Inside La Nuvola, Julie Boschi's seaside home shaped by time, tide and craft

Tatler Asia

24-04-2025

A House That Adapts
When a stretch of heavy rain soaked the wooden balusters in La Nuvola, causing them to rot away, the home required a shift—one that was as much aesthetic as it was functional. The upper balcony was updated with glass, modernising the space while still preserving its openness to the view. But the patio's transformation was more personal. 'It gave us a chance to build concrete loungers that are quite deep and wrap around both sides of the lanai,' Boschi shares. 'This was inspired by our family home in Bacolod built by my grandmother.'
This fluid approach to design defines the house. The loungers, now softened with thick cushions and an ever-changing collection of throw pillows, have become the most coveted spot in the home. 'Someone is always napping or reading there,' Boschi says. 'It's a place that naturally invites people to linger.' Whether it's a lazy afternoon spent listening to the waves or a bustling dinner where friends crowd onto the benches, the lanai has become a space that holds time gently, allowing life to unfold at its own pace.
Above Most of the home is open, keeping entertaining simple
Above The pool inside the home
Above The garden where bocce tournaments happen
Pieces With Stories
Every home tells a story, but this one does so through the objects within it. Many of the furniture pieces and accessories were from Boschi's previous city home, chosen not for their trendiness but for their ability to stand the test of time. The dining table, handcrafted by her father-in-law, is one such piece—having endured years in the lanai, weathered by salty air and countless shared meals. It is a fixture of both function and memory.
Boschi has also restored several cabinets, including a well-loved sideboard. All of these pieces shift between rooms, depending on the needs of the moment. 'They have multiple functions depending on how many people are in the home,' she explains. Adaptability is key here; nothing is purely ornamental. Even pieces with deep sentimental value find their place in the evolving rhythm of the house.
Above The striped cushions and Boschi's own line of throw pillows are European, balancing with the Philippine-made furniture
Above The well-loved carved four poster bed in the guest room
Above A console table topped with a lamp designed by Boschi
One of the most sought-after spaces is the guest bedroom in the main house, where Boschi and her husband's first marital bed—an intricately carved four-poster from her father-in-law's Cebu-based furniture factory—still stands. 'It seems to give our guests the best sleep they've had in a long time,' she muses. 'Regular guests even fight over this room, even though it's the smallest.' Its significance is not just in its craftsmanship but in the way it has taken on new meaning over the years, becoming part of the house's shared history.
Adding to this layering of memory and personal touch is a mural on the guest room wall, painted by Boschi's daughter, Isabella, affectionately called Chabeli. 'My husband, Gabriele, helped by drawing in the elephants and the pagoda before she painted it,' she recalls. The mural is proof this home is alive with the creativity and care of those who inhabit it.
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For Boschi, home is not a fixed concept. It is not about perfection but about the way a space makes people feel. The children's bedroom, for instance, has never been a static place. 'It changes as they do,' Boschi says. Over the years, it has evolved to accommodate their growing needs—and to this day remains the main venue for a lot of slumber parties.
Boschi's openness to change is what gives the house its particular warmth. There is no rigidity here—only the quiet confidence of a home that understands its purpose. The furniture and materials evolve ('I love to restore furniture,' Boschi even says), but the essence remains the same.
Above Julie Boschi
'We built this home to share with people we care about,' she explains simply. And that intention has remained at its core. In a world where homes are often curated for display, Julie Boschi's coastal retreat stands apart for its quiet, lived-in beauty.
It is a place that welcomes change, mostly from its ongoing battle with the elements—whether from the sun, rain, wind or even from the plants around the area that grow so enthusiastically. Each space inside tells a story of a home that, much like the sea it overlooks, is never static. It shifts, it adapts, it endures.
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