What we splurged on (#SKYPOD EDITION)

Written By: Kryz Uy

Building the SKYPOD, Slater and I always had this mindset that quality must always come first. We wanted to build a house that would last us years – a lifetime even.  A home that would age beautifully with us as we embark on this married life. But of course, building a house is expensive and we also wanted to save as much as we could. We had to carefully decide which pieces we could scrimp on and which ones were worth investing in. After a few months living in our home, we’ve finally gathered which items we chose right. Today, I’m sharing with you the things we think are worth splurging on, in hopes that it helps those out there who are building their homes too.

1. Couch

Since the planning days, Slater and I always knew that our living area would be a place for people to gather (especially in the future, when we have our own little family). We wanted everyone out of their rooms, and into the main area- so we could spend more time together and bond. That meant we needed a big beautiful and extraordinarily comfortable SOFA that people actually wanted to spend time in. After searching far and wide, we finally settled on this Natuzzi white leather couch. The color added a much-needed lightness to our space, and the form was the irresistible touch that made us really get out and buy it. Up to this day, Slater and I both come home from work and right into this couch’s big cozy arms.

2. Mattress

Considering that we spend half of our lives sleeping, and YES, that’s actually a fact – investing in a good quality mattress for our master’s bedroom is actually a need for both Slater and myself. The Casper Mattress is ergonomic, which means that it is designed for efficiency and comfort. Honestly, it’s totally worth the hype and I now get why many celebrities and influencers rave about this mattress. They have this kind of technology that provides you consistent body-conforming – which results in pain and pressure relief for most sleepers. It’s so comfy, it’s hard to get up in the morning! I especially like this mattress because even though I move a lot when I sleep, Slater is still sleeping like a peaceful log beside me.

3. Pool

Initially, Slater and I wanted an indoor pool, but quickly (and gratefully) scrapped out that idea because… humidity! Instead, we decided to put the pool at the center of the house. Most of our friends and family kept telling us that after a few years, we’d hardly be using it. To be honest though, even if we don’t get to swim in it as much, it still serves a pretty big purpose in keeping the calming vibe of our house. It’s positioned in the very center – which means we get to have this serene view no matter where we are. PLUS, it adds such a huge WOW factor to the #Skypod, which I really love. To make it more functional we added access doors from our indoor gym and bedroom so that after a workout routine (or nap lol), we could just cool down in the pool.

4. Quartz Counter Top

Quartz countertops are relatively new compared to the usual marble or granite, especially here in the Philippines. We initially thought of using Marble because of it’s luxe look, but we later found out that it gets easily stained and etched – which is not ideal if you want it for your kitchen. I love my lemon water in the mornings, and red wine at night- so it was an easy NO for me. Granite doesn’t stain, but it is porous- which means you can’t cut or place raw meat on top of it directly because the bacteria can settle in the stone. Quartz, on the other hand, is the most expensive out of the three but it provides the most benefits. We ended up choosing this type of material for the kitchen (and in this beautiful marble design) mainly because of its durability, heat resistance, and anti-bacterial properties. So far, absolutely no regrets!

5. Windows

Since the Skypod is mostly made up of glass, it was necessary to splurge on quality windows and hardware. We wanted to make sure that the sliding doors were easy to open and shut, and that we wouldn’t have to replace them every few years. This was a problem in my old home, and I knew I didn’t want to deal with it again. Kenneth and Mock has this really cool technology that allows us to open the sliding glass doors with a built-in screen so the bugs don’t end up inside the house. When you look at it from afar, you won’t even notice the screen is there!

6. Real Wood

Using real wood inside the Skypod was only fitting because we wanted to add a cozy factor into our home. With most of the material being steel and cement, wood was an easy way to add a bit of color and life. I especially love how it naturally creaks along with the tress when the wind is blowing or when it’s hot outside- it just feels so soothing. PLUS, real wood is remarkably strong, it doesn’t rust and it can actually regulate humidity with its ability to absorb moisture. And don’t worry- we use sustainable wood 🙂

7.  Stainless Steel Kitchen

We have our clean kitchen, and we have our get-down-and-dirty-kitchen too. And this second one? It’s made entirely of stainless steel. I admit that I’m still a newbie when it comes to cooking, but having this type of kitchen really inspires me to get creative and helps me become less afraid to make mistakes. I’m not afraid to spill anything because cleanup is a breeze! It’s germ-resistant which means you can just use a disinfectant cleaner to quickly sanitize the area and voila! It’s good as new. PLUS, You’ll never have to worry about cooking in high heat because the gas ranges are made for chef-level cooking! And if in case you’re wondering, we use a GAS stove, because all the real chefs always say it’s better and I aim to be a real whiz in the kitchen one day! SHAMELESS PLUG: If you live in Cebu, you can actually order your LPG from us. It’s one of our family businesses and you’d be amazing to support us! 🙈 (You may contact 032-3436287 and look for Cielo if you’re interested)

We splurged on a lot of things, but after actual use, these are the ones I feel I can wholeheartedly recommend to you if you’re building your own home too. Hope it helps!