It features the homes of different homeowners with different personalities and decorating tastes. So whether you’re partial to a tropical Filipino home, or an eclectic one that is a charming mix of your travel finds and knick-knacks, you’re sure to find an inspiration in the book. It’s also easy to translate the different styles to your own homes with the book’s Get the Look pages.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a copy now for P250. It’s available in bookstores nationwide.

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 wish all design schools looked like this! (And not that I’m complaining about UP—still love my school) It was designed by modernist architect Ed Calma, right at the height of his PRC licensure controversy (FYI it’s over, Calma is now a licensed Filipino architect). The deconstructivist/modernist building is an amazing example of how good design can make the most out of a tight, crowded area—in this case, right smack in the middle of downtown Manila. Upon approach, its facade’s sharp creases and folds open to reveal a dramatically airy space. And I like the fact that it’s peppered with amazing artwork in the lobby…

And the students’ exhibit of miniature chairs just took me right back to my college days!

To date, the college is beefing up its design programs, offering more intense courses on industrial and interior design, architecture, multimedia, filmmaking, even production design. Students are encouraged to take a more hands-on, experiential approach to learning, which is definitely good. For more information on the college, click here.

While we’re on the topic of design education, SOFA (School of Fashion and the Arts) recently opened its School of Interior Design, offering courses on Visual Editing, entertaining, and renovating on a budget among other things.  Interesting—but do take the basic design classes first! For more info, call the academic and marketing officer at (02) 892-8807.

One year in RL and I’m enjoying it! Awesome! I love the pretty things I see and pull out for our shoots. I love meeting homeowners, listening to their stories, and writing about their homes. And I love how we work together to come up with a lovely issue every month.

As I turn a year old today in RL, let me share with you some of my notable firsts in this magazine:

The very first shoot I assisted in. Get Inspired for Aug. 2009, with assistant style editor Coni Tejada and creative director Gwyn Guanzon. Photo by Ocs Alvarez

My baptism of fire (Decor Ideas: Scents and Sensibilites shoot for Sept. 2009), wherein I failed to pull out some important items so I panicked and cried and I was so sorry…

…but the RL staff, being the nice people that they are, told me it’s okay, and everything turned out well.

My first home shoot (Room for Drama, Real Home, Sept. 2009). Photo by Jun Pinzon

And of course, my first out-of-town shoot with the RL team (and my first time out of Luzon ever! Haha!). Photo by Miguel Nacianceno

So it has been a year of sourcing, shooting, writing, and pulling out for RL for me. And along the way, I’ve met and worked with interesting people, been to various parts of the Metro, and had fun while working that sometimes, I feel I’m not working at all.

So cheers to a successful and memorable year for me in RL. May more lovely years come not just for me but for the whole RL team, and I hope you, our dear readers, will continue to be with us along the way.

Located along Arnaiz Ave., Makati City, Papertrail is a stone’s throw away from Greenbelt. It is a charming, little shop with equally charming merchandise. Check out some of them:

Some notebooks, pencils, and erasers. Be sure to take a sniff of their smencils, gourmet-scented pencils.

The store with its merchandise lining up the shelves.

Oh so cute! I wanna take them home.

Desk notes (at the bottom) and more journals I wanna take home.

Pretty bags!

Jot down your ideas and make your lists on those pocket notes.

Papertrail is located at Unit 201 La’O Bldg., 1000 Araniz Ave., Makati City. You can contact them at (02) 403-752m or email them at papertrail.ph@gmail.com. Check out www.papertrail.vpweb.com. Also, read more about this store in the Shop of the Month section featured in the June issue of Real Living magazine.

This adorable Hook Sparrow costs a mere P545. And what about when Autumn leaves begin to fall (sorry I can’t help it)…

They’re actually door stoppers, P550 each. These came in the nick of time when interiors have begun slipping from “New Pretty” to just plain droll. Visit Quirks at Stall 320-a, Level R3 at the Powerplant Mall in Rockwell, Makati.

They have few pieces of furniture, but most of them I like! Esp this Retro Stool (P5,500) in gold pandan and faux leather. Very 1940s-Hollywood! It’ll look good paired with a vintage dresser …

…their home accessories are amazing, such as the tableware, like these disco-fab Warhol Coasters in gold, nice price too (only P55 each)…

…ditto for the silver Warhol Tray (P700)!

And I so love their charming selection of gifts, such as these Pandan Notebooks (P370) with Oriental cabinet accent…

…and their romantic Tassel Bookmarks (P105 each), which remind me of stuff I’ve seen in tiny Shanghai shops.

They sell spa kits and oriental tea, too. Click here to see more Domesticity products and to order online. (Images from the Domesticity website. Thank you, Tish, for the lead.)

I had so much fun working on this month’s Entertaining section, “The Grill-out Project”! Summer is in full swing, and what better way to celebrate these sunny days than with a good old-fashioned barbecue?

When we were trying to figure out where to shoot this section, I immediately thought of Laya Personal Dining, a by-reservation-only resthouse-turned-restaurant in Antipolo.

I first heard about this lovely place from photographer Miguel Nacianceno, who wrote about it for Yummy.ph. I decided to celebrate my birthday there a few months ago, and had been raring to go back. This shoot gave me the perfect excuse!

Laya, owner Irene told me on my first visit, used to be the family’s rest house. “But it didn’t make sense because we live just five minutes away!” she said. They thus converted Balinese-style house into this wonderful restaurant. Chef Ricci comes up with different set menus every so often, and you can enjoy the sumptuous food in the midst of a relaxing setting.

Imagine sipping some hot tea at that cabana (above) after a six-course meal!

They’re open every weekend, and the place can be reserved for a private group. Laya is located at Sierra Madre Street, Grand Heights Subdivision, Antipolo. For more details (including the latest menu), click here. For inquiries and reservations, email layapersonaldining@gmail.com, or call or text 0917-846-4322.

Photos by Miguel Nacianceno

The scent has been on my desk since yesterday, and I’m loving it. It’s relaxing. Our art director even said that the scent makes her want to sleep already. Which tells me to keep it during our turnover nights, or else we won’t finish the magazine. Hehe. Maybe you can try putting lavender scent in your bedroom too, especially if you have trouble sleeping at night.

My fascination for home scents has just begun. I’ll look for other scents that I can use for my office cubicle. Maybe I should try citrus scents like lemon or grapefruit for a tangy burst of energy.

I occasionally drop by designer Eric Paras’s home store/lifestyle place A11 (at 2680 FB Harrison in Pasay) unannounced, just to take in the beautiful settings and see what’s new. There’s always something new—new furniture, new artwork, or stuff that’s simply moved around, the mere move making it look fresh. I must say, even his cats are stylish! They go well with the decor.

Just like Trini, the itinerant cat that almost made it to our March 2009 cover…

When I stopped by late last week, that same spot was transformed—not entirely different, but different in a very dramatic, still-life sorta way…

Belated Happy Birthday, Eric. So sorry dear, I am forgetful.