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style shopping: gift guide 2010, under P2000

Yay, it’s the month of gift-giving! Have you started your Christmas shopping already? If not, we’re helping you out with a series of gift guides. However, instead of fashion accessories, toiletries, and knick-knacks, we’re doing a roundup of practical gift ideas for the home. I’m starting it off with slightly pricier items with gifts from P2,000 & under. I was actually aiming for a P500 & under set, but the mannequin lamp and ceramic corals are just too pretty to edit out from this ‘girly’  set. I hope you’ll find something here for your loved ones. (Click on the item names for the sources) -ardel

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Image above: 1. Princess Rosette Lamp, P1850; 2. Bird Candle Holder, P285; 3. Hyacinth Pillow, P495; 4. Tulip Pillow with  sequins, P495; 5. Silver Ceramic Coral, P899.75 from Crossings; 6. White Ceramic Coral, P1,549 from Crossings; 7. Red & Yellow Flower Wall Decals, P350; 8. Heima Scents Soy Candle, P400.

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style shopping: wine story

Because of their taste and the immediate dizziness that I get from them, I’m not a fan of alcoholic beverages except for the sweet and highly diluted mimosa (with lots of orange juice). In spite of that, I have always been intrigued by the culture behind wine. You can count me as a wine ignorant until I got the assignment to cover Wine Story, a new wine shop in Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

Established by the same company behind Healthy Options, Wine Story is definitely not your usual wine store. Unlike other shops that simply sell wines, Wine Story is like your one-stop shop for everything about wine. On top of their wide selection of wines, they also carry crystal wares, wine books and tasting diaries for those wine aficionados. 

What primarily sets it apart from other stores is that it only carries high-end wines with Bordeaux being their specialty. Compared to common table wines, I was told that the high-end ones boast of a more complex taste. Their bottles are displayed like how one would display diamond jewelries—showcased in a lighted glass case (bottom photo) which, in their case, also functions as a cellar.

Because their bottles are pricey (if I remember correctly, the least expensive bottle is at Php 5,000), they allow their clients to “preview” some of their selections before settling on a bottle. Their 32-bottle enomatic machines or automatic wine dispensers (top photo) make wine tasting look and feel so high-tech. A small LED panel (above) displays the characteristic of each wine and the prices per glass. For wine enthusiasts and wine newbies alike, this feature also makes it possible to enjoy different wines without spending a fortune.

To complement its high-end identity, the store’s interior, designed by interior designer Nicky Magcase, features top of the line materials and finishes to give the brand an equally luxurious image. -ardel

product wars: department store shopping part two

For the second and last installment of our department store shopping series, we went to Crossings Shangri-la Mall and Landmark Trinoma.

I visited Crossings at Shangri-la and found lots of interesting items. They’ve upgraded their home section. Before, there were only a few furniture pieces displayed at Crossings. Now, they are really keeping their home section alive and bright – especially with the accessories. There were a lot of interesting vases to choose from! I think their theme now with the vases is “coral reef.” The downside is that there were more interesting accessories than furniture pieces. I guess it also matters that the space they’re occupying is very limited. They can’t really display many big items.

Overall, though, the pieces available at Crossings are worth a second look. They’re also very affordable and they have frequent half-off sales. Here are my finds:

clockwise from upper left: droplight, P2,698.00; table lamp, P1,238.00; dining set, P19,998.00; pillow, P349.75; metallic vase, P1,779.75; queen bed, P23,198.00; arm chair with ottoman, P11,800.00; green container, P1,108.00; green vase, P1,439.75

Ms. CFO was the one who visited Landmark and here’s what she found:

“There were a lot of great finds inside Landmark, but these were mostly home accessories.  You can choose from a wide variety of lamps, photo frames, and bathroom accessories.  I found the designs of the floor lamp and tray quite unique and affordable.  For the big items such as the sofa set, the bed, and the dining table, Landmark had very limited choices, most of them either had a similar color palette or design.”

clockwise from upper left: bed frame, P11,999.75 / bed (orthopedic), P10,719.75; photo frame, P259.75 (set of 3); floor lamp, P1,099.75; tray/organizer, P249.75; L Type sofa, P10,000.00; dining set, P9,900.00; bath organizer, P199.00

We hope you enjoyed our two-part department store shopping series. Don’t forget to answer our mini poll below:

product wars: department store shopping part one

I’ve spent a huge chunk of my life in malls. I’m a mallrat – and I’m not ashamed to admit it. What’s not to love about malls? They have everything you want and need. They have cinemas for the film buff, boutiques for the fashionista, bookstores for the reader, and a food court for the hungry. And of course, malls also have something for the homeowner – department stores with lots of nice and affordable furniture and accessories.

This is what I love most about the home sections of mall department stores. They offer a lot of choices. But the possibilities and options can be a bit overwhelming. So we, the Design Folder team, decided to do a challenge: find the best and most affordable pieces that mall department stores have to offer.

Let’s start with SM Megamall and find out if they’ve really “got it all for you.”

Ardel checked out SM Homeworld at the basement level of Building B, while Green Guide went through the furnishings at Our Home at the basement level of Building A. Here are their finds:

“There were not much interesting/stylish selections for the big items–dining set, bed frame, sofa, arm chairs, cabinets. Most of them look very typical.  So, for that part, it was quite a challenge for me. However, I’m still a big fan of SM Homeworld because of their good selection of accessories that are very affordable. Although it’s not included in the list, it’s worth to mention that they also carry a wide range of beddings, from affordable ones to high-end lines.” -Ardel

Clockwise from top left: two-seater sofa, P10,950.00; 21″x15″ frame with matte board, P469.75; ikhea drop light, P2,299.75; pillow, P149.75; four-seater dining set, P15,950; yellow green accent chair, P6,995.00; two-drawer side table, P4,995.00; table lamp, P3,249.75; turquoise molded plastic chair, P1,995.00; and red vase, P579.75.

“Our Home is packed with a range of really nice products, from basic items to trendy pieces. Unfortunately, the really good ones are quite expensive. They have a range of styles and price points for the main furniture pieces–sofa, chairs, cabinets, beds–so you have a lot to choose from. Similarly, Our Home also carries home accessories that are basic and affordable, as well as stylish but a bit more pricey (i.e. umbra line and their table lamps).” -Green Guide

Clockwise from top left: Eglo Fargo, P3,4999.75; pillows, P499.75 (blue plaid), P549 (gold metallic); quadro wall decor (mirror), P4,999.75; white bed frame (queen), P11,000; dining set, P24,950; Eglo sendo, P1,499.75; circk wing chair, P13,000; geneva coffee table, P8,995; small canvas bin, P299.75; and 3- and 2-seater sofa set, P24,950.