5 Things That Make Vacation Homes More Elegant and Sophisticated

Work and social engagements may be invigorating, but sometimes, you just find yourself longing to escape from the city for the beach and simply be. A vacation home is built for that purpose, since you don’t have to make major adjustments to your routine as you take a break. But what makes a coastal vacation home, exactly? Below, interior design tips to get you started on your beachfront living. Aruga Mactan by Rockwell Land

1. Consider The Location.

Living by the beach can elicit calm and a sense of peace, and both areintegral to a private space where you’ll be retreating and recharging many times a year. The right location also contributes to the design of your vacation home, since it provides the inspiration for how your interiors will look like. For a beachfront property, modern coastal design works best: think distressed wood, earthy and nautical elements, and relaxing open spaces.

2. Choose A Muted Color Palette.

One of the simplest ways to feel like you’re on vacation as soon as you setfoot into your beach home is by designing your interiors with soft, muted tones. A sandy tan or a soft gray is easy on the eyes and can make you feel relaxed as soon as you see it. For accents, veer away from bold pops of color as this can jolt you right out of your calm state—keep to the muted colors with pastel hues like aquamarine or coral.

3. Create Wide And Relaxing Spaces.

Design your personal space with your overall comfort and well-being in mind. Instead of filling up a room with furniture and decor, allow negative space to thrive in it. Since you’ll be following a less-is-more approach, choose only the right furniture that fits the all-around aesthetic of your vacation home. For example, a sturdy rope or rattan hammock by the balcony or a reading nook by the bayside window are some coastal-themed details that help calm the mind but still offer opportunities for stimulation and creativity.

4. Layer Pieces With Different Textures.

Play with textures that remind you of being at the beach. Imagine sinking your toes into the sand, tracing water-carved rocks, or feeling the waves crash at your feet—try to recreate these tactile experiences with the kind of furniture or decor you use, or at least choose pieces where the texture is visually obvious: woven fabrics, planks of wood, and even potted plants. Lastly, as a vacation home is designed for maximum comfort, add plush cushions, pillows, and throws to your sofa for a cozier, lived-in feel.

5. Add A Touch Of Grandeur.

What’s a vacation home without feeling the least bit glamorous during your stay? Make your beachfront home feel like a grand escape by going for marble or granite countertops, real wood accents on the ceiling or sofa, and metal finishes on decor and lighting. For your bedroom, choose plush sheets and beddings with an impressive thread count; for your bathroom, opt for a free-standing bathtub that’s overlooking the ocean for ultimate relaxation.

Stock your bar with your favorite premium liquor, and unwind after each indulgent day with your favorite drink and the gorgeous sunset before you. Whip up a delicious dinner—better yet, hire a personal chef on your getaway to whet your appetite with dishes made from locally sourced ingredients.

Whether your vacation home is just for yourself or for the entire family, choose a community where every lifestyle is catered to and exudes luxurious living, like Aruga Resort and Residences – Mactan. Nestled on a stretch of private white beach, this residential resort community offers one-bedroom to four-bedroom units to accommodate all types of vacation seekers and includes exclusive amenities for residents and guests. Aruga Resort and Residences – Mactan is Rockwell’s first premiere residential-resort development located in Mactan Island, Cebu.

Rockwell Registers Brisk Sales In Cebu

Upscale developer Rockwell Land Corp. has gained ground in Cebu a few years after diversifying out of Metro Manila, with its first two residential projects—one condominium enclave in the city center and one beachfront estate in Mactan (Aruga Mactan) — posting brisk sales.

For the beachfront residential condominium that will rise as part of a 5.3-hectare Aruga Resort and Residences in Punta Engaño, the first 100 units are selling for P250,000 to as much as P370,000 per square meter or comparable to some of the upscale condominium developments in Metro Manila.

To date, Rockwell Land has sold half of the 200 residential condominium units in the future Aruga Residences about a month ago, Cebu-based sales manager Katrina Kho said in a recent press briefing.

The residential complex will have its own pool and other amenities that are distinct from the future Aruga Hotel, which will have 250 to 300 guest rooms.

Rockwell Land is also looking to sell a limited number of “condotel” units with time-sharing arrangements.

Because Punta Engaño is a narrow strip of land, all units have a view of the sea from either side, Kho said, adding that the estate will have one of the longest beachfronts in this part of Mactan.

“The buyers are mostly from Manila and Cebu, mostly Filipinos, businessmen and from the high-end market here in Cebu,” Kho said.

For the Cebuano buyers, the buyers mostly intend to use them for a second home for their weekend getaways.

“Before, we just have the public beaches but they are slowly turning into bigger developments. So it’s for weekend getaways, plus it’s near the city,” she said.

A 67-square-meter one-bedroom unit costs P16 to P18 million while a two-bedroom 101-sqm unit costs P35 to P38 million.

The three-bedroom units, sized at around 161 sqm, cost about P50 million to P55 million.

The residential units are targeted to be turned over to buyers by 2022, while the Aruga hotel-resort will be operational by 2023, Kho said.

Rockwell has also reported strong demand for its first residential project in Cebu, 32 Sanson, which now has a thriving community as the first two towers—Raffia and Gmelina—have been sold out and turned over to buyers.

Located in Lahug at the center of the business district, the 3.2-hectare residential cluster offers low- to mid-rise units surrounded by sprawling gardens.

About 70 percent of the estate consists of landscaped space.

For the remaining two towers, Buri is 94 percent sold and Solihiya is 43 percent sold. These are expected to be completed by 2019 and 2020, respectively.

The remaining units in 32 Sanson are now selling for P155 to P170 per square meter compared to P120,000-P130,000 per square meters when Rockwell started preselling the first towers in 2014.

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