Real Living Space

A new specialty home store just opened—About a Chair—and I’m happy to say that the store is specifically just about that. No bells and whistles, no unnecessary artwork, just a lot of chairs…

Now I’m glad such a store opened. Of course homeowners would go the whole nine yards to find a store with all their home needs in it, but what if you are simply looking for a chair? Like if you’re looking for the perfect kabisera chair for your dining table, or a tiny-but-stylish occasional chair for your condo? Then this store is just for that. Designers Malen Garcia and Nina Gomez and co-owners Lit and Anj Onrubia reglarly stock up on correctly proportioned mid-century modern chair icons like the Tulip (in black, no less), Egg Chair, Panton, Wishbone, among many others. In nice prices, too. This Baby Eames Rocker, for instance (flanked by Ant chairs) goes for P8,000-ish.

About A Chair is located at 2/F 146-A Jupiter St. (near Aristocrat), Makati City. Store hours are from 10AM to 7PM (Mon-Sat), and 11AM-7PM (Sunday).

On our way back, we dropped by Five Corners at the 2nd floor of Madison at Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong. Now for those in the know, Five Corners is IKEA heaven!!! They just opened a few weeks ago, and will soon fill their lovely loft-like space with more of your fave IKEA stuff. Abangan.

We got a sneak peek at household and consumer giant 3M’s new product: DI-NOC  film, launched last week at the Ayala Museum…

Now we all know 3M for its protectants and adhesives (Post-it Notes, anyone?), but not for interior finishes. DI-NOC will change all that with this film, which is a notch above ordinary wallpaper. It is self-adhesive, rather like a sophisticated contact paper, but without the cheesy wallpaper patterns (I especially love their take on exotic woods), making it perfect for high-end hospitality interiors.

And because it’s contact-paper-like, it’s easier to apply than laminates, tho admittedly, it is a bit pricey. Contact your local 3M distributor for more info.

…for the Year of the Rabbit. Whether you believe in feng shui or not, we got to attend a talk at LRI Design Plaza with renowned feng shui master and physician Andy Tan.

Now Andy is also quite clairvoyant and again, whether you believe this or not ( I do, and I can attest to this), he has come up with a lot of interesting and helpful feng shui tips for the home, specifically geared towards having good luck during the Year of the Metal Rabbit. Here are a few:

1. Use the auspicious colors of red, golden yellow, bronze, metallic silver. and green. Andy stressed that these color choices don’t have to be baduy, and can come in the form of quietly stylish abstract art, tabletop accessories, and soft furnishings.

2. Use rectangular or circular tables in your dining area for good luck, and of course, the bigger the table the better (although, I suppose not in tiny condo units).

3. Go for round things. Perhaps round ornaments or a round coffee table in your living room, or a round aquarium by your entrance, with water being pumped in, to bring in the good chi.

4. Bring out the dogs. Ornamental dogs, we mean. Place two by your main entrance for luck in wealth.

5. Use mirrors. But not the ba gua all the time. You can use mirrors to make contra unlucky elements, like beams in a room.

6. Tie a knot. A mystical knot, that is (seen above, next to Andy). You can buy these red mystic knots at feng shui stores and use it as wall decoration to bring in the luck.

7. Remember your lucky numbers: 7 (lucky), 5 (stable), 8 (infinity), and 9 (mystical).

Happy Lunar New Year! (Rabbits photographed at a11, 2680 FB Harrison, Pasay)