Rebellious Homes

Because beyond the rebellious wedding is a world of more rebelliousness.

"RB Mica and I have lived independently most of our adult working lives even before we got married. Because of our experiences, we've learned a thing or two about having rebellious homes. Random tips will abound in this page. Keep visiting as we go along." -- RB Kai :)

Updated: Nov. 25, 2013 

Three reasons why Flameless Candles rock: 1) It's not messy, 2) It's not dangerous, 3) And most of all it's not toxic. 

Updated: Nov. 22, 2013 

What's in your bathroom now? Here are some of my latest new favorite discoveries! And they are perfect for 'rebellious homes' because they are not your usual products, and it does take guts to replace household items that you have been used to for ages. 

From L-R: Human Nature's Natural Hand Soap is one of my newest favorite products because not only does it make your hands feeling fresh and clean, it also makes for an awesome cleaner for my makeup stuff--I've used it to clean my clarisonic brush, other makeup applicators and sponges and it works wonders! / Trader Joe's Natural Propolis Toothpaste is not only a great find, it's also super affordable for an organic toothpaste/ Messy Bessy's Minty Orange Surface Cleaner is another amazing dual organic product which also works as an insect & cockroach repellant! 

Updated: Nov. 20, 2013 

What's in your dining table? In a "rebellious home", it's all about creating your own rules! In our own dining table, we like it uncluttered but we also like having random things as centerpieces to make it more organic and natural as opposed to either looking bare or staged. We also change it up from time to time, depending on our mood or depending on the season. Here's what we have on our table right now: 

From L-R: My paper bouquet from my 1st year wedding anniversary/Vegas Wedding made by {ETC} Handmade Goodness, our "gratitude rocks" which we've collected from our various travels, a bottle of Human Nature's organic all-purpose sanitizer spray, a bottle of pumpkin spice from Trader Joe's, and a bottle of black truffle sea salt from Benessere, Portland OR. 

 Updated: July 1, 2013 

Here are some of my Rebellious Home Inspirations! 1) Watch Million Dollar Listing! My husband and I just looooove and swoon over the fabulous apartments that get featured all over New York! It helps with the visualization process!, 2) Jonathan Adler books make for tongue and chic advice--advice that always breaks all the rules!, 3) Another show that my husband and I love to watch because of the room inspirations is Gossip Girl--all of their rooms from Blair to Serenas to Chuck and even the Humphrey's Brooklyn space are just ahhh-mazing!, 4) And of course for very interesting practical tips, Real Living Philippines will always be a constant companion!, 5) And when all else fails, there's always Google! :)

 Updated: May 2, 2013 

Tips from RB Kai's Instagram:

Updated: March  8, 2013 

 Updated: March  1, 2013 

Part of Jonathan Adler's Mantra - Photo from Flickr

 Updated: Feb. 5, 2013  
 
One of the things I've learned from Jonathan Adler is how to create fun vignettes for shelves and tables. Here's how:

First, buy floating shelves at Home Depot (or recycle wood to make some) 

Second, recycle colorful boxes and make it into picture frames. I've reused my small Kate Spade green boxes, printed black & white photos from the wedding and pasted it on the boxes. Accidentally, some water dripped on the photos which actually created a cool watercolor effect!

Third, reuse your wedding cake toppers as decors (check out Elvis & his pink car from the Vegas wedding!)

Fourth, use piled books as a stand for vases or picture frames to make your vignette more lived-in. 

