A few years back, former teen star Vanna Garcia proved that she can go out of the box and still be herself. She did a daring pictorial for a popular men’s magazine, and starred in the film “Tuli” (by director Aureaus Solito) which went on to win a plethora of awards, including Best Film and Best Director in the Cinemanila Digital Competition; the NETPAC Jury Prize at the Berlinale, International Forum for New Cinema; and Outstanding International Narrative Feature at the LA-based Outfest 2007.

But little do people know that Vanna has something else up her sleeve – she is about to graduate from the Philippine School of Interior Design and well on her way to becoming a full-fledged interior designer!

“I’ve always wanted to be an interior designer,” reveals Vanna. “I’ve always wanted to practice my artistic talents and share with everyone what I can do. Personalizing space is something I am avidly interested in and taking up an interior design course is a great way for me to be able to learn more about this art.”

HOME MAKEOVER

When Vanna’s family moved into their new home, the pretty actress tested her designing mettle and gave the house a makeover, with the help of her friends from PSID: Rina Pratts, Ayen Reyes, Rica Sugimoto, and Francine Galvan.

“The house was newly-built, and we just really needed to style and accessorize the rooms,” Vanna explains.

The team focused specifically on the master’s bedroom and the children’s bedroom, which Vanna deems as the key rooms in the house.

“The kids’ bedroom is where my child will be staying, to study and play and sleep, while the master’s bedroom is where we would rest and relax. We wanted to personalize the look of both rooms for its users.”

As the bedrooms were already furnished, the team concentrated on styling and personalizing the spaces – a sleek, warm, contemporary look for the bedroom, and a fun, colorful look for the children’s bedroom.

“I want to feel relaxed when I get home after a very stressful day at work – no clutter!” Vanna states. “Of course, the children’s room takes a different approach, as colors add visual interest and stimulate the child’s mind.”

Using items from local IKEA distributor Joel Mateo of Mobler Store (Wilson corner P. Guevarra Sts., San Juan) the PSID team styled the rooms to suit Vanna’s taste.

BIGGER CHALLENGE

With the makeover done, Vanna faces a bigger challenge yet — her batch’s graduation exhibit: “Kontempo-Pilipino, Contemporary Interiors: Indigenous Roots,” which runs from October 3-31 at the Athena Building, Eastwood City, Quezon City.

Vanna is a member of PSID Advanced Class 2009, and is part of one of the 17 groups exhibiting stylish interiors in Kontempo-Pilipino.

Mounted in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Eastwood City, ‘’Kontempo-Pilipino’’ celebrates PSID’s 42nd anniversary with an exhibit where PSID students take inspiration from the culture, crafts, colors, and character of the Ibaloi, Ivatan, Ifugao, Kalinga, Ati-Atihan, Mangyan, Batak, Tagbanua, Palaw’an, Sulod, Tausug, Yakan, Jama Mapun, T’Boli, Maranao, Manobo and Sama Dilaut tribes and translate these elements into masterfully-designed interiors.

“I’m looking forward to a lot of new, innovative and creative designs from all of the graduating students in this exhibit,” Vanna notes. “I think it is about time that we educate people all over the world about Filipino design.”