Triccie opens up about her beautiful Tali beach home through her love for stories
Driving up from the congested streets and fast-paced lifestyle of Metro Manila, Casa Sofia was nothing short of a relief. Fresh air, gorgeous interiors, lots of open space, and a breathtaking view of the sea welcomed these weary travelers. For the tired city soul, Casa Sofia was the perfect remedy.
What was more overwhelming than the ocean views and interiors of Casa Sofia was the hospitality of Triccie Wirman, who brought to life the vision of the home alongside her husband Olli. Clearly no stranger to hosting guests, Triccie insisted on giving each of our team members the best spots in the house to rest in after the drive. Her darling of a daughter Sofia, whom the casa was named after, rushed into the kitchen and emerged with glasses of freshly-squeezed juice. “I like to teach them while they’re young,” Triccie shared with a proud smile.
Casa Sofia is a beach home where the Wirman family can enjoy nature and great open spaces
Triccie started opening up about her travels and her love for interesting design pieces. It became clearer to us where Triccie drew her inspiration: stories. The designer was a natural born storyteller. As she told us about her upcoming shop, which would even showcase Philippine artwork, she suddenly excused herself as her children demanded beach time. Our second realization about her: she valued family over everything else. And so we spent the day basking in the warmth of the sun and newly found friendships.
Later on, we got Triccie to tell us more stories about Casa Sofia and her journey as a designer.
Triccie is a fan of all things eclectic which is evident in her homey dining area
Wooden lounge chairs and a giant chess set complete the experience of peering out over the sea
1. Describe your vision for your Tali home.
Casa Sofia was really meant to be a place where we can enjoy what we love most: family time and nature. We envisioned a place that we can call home every time we are in the Philippines. The Philippines, in general, is beautiful and rich in natural resources. If only we can utilize this God-given gift and choose to live surrounded by nature - moving to provinces or seaside areas instead of flocking to big cities - then the vision we have for Tali as a haven for fresher air, healthier food, greener surroundings where children can run freely may also become a reality for many.
2. How do you integrate your love for locally embroidered and woven pieces into your lovely beachside home?
It actually didn’t take much effort to integrate hand woven pieces into this home. Since my family is privileged to live in places where people love to make things by hand (specifically in Southern Spain and Finland), and because of my longtime passion for everything embroidered, colorful and asymmetric, it came naturally for me to implement this in Casa Sofia.
You know that saying, “home is where the heart is”? This has never been truer in my case. When I put my heart into certain things, it just comes naturally to bring it with me wherever I go.
Triccie's personal style and taste are as colorful as her Moroccan room
3. Which room do you spend the most time in? Which room do you spend the least time in?
I would say the living room, dining room, and the kitchen. These rooms are where friends and family gather together to talk, play, and to just have peace. They are also places where we eat - something which we really love to do. Cooking is a big part of our life hence the big kitchen in Tali. My 8-year-old daughter Sofia, whom the house is named after, cooks and bakes for us weekly in Spain so she feels right at home in Tali.
The room we use the least would be the one outside the house since it is reserved for guests. I keep the room untouched to maintain cleanliness and orderliness for the next occupant.
The interior architect loves to collect vintage pieces from her travels
4. If you could change something in your home, what would it be and why?
As a beach house, I would prefer it to be a bit more on the raw side: a typical beachside home would be with a personal touch. But since this is our main home in the Philippines, we had to keep it sturdy enough to survive extreme natural conditions like typhoons, earthquakes, etc.
If it were up to me and my husband, our ideal tropical vacation home would be a nipa hut style house where everything comes from raw nature - from local produce down to using a pump to draw water from natural wells. Solar panels would serve as the main providers of electricity and water heating. Pots and pans set on firewood are used to cook our food. In general, a more eco-friendly home.
Casa Sofia hinted at the Wirman family's love for raw and sustainable design
Golden hour: the house allows ample natural light in for beautiful beachside afternoons
5. During your travels, what are the things you keep in mind when hunting for home pieces?
My husband Olli thinks I have an old soul, which is probably why I love antiques. The more history, the better.
I actually also love anything eclectic: mixing the old with the new. In Tali, for instance, the dining table is a 100-year-old cooking table (passed on to me by my dad from his grandmother) that is a bit too high for the dining chairs as it was used in the past as a place to prepare food not to dine on. The altar was salvaged from an old church in Bohol, the main lamp in the living room is made from twigs picked up from the beaches around Batangas - some examples of simple details that make each piece special.
Every year I join antique fairs in Scandinavia and Central Europe to look for things that have a story behind it - that story is what I keep in mind when on the hunt.
6. What is the best bargain you’ve ever gotten when hunting for home pieces?
The best bargain was a kilim rug I picked up for free at a home demolition site in Madrid, Spain. My profession takes me to reform sites around Europe once in a while and while searching for antique tile stores in Madrid, I came upon an old building that was once a small palace. Sitting in a dumpster was a perfectly preserved Persian kilim rug together with an 18th-century antique table. I asked to take it and the foreman, who had no clue of its value, happily agreed. To find such treasures in the trash was more than a bargain - it was a miracle.
Creativity has no bounds: Triccie had a lamp made out of pieces of wood she picked up in Batangas
A clay-colored shelf with trinkets draw attention from across the common room
7. Who are the people/artists who influence your style?
There is no one person or designer that I really follow. Practicing interchangeably in Spain, Italy, and Finland, I am constantly exposed to the diverse and rich culture implemented by the people in their daily way of life. That is what inspires me. I believe that there is a designer in every one of us and that one's environment and experience are key influencing factors in the development of taste and style.
8. If you could visit any home in the world, whose would it be?
My husband's ancestral home named Ratula in Finland. When his grandparents were still in their 50's, they embarked on this project to lovingly restore a 17th-century lakeside manor. It was once a summer home to one of the aristocratic families that followed the Czar and Czarina of Russia, Nicholas and Alexandra, during their summers in Finland. The place is full of history so I imagine the interior alone would be mindblowing to any art collector, designer or home lover.
I was also told that my husband's grandmother Tuulikki, who was an avid interior designer herself, continued to beautify the place with her unique style and love of antiquities through the years. She even restored original frescoes herself. The place has so much in common with my personal passions and interests that I know I am destined to see it someday.
Triccie enjoys finding quirky things and mixing old with the new
The Wirmans designed their home specifically for their lovely family to enjoy
9. What are the things you consider when designing a home for your two kids and husband?
Safety and comfort above all.
10. What makes a house a home?
Family, love, and togetherness. No design or material object can ever replace the spiritual bond and happiness a loving family brings to make a house a home.
Japs Medina
Author