If you’ve been to Hong Kong or Singapore, you would have definitely heard of the Japanese lifestyle store Muji. MUJI is short for Mujirushi Ryohin—which translates to “no brand, quality products” and that’s exactly what their merchandise is all about! As a brand born at the height of Japan’s consumerist phase in the 1980’s, Muji was a breath fresh of air with their revolutionary idea of eliminating logos and focusing instead on functionality and product design. In addition to their penchant for simplicity and the zen aesthetic, Muji also expresses their concern for the environment through minimizing packaging and encouraging customers to stick to the essentials.

On October 16, Muji finally opens its Philippine flagship store at Bonifacio High Street. Here is a sneak preview of what you can expect from this amazing store, which were taken during the Mujia Manila media launch.

At Muji, you can find a wide variety of practical, useful, and well-designed every day items, from clothes to kitchenware to furniture.

The first thing you’ll see is the women’s apparel section. Most of the clothes are made from cotton (some 100% organic), and come in plain colors and basic designs. Prices for a shirt starts at P995, while a dress costs P1,950. There are also sneakers and ballet flats for over P2,000.

Muji is the place to go if you need bookshelves or a storage solution of sorts.

They’ve got organizers for everything – shoes, clothes, documents, and accessories.

Muji also carries cotton linens in basic, solid colors. Don’t you just love the clean lines of this display? Pillowcases are sold in singles so that customers can avoid waste by sticking only to what they need.

There’s also a small section for beauty and skin care.

Come check out Muji for yourself when it opens tomorrow! Muji can be found at Bonifacio High Street, above The Gap.

Click on the thumbnails below on some of the items they are selling at Muji Manila :

Known for its minimalist design aesthetic, MUJI products can seamlessly fit into any home or office. While seemingly simple, the design is well thought out to accommodate modern needs. Its products undergo a rigorous design process where the functionality of the items is studied and then improved. The melding of functionality and intelligent design results in products that everyone loves.

MUJI products are known for inciting fascination from customers because they incorporate small details that change how one views a certain product. For example, they put a window on the highlighter pens so we may precisely see where the sentence ends. Another example is the free cut sponge, which we can cut to certain shapes and sizes to suit our needs at a certain time.

Apart from improving product design, MUJI also gives importance to the raw materials used. They incessantly search for high-quality, sustainable and innovative sources of raw materials and turn them into unique products. An example is the pulp board shelf—a lightweight shelf made out of the cardboard found in the middle of tissue rolls. Through this product, they are able to reduce waste as well as create a practical and useful shelf that maximizes space.

MUJI’s distinct design direction is rooted in their creative team. It is composed of design legends such as Kenya Hara and Naoto Fukusawa whose commitment to product innovation and minimalism continue to drive the brand direction. The two other members are Kazuko Kokie and Takashi Sugimoto, who help customers understand each MUJI product and the brand essence through interior design and advertisements. These four individuals helped MUJI transition from a supermarket line of unlabeled products to a lifestyle and design giant it is considered today.

In the Philippines, Muji is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City.

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Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
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Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Muji Manila Opens on October 16 is a post from: Shopping Finds

In our house, we have a whole line of shoe cabinets lined up outside our rooms where we keep our shoes. While it does keep my stuff neat, I have too many shoes and the nicer ones end up getting squished and dirtied by the ones I use everyday. I keep my dressy shoes in their cardboard shoeboxes at the back of my closet, but retrieving them is always such a pain; I end up looking through three or four shoeboxes before finding the pair that I need.

I think I may have discovered a solution to my problem. I stumbled upon The Clear Shoebox Project, a Multiply store that sells shoeboxes with a dimension of 11.5 x 6.5 x 4 – perfect for ladies shoes! Not only do the clear shoeboxes allow you stock your shoes neatly in a tower; no more hunting through boxes and boxes to find the right pair, because you can see right where it’s placed!

Each shoebox costs 75 if you order less than 10; for bulk orders (10 or more), each shoebox costs 70 pesos. Check out the Clear Shoebox Project website for order information and creative ways on how to stack your shoeboxes! ————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

The Clear Shoebox Project is a post from: Shopping Finds

Ethan Allen designs today offer many options for comfort, luxury, and personal expression. Although their designs are still rooted in its proud American heritage, Ethan Allen infused European and Asian influences to its designs according to their clients’ style preferences. For this reason, they just released seven Projections of Distinct Styles, or lifestyle PODS. Each PODS cater to a specific niche of discerning taste – be it classic or contemporary, there is something for every person here.

