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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

i saw design: ust’s christmas lane

[Too bad we weren’t able to personally visit this exhibit. December was a pretty hectic month for our individual “day jobs”.

Good thing, our friends from UST were kind enough to share with us their photos of the said event. I can tell from the pictures that each space was well designed and put together. But I’m so sure, they all look much better in person! Congratulations!

Also, special thanks to their teacher, Bam Basbas for coordinating.]

*Images and text courtesy of UST ID

Sharing and giving has been a huge part of the Filipinos’ Christmas tradition. That’s why it is no surprise that during the holidays, streets become busy and malls get packed with people who are all in search for perfect gifts. The Christmas Lane exhibit intended to capture the season’s “shopping scene”.

For the past eleven years, it has been a tradition of the junior students of the UST Interior Design Department, College of Fine Arts and Design, to hold a Christmas exhibit that embraces the spirit of the Christmas season. The 2009 exhibit, entitled Christmas Lane, took a different version of presenting the Filipino Christmas scene. Instead of the usual residential spaces, the batch decided to focus, for the first time, on commercial spaces.

The Christmas Lane featured design mock-ups of the four most frequented shops during the holidays: a candy shop where there are endless possibilities for sweets and treats; a novelty shop where one can find great treasures and tokens; a café where one can enjoy freshly brewed coffee and pastries; and a toy shop where everyone can be a child again.

CANDY EXPRESS

Freight Rail Transport, or commonly known as cargo trains, is one of the most reliable means of transportation of goods that can carry tons of goods to distant places. The store shares a similar vision as Candy Express offers a wide variety of candies, from expensive chocolates to the more affordable mint gums.

The “express” from the shop’s name is literally translated to the Cargo train motif, especially in the design’s display ledges, promotional tables, cashier counter and ceiling design.

The space is dominated by a colorful palette of bright red, blue, yellow ochre, ivy green and mint green, resulting to a playful atmosphere. The winter-themed Christmas decor is inspired by the ever-famous song written by Sammy Cahn “Let it Snow”.

ILAYA MODERNO

Filipinos have a penchant for glamorous traditional holiday styles. Novelty shop Ilaya Moderno fuses the casual Filipino flair with the luxurious Christmas character.

Crystal, mirrored ornaments and metallics add sparkle to the shop. Décors with various natural textures balance the visual smoothness of silver and gold. Intricately cut pabalat (wrapper of pastillas de leche) adds a touch of Filipino elegance and glamour in the design.

WISTERIA CAFE

Named after the wisteria flower, Wisteria Café presents a new idea of contemporary delight through a fresh, chic and relaxed dining setting. The outdoor theme is achieved through the addition of the trellis and the use of different outdoor furnishings and accessories.

The design made use of Filipino products for the furniture, wall decor and accessories.  Recyclable materials were also introduced in the design such as cable wires for the Christmas tree, old cardboards made into accent flowers, and empty wine bottles used as decorations.

WONDER WORKS

Wonder Works toy store caters to a market ranging from pre-schoolers to school-age children. From the name itself, Wonder Works features different stuffed animals, collectibles, books, and other toys that excite, amaze, and capture the interests of children.

The store’s design is a playful take on the Christmas celebration through its contemporary interpretations of a country style playhouse.

design trail: singapore

“So, did you like Sentosa?” was the most frequently asked question I got from people who knew I just came back from Singapore. The second most frequently asked question was, “Did you like their chicken rice?” I couldn’t answer either question. We didn’t go to Singapore’s most popular tourist destinations (but we went to Ikea twice!) and we didn’t get to eat Singapore’s famous delicacies (we had Austrian sausages in Chinatown instead). But we did get to see a lot of great design.

Their SMRT train stations were so clean and well-designed. Look at that ceiling detail!

Chinatown was one of the pleasant surprises of our trip. Everything was so festive and everyone there seemed to be in a good mood.

We did go to one famous spot, the Esplanade, where our generous hosts took us to eat delicious food. The architecture of the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay building, or “The Durian”, was especially beautiful at sunset.

For me, one of the highlights of our trip was discovering Ann Siang Road and Ann Siang Hill, which is near Chinatown. We already told you about Ann Siang in our Heima post. The shops there had real personality. The home and lifestyle store, Vanilla Home, was chic and classy. Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures of the shop but you can check out their luxurious pieces at their site.

Books Actually was cute and unassuming. I hear they’re leaving Ann Siang, though. I hope their new store at their new location will be as lovely as this one.

Earth Sanctuary, a boutique and spa, was relaxed and understated.

Strangelets, located at Amoy Street, was really fun and quirky. And they had the most interesting products. I took home a timbercroc from their store.

We saw the most interesting places when we put down the map and veered off course. We suggest you do the same the next time you go to Singapore. And don’t forget to wear your most comfortable shoes!

*Read more to see our complete set of Singapore images, including a picture of a really red building, more shops, and inspiring temples.

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