Affordable But Stylish Home Decor That You Can Find At The Mall
You won't believe these picks are department store finds. There are some that are under P95!
Most homeowners think it's convenient to shop for their furniture and accessories at the mall; after all, everything is under one roof. There is the danger, though, of ending up with cookie-cutter, mass-produced items that look a wee bit too cheap. So Real Living sourced at three stores at malls (one of them is brand new!) for designer-style home finds that won't break the bank.
ABENSON HOME
The latest home store from the Abenson group wants you to sit down and relax. “We want the customers to come in and sit down and enjoy it and see how it feels because you’re buying something you wouldn’t replace for a quite a few years. So how do you buy it if you don’t know how feels?” says Mark Zwolfer of Abenson Home. “We want you to sit down on it, relax on it. Sit down on it just the way you sit down at home.”
The store, which is located at the brand new W Mall in Pasay City, is a well-curated one-stop-shop for the homeowner—from kitchenware, décor, small appliances, storage, tables, recliners, sofas and bed—which all have a sleek and modern aesthetic, and carry very reasonable price tags. There are dining tables under P10,000, chairs under P3,000, and a whole section with items under P95.
But Abenson Home’s care for its customers doesn’t stop at the cash register. In fact, they could also help out with their space. Designers and assembly men can be requested to go to the customer’s home, measure the space, and plan it according to her needs. Even the ones who just want to replace her existing sofa with a new one could avail of this service. Because in the end, it makes things simpler for everyone.
You’d also be pleased to know that a corner of the shop has been dedicated to European home store Habitat, which is locally franchised by Abenson. Here, they offer Habitat’s more popular and affordable pieces. “The Abenson Home version is a very affordable local brand and Habitat is a European brand so it felt that it would fit well…the two were complementary of each other. Habitat is higher and we really set [Abenson Home] to be more of a mid-price point,” explains Mark. —Coni Tejada
Abenson Home is located at 3/F, W Mall, 19 Coral Way, Pasay City; or follow them on their Facebook page
READ: Shop of the Week - Habitat
ROBINSONS CURATED HOME
Ito Kish is best known for his award-winning furniture designs and masterful styling. Since late 2017, the renowned visual storyteller has become a personal curator for first-time homeowners with his special Curated Home collection for Robinsons Department Store.
Eschewing the expected plastic, mass-produced budget house ware that is the standard fare of department stores, Kish hand-picks around 60 beautifully-made and designed objects, small furniture pieces, and accessories for the Robinsons shopper. But all this comes with a wonderful surprise: the items are very affordable, with prices ranging from below P500 and up.
His latest collections for Curated Home, which will be launched this mid-July, include the Craft Collection, which features decoupage details, the Resort Collection, which highlights stoneware and basketry, and the Oceana Collection, which showcases soft furnishings with iridescent accents.
Curated Home is available at Robinsons Department Stores; click here for branches
READ: Let An Award-Winning Designer Handpick Your Home Décor
MUJI, GREENBELT 3
With the current fascination for minimalist interiors, it is no wonder that there is a renewed interest in the ultimate Japanese modern minimalist store MUJI. The Greenbelt 3 branch, which was recently renovated to match the aesthetics of the Muji branches in Japan, has interiors that draw inspiration from nature, incorporating wood, stone, sand, and metal.
The stylishly barebones products do not disappoint. There are pale buri baskets for P845 and up, plain white dinnerware for P425, essential oils at P695 (green tea-scented, of course), hand painted blue Nasami cups for P345, and oatmeal-colored organic cotton blankets for P2,950 (to match your organic cotton MUJI blouse).
Want to sleep like MUJI? There is a bed with storage underneath (P36,000 for the bed base), so you can KonMari your clutter away.
Another highlight of the Greenbelt 3 branch is the “What is MUJI?” display inside the store. The display aims to educate Filipino consumers about MUJI’s less-is-more vision by eliminating any language barriers between the Japanese and Pinoys.
MUJI is located at 2/F Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City; or follow them on their Facebook page
READ: Finally, A Peek Into the Minimalist Muji Hotel
PHOTOS Albert Labrador (Abenson Home, styling by Coni Tejada), Ito Kish (Robinsons), MUJI
