About Us

Grupo Santamaria has over 20 years of commitment to design that enhances life by improving the spaces it moves within. We believe that effective design solutions provide comfort, efficiency, interaction, and security. Working closely with our clients, we seek out these solutions to the challenges and objectives of our projects by using proper process and research. Believing that because form follows function, we must know function intimately.

We have had projects with, and are accredited designers for, companies such as Robinsons Land Corporation, Globe Telecom, Unilever Philippines, L’Oreal Philippines, Castille Realty (Cebu), Marcian Group (Zamboanga), Acalmar (La Union), Ayala Aviation, Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), and Sterling Paper Group Of Companies, among others.

Our process always starts with thoroughly understanding the needs of our client. Whether a newlywed couple decorating a starter home, retirees renovating an empty nest, a luxury brand’s pop-up, or an established institution’s modernized facilities, the work begins with building trust, rapport, and communication. Only with these established do we begin to apply the knowledge, experience, and technology of our team."

Latest Residential Projects

Nina M. Santamaria

Principal Designer

Nina was exposed to art early having learned at the knee of Filipino master Jose T. Joya as a child. This nurtured a deep appreciation for aesthetics including her love for interior and architectural design as she was growing up thus developing a sharp sense of observation, insight, and creativity by the time she entered the Interior Design program of the University of the Philippines. She graduated in 1999 and in 2003 started her eponymous practice serving all sectors from private residences to public institutions.

In the intervening years, Nina has served as Resource Speaker and Thesis Juror for various audiences while honing her craft. An avid surfer, tennis player and traveler, Nina draws inspiration from the places she visits and people she meets, hoping to specialize in heritage preservation one day. She believes that the foundation of good design lies in a strong bond of trust among client, builder, and designer.

 

Claire Khadka

Business Development Manager

From the halls of UP Business Economics to the bustling studio of Grupo Santamaria, Claire is currently in charge of Business Development for the firm. With 14 years of Marketing & Partnerships corporate work under her belt, she is also a part-time Ashtanga Yoga teacher and management and branding consultant while studying Interior Design at the Sydney Design School. She loves being around creative minds and enjoys coffee, books, nature, and movement. Her dream projects include the renovation of old and meaningful structures like public libraries or dance studios. She believes that in life as in design, applying restraint to surfaces and underscoring the essential is key.

Marjorie Dela Cruz

Accounting and Finance

Her vast experience working in various companies has honed Marj’s mastery of accounting and finance, increasing her proficiency in bookkeeping programs and related software. Working hand-in-hand with the administrative body of Grupo Santamaria, records are kept in check and finances in order. She is detail-oriented, organized, and best of all a cheerful and positive presence in our office.

 

Lenee Mora

Design Supervisor

Our committed and steadfast Design Supervisor takes the lead in ensuring all our projects are running smoothly and that our contract documents are correct and complete. Her years of experience in the field of interior architecture and design have enriched the quality of service and product output at Grupo Santamaria through the years. From studying in the halls of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines to handling our luxury home and resort projects from Manila to Cebu, Zamboanga, La Union, and Palawan, she oversees all these with Wright’s “Form and Function are One” philosophy in mind. Her unique aplomb, composure, and discipline stem from her passion for sports especially karate and table tennis.

Nette Navarro

Office Manager / Senior Designer

Her sprightly demeanor is always a welcome presence at Grupo Santamaria, especially at crunch times and the team is looking for a cheerful dynamo managing our projects and meeting our deadlines. A graduate of the BS Interior Design program at University of Santo Tomas, she believes every space should not just look good but also functional and meaningful, with thoughtful parts building up a harmonious whole. She has a fascination for restaurant design and the Modern Classic interior style, and loves fashion design and window shopping during her free time.

Danie Yatco

Senior Designer

She is a graduate of the University of the Philippines with a fascination for color and the way the human senses are stimulated through different design elements in a space. She is naturally interested in doing graphic design, portraits, pottery, and nib calligraphy.  Her belief is that great design, harnessed through the power of color and collaboration, results in an elevated experience of the client. Danie’s dream project would be a commercial or public space where she can develop a unique experiential design for the users. She loves developing her skills at Grupo Santamaria where learning is a valued and collective experience.

 

JO A. LOZANO

Senior Designer

Jo is a well-experienced Senior Designer who has over 6 years experience handling residential spaces for a design firm and the client relations and everyday operations that come with it. In her spare time, she recharges by journaling, writing poetry, reading Asian and women’s literature, and checking out new local destinations and cuisines as well. For her, design is a universal language that speaks to everyone, shaping the way we feel, think, and move through the world. Her favorite part about working at Grupo Santamaria is the people: a hodgepodge of creatives that collaborate and create meaningful and intentional spaces. 

Aira Tahamil

Junior Designer

A BS Architecture graduate from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Aira is currently working on the interior architecture requirements of Grupo Santamaria’s projects. Her hobbies include listening to music, watching Japanese and Korean drama series, and doing fan art illustrations. Travelling and taking photos of architecture and nature keep her inspired. At Grupo Santamaria, she enjoys learning about different kinds of finishes, lighting, furniture and other exciting aspects of interior design.

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Ruel Reginio

Architect

After training under Ramon Mendoza Architects and then Sonia Santiago Olivares & Associates in the late 1990’s, Ruel worked as an architect and designer in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, and Bahrain from 1999 until 2016, until he came back to freelance for a few years in his homeland. A big fan of Van der Rohe’s “Less is More” philosophy, he loves modern, minimalist, tropical design, and enjoys playing golf, bowling, and bonding with family in his free time. Today he helms the architectural design requirements of Grupo Santamaria.

LEA Z. SINGIAN

Junior Designer

Lea was a former intern at Grupo Santamaria before completing her interior design studies at Assumption College. Working freelance for a few years before finally settling down to work with her mentors at Grupo, she dreams of taking on a retail space project that has a distinct branding and history profile. For Lea, the best part of her work is playing with colors, patterns and textures during Design Development Stage and seeing it come to life. She believes that interior design is about crafting spaces that are expressive, comfortable, and timeless, consequently uplifting the users’ experience.

SHEEN RAFAELA CENA

Junior Designer

Working at a local design firm and as a Virtual Assistant for US-based clients after graduating from Batangas State University, Sheen is a believer of creating spaces that feels authentic to the users; reflecting their personality, lifestyle, and striking a sweet spot between aesthetics and function. The positive environment and good team collaborations at Grupo Santamaria is important to her, as she loves stepping outside of her comfort zone and adapting to different project styles. In her spare time she plays football, Nintendo switch, and enjoys expressing her creativity as a freelance Nail Technician.