VILLA
Villa represents the Mediterranean influences of Italy and France

If you value home, children, and family life, you will fall in love with the Villa pod. It’s got the essence of Provence, a hint of Tuscany, and a touch of American South,and brightens up your surroundings with dreamy florals and sunny colors. Balancing off the feminine touches and fabrics are elegantly carved woods, classic stoneware, and hand-forged scrolls. Live in harmony with pretty styles and fabrics that are both functional, fashionable, and pleasant to look at.

METRO
Metro is more urban, young, hip and modern minimalist

The Metro Pod is best for smaller spaces and for those who want to live, work, relax, and dine in surroundings that mirror city life while taking advantage of whatever space is available. This Pod draws on natural elements like metals, exposed brick, timbers, and woven designs to complement your preference for simplicity. Because your space is free from clutter, you can focus on your priorities and not have to worry about bumping into bulky furniture.

ESTATE
Estate represents the lifestyle of the rich and famous

Individuals who want to live a clutter-free estate lifestyle that celebrates family, friends, and self-expression will enjoy the Estate Pod. Celebrating American style using classic and antique-inspired furniture, this Pod reflects everyday traditions, your favorite pastimes, or formal entertaining.

LOFT
Loft is trendy, modern yet casual, elegant yet relaxed

This sleek Pod design begins with the notion of the little black dress – a look that celebrates not only the beauty of simplicity, but also the the enduring character of goo ddesign. If you’d like to live in a clean, fresh, and graphically appealing environment, go for this Pod’s contemporary, bold designs.

GLOBAL
Global is bold and graphic with the use of elements in nature and textiles

The Global Pod features warm wood, natural fibers, and vivid colors. This globally-inspired design is always comfortable, always interesting, and always home – perfect for those with a taste for the exotic, faraway lands, distant cultures, and an eye for anything eclectic.

GLAMOUR
Glamour is luxurious, contemporary and Hollywood inspired

If you are a well-traveled, savvy business person who loves fine tailored clothing and entertaining friends, you would want to live in a Glamour Pod. It’s a world of style and grace, furnished with beautiful woods, luxurious materials, sleek finishes, and fine accesories – all of which capture the essence and grace of a glamorous life.

COUNTRY HOUSE
Country House represents the attitude of the country

Someone who has seen the rest of the world, who appreciates fine art, and whose personal tastes are eclectic and filled with rich colors and textures will want to live in this Country House Pod. Whether you choose a more formal or relaxed style, this elegant Pod bears the imprint of generations past and the art of living well.

Where To Order/Buy Ethan Allen PODS in the Philippines

You can view the Ethan Allen Pods at the Focus Global Showroom along Pioneer St. corner Reliance St., Mandaluyong City. Showroom hours is from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays, and from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Sundays. Telephone number +632-634-8587. For more information, you visit www.focusglobalinc.com

Here is a snippet video of their showroom:

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Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
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Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Lifestyle Designs by Ethan Allen (Philippines) is a post from: Shopping Finds

The kitchen has always been the favorite spot in my household. Conversations, good food and the bonding of family members and friends are just conducive in the kitchen. I was quite excited to be part of the press launch of the SieMatic BeauxArts Kitchen Designs.

As I toured the SieMatic BeauxArts, one can immediately see that the kitchen designs for purists, romantics, and pragmatists and for all those whose imagination cannot be stereotyped.

The SieMatic BeauxArts refers to breaking the conventional rules of style in order to create something completely new, reinterpreting classical themes in a surprising way, giving more room to emotions.

It makes plays with styles, and composes seemingly contradictory design elements to form a harmonious whole in kitchen interior design.

One can combine Classicism and Modernity, or antiques and built-in furniture. Or one can put together cabinets from different types of doors, drawers, pullout trays, and handles. Blend cool stainless-steel
elements and warm types of wood, precious types of stone and sensuous colors. And discover the most beautiful style of kitchen furnishing along the way – one’s own.

Take for instance this Chinese Wedding Cabinet.