Fifth, Use pops of color! :)

  Updated: Jan. 16, 2013 
 
Our rebellious home is rebellious in a whole other way--we've switched almost 90% of our home products to organic. It's rebellious because we've chosen to defy the mainstream products that we've been used to growing up. Why? Because they are actually harmful not just health-wise but also toxic because it's killing our Mother Earth. My husband and I are very passionate about this. If I can only teach women one step at a time and get all of you to change your household choices, I would. But going organic can be quite intimidating and daunting. So, baby steps ladies! Here's my recommended "starter kit" organic products for your rebellious home:

1) An A-Z Guide for a Green Pinoy by Annie Gurrero (A must for every home!); 2) Human Nature's Deet-Free Insect Repellent (because your typical repellent can cause neurological problems); 3) Human Nature's Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner (the BEST hair care tandem I have EVER experienced!); 4) Human Nature's Sunflower Oil (the miracle oil that repairs just about everything--even scars & stretch marks!); 5) Ilog Maria's Throat Spray (the wonder spray that prevents flu, cough, colds, singaw, and freshens breath); 6) Human Nature's Feminine Wash (because non-organic ones can actually cause reproductive problems!); 7) Ilog Maria's Lavender Liquid Soap (because regular liquid soap pollutes our rivers!); 8) Cafe de Sug Coffee (one of the BEST coffees we've ever tasted!); 9) Fortune Plant (a great indoor plant that naturally freshens the air--because the first step in switching to organic is learning how to take care of nature) *buy all these products via happyearthyhome@gmail.com

Updated: Jan. 5, 2013 

Don't be so stiff! Bedside tables don't have to be 'matchy-matchy'--and it definitely doesn't even need to literally be comprised of tables in the strictest sense at all. 

You need your girly corner. 

He needs his man corner. 

So just have a little fun with it and let go. 

MAN CORNER

GIRLY CORNER

(Credits: Wallpaper by Total Wall Covering / bed from Mandaue Foam, linens from S&R; From the girly corner the standing chalk cupboard is from Heima, the black table is from Ikea (5 Corners); From the man corner the crate was purchased from Gingersnaps' warehouse. It was formerly an in-store display from the same store)

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AN INTRODUCTION 

(Dec. 28, 2012)

Credits: Wedding Essentials

"I moved out when I was 25 because my parents were very strict. They gave me independence because they knew I was responsible enough. Ever since, condo living in Makati became my sanctuary. Many have told me my investment is set on air. "Wala kang lupa" (You don't have a lot property). But my husband and I continue to live blissfully in our purple condo.

We'll get our purple house eventually (Kai's sidenote: Enter Marc's gasp here haha). But for now, no one can stop us from enjoying the perks of condo living in Makati :)"  -- RB Mica

Turning a 40-year old home to something more modern

"I've been used to condo living for 5 years. My husband and I enjoy condo living immensely (and for me personally, I would still someday want to go back to a condo when we can afford our own). But with rent, changing office addresses, and looking into our future, we decided to move to a more modest address that housed my family's old property. Since then, we've transformed our dilapidated  40-something, aging home to a kick-ass haven where my husband and I could play with our imagination. We've been able to create our own "staycation" sanctuary where our personalities could shine through. 

So my rebellious home tip #1? Look at the potentials in an otherwise 'uncool', aging house/location where you can grow a garden and grow a home. 

Credits: pineviewonline.org

In addition to this, people may find me loony but I've rebelled against society by becoming an organic advocate. I've thrown away all household and personal products we've been used to and replaced it with organic alternatives. 

So my rebellious home tip #2? GO ORGANIC. SUPPORT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS. CARE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT. PRODUCTS WE ARE USED TO ARE T-O-X-I-C. 


My Rebellious Home Motto is: Reinvent, Reuse, & Rebel Against Non-Organic Products. These are the kind of tips that I'll focus on. Perhaps sometimes, I'll throw in tips on how to "cohabitate with a rebellious husband" too! Haha! 

Just like the rebellious bride who is unafraid to create new rules for her wedding, a rebellious homemaker is unafraid to experiment with her home. No space for a Christmas Tree in the condo? She'll cleverly create one that's stuck on the wall. A beach pail as a trash can? Just because it was meant to be something else doesn't mean it can't be reused. Are you a rebellious homemaker too?  Email your own rebellious home ideas/tips at: rebellious.bride@gmail.com" -- RB Kai :)