The façade of the Delos Reyes' home in Nuvali, Laguna
Cover The façade of the Delos Reyes’s home in Nuvali, Laguna
The façade of the Delos Reyes' home in Nuvali, Laguna

This three-storey Nuvali home harmonises natural light, sustainable design, and breathtaking views of Laguna de Bay, creating the perfect family retreat

Away from the bustling streets of Metro Manila, a family home sits in harmony with nature while being grounded in Filipino heritage. Located in the heart of Nuvali, Laguna, this three-storey home belongs to the architect Miko De Los Reyes and his wife Nicole Tantoco De Los Reyes. The house’s distinctive style is rooted in the couple’s Negrense roots, with traces of Neoclassical and Spanish elements grounding the space. 

The choice to raise their daughter amid Laguna's serene greenery and fresh air was deliberate. “We could never imagine ourselves living in the metropolitan or the city,” shared Miko De Los Reyes. “We knew that if we wanted to raise a family, we would want a house, a garden, and a lot of open space for our child to enjoy living in and being close to nature.” 

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Photo 1 of 3 Blooming orchids on display
Photo 2 of 3 The staircase with the skylight
Photo 3 of 3 Flowers planted along the staircase
Blooming orchids on display
The staircase with the skylight
Flowers planted along the staircase

A prominent feature of the home is the usage of natural light to create a refreshing atmosphere. The crisp white walls are the perfect backdrop for the plants and flowers strewn throughout the space. The couple carefully tends to their different types of orchids that bloom in February and September. They have also planted a katmon tree by the stairs and bougainvillea framing the front entrance, showcasing their deep connection to nature. 

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The front door made of repurposed wood
Above The front door made of repurposed wood
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The dining room setup
Above The dining room setup
The front door made of repurposed wood
The dining room setup

The house was one of the first to be built in this Nuvali subdivision, so the couple took advantage of the peacefulness to push the boundaries of design. One of the first things people notice is the geometric design of the front door, the wood of which was taken from old Filipino homes. The theme of sustainability is present throughout the home, as in the dining table made of Dao wood placed atop an upcycled coil of electrical wires. 

“The wood was a very long piece and I didn’t want to cut the wood up or make it smaller,” said Delos Reyes. “I designed our dining room to be the perfect size to fit a long dining table, and it is one of the spaces in our house where we spend the most time.” While entertaining family and friends around the dining table, the couple serves salads with produce and herbs from their garden, homemade sodas, and ice cream with homegrown passionfruit.  

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Photo 1 of 3 The painting of Miko Delos Reyes's Oma by Betsy Westendorp
Photo 2 of 3 Integrating vintage elements into the home's design
Photo 3 of 3 A glimpse of the living room setup
The painting of Miko Delos Reyes's Oma by Betsy Westendorp
Integrating vintage elements into the home's design
A glimpse of the living room setup

Aside from their love of nature, there are glimpses of the couple’s heritage throughout the home. Upon entering the living room, one of the first things guests see is a painting of Miko Delos Reyes’s grandmother, created by Betsy Westendorp. “My Oma [grandmother] is one of the biggest influences on how our home is designed,” shared Delos Reyes. “I inherited my love of nature from her, and a lot of the pieces I chose for our home evoke memories of growing up with her in Tagaytay and around her flower farm.” 

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Photo 1 of 3 The skylight in the master bathroom
Photo 2 of 3 Lily pond in the garden
Photo 3 of 3 A view of the rear garden
The skylight in the master bathroom
Lily pond in the garden
A view of the rear garden

The goal for the home was to make the couple feel like they were on a tropical getaway, while retaining the comfort of a home. Key to this was the infusion of light into every space. In the master bathroom on the second floor, the skylight fills the space with warmth. The house also features a wraparound balcony so that the family can enjoy Laguna’s ventilation while viewing the expansive Laguna De Bay and surrounding mountains. 

As the family continues making memories in their home, Miko Delos Reyes looks forward to how the space will evolve. “Every space was tailor fit to us, and it is the one place in the world that fulfils all our needs and that we feel most comfortable in,” he enthused. “Our home is designed to grow with us.”  

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Credits

Photography  

Miko Delos Reyes

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