirloom pieces in the designs—a chair from their grandparents, a table from their aunt or parents. They’re also “more aware and particular when it comes to the finishes or materials being used” because they’re looking for pieces that will last.
For Gen Z clients, on the other hand, Tanaw Studio usually sources all new materials: “[They] are more about exploring their own styles so they talk more about the overall ambiance or vibe. We actually enjoy designing for both because they present very different sets of challenges and allow different liberties as well.”
If you’re looking to simply change specific parts or make small changes in your room, Tanaw Studio has a service called Design Clinic. You can book a one-hour virtual consultation if you just have a DIY project in mind and not a full-scale renovation. Enjoy, Cosmo Girls!
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