Celebrating heritage and artisanship, Genteelhome and Catriona Gray introduces PAYAK.

It&rsquo;s a Sunday afternoon &mdash; a gentle breeze caressing your face, sweet melodies from the singing birds fill the air, and warm rays of light touch your skin. You&rsquo;ve just woken from a nap, sleep lines faintly marking your cheek from the hardwood bench you were resting on. In the distance, you see your lola sweeping fallen leaves on the ground &mdash; a familiar sight that reminds us of the beauty of the simple pleasures in life.&nbsp;
In moments like this, we realize that everything around us each has a story to tell, such as the intricate carvings in the wooden benches and the woven patterns in the brooms, both carefully crafted by human hands and traditions passed down through generations. It is this deep-rooted passion and appreciation for Philippine heritage and artisanship that Genteelhome continues to honor and celebrate.&nbsp;

Genteelhome is a leading furniture brand making a significant wave in the local furniture scene with its first outdoor collection entitled PAYAK. This collection is in collaboration with the universal icon Catriona Gray, showcasing her lifelong passion for the arts and culture that started long before her Miss Universe reign.&nbsp;
During the collection&rsquo;s launch last March, she said, &ldquo;I think it's really in my love for supporting local and I think that's also why this partnership with genteel[home] and Ms. Kat really took on the life that it did because we both share the same passion of elevating Filipino craftsmanship to the world level.&rdquo;

Katrina Blanca De Leon is the principal designer and CEO of Genteelhome whom Catriona worked with hand on hand to bring her artistic vision into fruition. She shared, &ldquo;Collaborating with Catriona Gray, an advocate for culture and craftsmanship, has allowed us to create a collection that truly embodies what Genteelhome stands for &mdash; elegance, sustainability, and the soul of Filipino artistry.&rdquo;

More than just a collection, PAYAK is a narrative on Filipino ingenuity, where artistry and creativity meets purposeful design. Each piece blends simplicity with intentionality, crafted from premium materials like teakwood and lampakanay (cattail) rope, and wrapped in high-performance fabric &mdash; making it ideal not just for outdoor settings but also in indoor spaces.&nbsp;
The collection also draws inspiration from Catriona's personal stories, particularly the Mayon Lounge Chair. Inspired by her mother&rsquo;s childhood memories, this lounge set pays homage to the renowned Mayon Volcano in Bicol, with its curves emulating the volcano&rsquo;s perfect cone shape and its pink and orange colors reflecting on its fiery eruptions. Notably, this theme parallels the smoldering evening gown she wore during the Miss Universe 2018 competition.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Another statement seating piece is the Pinay Accent Chair, featuring curved armrests that resemble the signature butterfly sleeves of the baro&rsquo;t saya. It is also accentuated with solihiya side panels and structured with stained-ash-matte teakwood. Matching this is the Balik Tanaw Side Table, an accent table with a solihiya-detailed frame, perfect for displaying photographs, artwork or memorabilia that evoke nostalgic memories, as the name reflects.&nbsp;

Revealing more of the humorous side of Catriona, Beh &amp; She are side tables with contrasting heights, embellished with brass rings that mimics T&rsquo;boli jewelry. The title, when phrased together, is the slang 'beshie' which translates to &lsquo;best friend&rsquo; &ndash; echoing the theme of companionship in this furniture piece. Lastly, the collection also includes Kapit-Bisig Shelving Unit, an open shelving unit that integrates tradition and modernity with its vertical teak- covered columns and colored abaca weaving &mdash; nodding to generations of Filipina weavers.&nbsp;

With PAYAK, Catriona hopes that each piece of furniture&nbsp; from the collection brings pride and comfort in every home. &ldquo; I want people to feel proud that they have a piece like this in their home. Again, because it's not just beautiful, it has intention behind it and it's made so expertly by Filipino artisans. So, there's that love and labor in there that you can be really proud of because that's uniquely ours,&rdquo; she shared.
&ldquo;I feel like a home for anyone should be an escape from the hustle and bustle of the world. It should be a space where you can come back and feel just like yourself. Like you can just exhale. You can just be you,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;

As PAYAK finds its way home, Genteelhome and Catriona remind us that it&rsquo;s more than just furniture. Each piece tells a story of culture and craftsmanship, becoming part of our home and creating new memories filled with meaning. 
To know more about the collection visit <a href="https://genteelhome.ph/">www.genteelhome.ph</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

PAYAK: An Ode to Filipino Culture and Craftsmanship

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