Real Living Space

When we talk about home makeovers, the first two words that come to mind are ‘expensive’ and ‘time-consuming.’ But with Real Living’s Handy Hints and Instant Makeovers book, you can give your space a picture-perfect look without spending too much of your well-earned money and without consuming much of your treasured time.

This must-have book will show you how to makeover your home at your own pace by breaking down the grand makeover to smaller projects –this way it’s more achievable as well as convenient. The 35 home projects are easy to do; you can choose a number of projects you can accomplish every weekend and your home will be clutter-free and pretty in no time! Aside from being an instant makeover guide, this book contains a handy list of must-have household products for your home.

It’s now available for only P120 in bookstores and newsstands nationwide! Grab your copy now.

I remember looking forward to cool, minimalist, anonymous (oops not that store) Muji at Paragon (naku, ang luma, Ion na ang uso ngayon) whenever I hit Singapore. Well, iconic Japanese brand Muji has finally hit our shores! Their first store at Bonifacio High Street had a press launch this morning.

I wasn’t disappointed. Oh wait, I was—where were their Cities in Bags? Well, they had a lot of other cool stuff on offer, like organizing stuff…

…furniture, like this super-cool, no-frills side table/serving tray…

…strange things like these ginormous kitchen sponges…

…cool, DIY totes (at P55 a pop!)…

…and these I love, bought them ever since—blank jigsaw puzzles (why? I don’t know, must be making a statement)

But everyone seemed to end up milling around the stationery center! Muji officially opens tomorrow, October 16.

Real Living’s October issue is out! This being a Shopping issue makes it extra-special for me, because this month, we went out of our way to find all these off-the-beaten-track home stores (no malls here!). A couple of my faves—Resurrection at Maginhawa Street near UP Diliman sells restored vintage furniture, mostly in offbeat styles…

…and La Monja Loca (The Crazy Nun) is this hole-in-the-wall store in a rather historical place—Intramuros. Owned by Carlos Celdran (has he been freed already???) La Monja offers slice-of-Pinoy-life objects like banig, miniature jeepneys and Imelda totes.

Other fab finds are featured in the RL Notebook. Take a look at these lovely Maria Clara pillows—we got them for a song!

Also in the October ish: ditch the corny tea party with friends and host a DIY party instead (so cute!)…

…find out how this young couple’s rented digs could become a designer pad…

…oh, and don’t forget to take a peek at our “cover girl” Nichole Reyes’s home!

Real Living is available at newsstands and bookstores for only P140. (Photos by Ocs Alvarez, Miguel Nacianceno, Toto Labrador, and Jun Pinzon)