Concealed behind the decorative exterior of this “Chinese Wedding Cabinet” is a convenient, state-of-the-art Sub-Zero ref and freezer combination.

Stephen Sy, President of Focus Global Inc and Volker Betsch, Managing Director for SieMatic Far East

BeauxArts originated in the second half of the 19th century by young American architects who studied at the famous Paris art academy after which this style was named – the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. A successful combination of various styles from different cultures and different eras, it is a living blend just as America itself. It tells of freedom, individuality, and an architectural style, which shaped the look of major American cities and brought into being world-famous buildings such as the New York Stock Exchange, and the Statute of Liberty. It makes possible to realize the individual dream of livable design in a perfectly functioning kitchen.

The SieMatic/Focus Global Showroom is along Pioneer St. corner Reliance St., Mandaluyong City. Showroom hours is from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays, and from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Sundays. Telephone number 634-8587. For more information, you can visit www.SieMatic.com or www.focusglobalinc.com————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

SieMatic BeauxArts Kitchen Designs now in the Philippines is a post from: Shopping Finds

I was amazed at the low prices offered at Ikea Singapore. Their products suit well for compact homes like condominiums. No wonder there are two branches in Singapore. My husband was very excited to shop for home improvement products. Since we are just tourists, we couldn’t really bring a lot. But, we were excited to bring some furnishings when my sister-in-law gets repatriated back to the Philippines. We got their latest 2008 catalog so we can browse through each item carefully and possibly order a few stuff.

Here are some goodies that are really low priced yet functional and practical:

Armchair at an insanely low price of Singapore $69 or US $ 48.00

Armchair Pello at a low price of of Singapore $69 or US $ 48.00
This design has been out for the past 10 years and it’s still being sold. Its comfort and sturdiness most likely makes it a best-seller.

Sidetable at Singapore $19.90 or US $13.72
I just love the simple design of the sidetable. Perfect for dens or living room areas

Folding Chair for Singapore $19 or US 13.10
Folding chairs are space savers and useful when one has parties at home. Quite cheap too.

There are lot more bargain items in Ikea. One just needs to browse through Ikea Products Catalog to view all their products.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

IKEA, furniture, kitchens, beds, chairs, sofas, decorations (Singapore) is a post from: Shopping Finds

The bedroom provides a sanctuary after a hard’s day work. There is something soothing when one has a canopy on the bed. It feels like being protected in a cocoon. The canopy bed brings us back to a simpler time when bedrooms were a peaceful retreat from the outside world. I chose to have a canopy on my old antique bed to add a touch of beauty to the four poster bed. I was able to get an artistic bed designer who charged reasonable rates for everything including the pillows. The canopy bed certainly added softness , drama and beauty in my bedroom. A canopy bed may sound exotic and outlandish. Actually one can make a canopy using a simple swag of fabric or by executing an elaborate draped treatment. My husband agrees with me that the canopy bed helped add romance to our bedroom.

Contact me if you want to know who designed the canopy on my bed.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

The Canopy Bed is a post from: Shopping Finds

My bedroom is a sanctuary where I can relax after a hard’s day work at my home office business home office. It is at the bedroom where I turn on the stereo music and lounge at my coffee table. I feel like I am actually in a coffee shop. My white macbook fits the table top. The lamp on the table makes it have that old look feel as if I am transported during the days when candle lights illuminated the room.

It took me some time to search for the perfect coffee table. I didn’t want it to be bulky or fancy. Finally I found it at Market! Market! . The best thing is the price of $138.00 which is really affordable. The finish is also of fine quality. It’s just that the chair cushion isn’t too fluffy for comfort.

Try placing a coffee table in the corner of your bedroom.

Cost :
2 chairs at 1695 each or 3,390
Coffee table Table @ 2995

Total 6,385 pesos or $138.00

Where to Buy:
KlappStuhl, Inc
3/F Market Market, Global City
Fort Bonifacio
Taguig, Metro Manila————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Coffee Table Furniture is a post from: Shopping Finds

I used to arrange our shoes in open shelves but they are unsightly and looks disorganized. Trooping to various malls, I shopped around for the perfect shoe cabinet to accomodate 150 pairs of footwear. Well that’s the number of shoes my family members own. The hunt was disappointing as the cabinet had limited capacity. I needed space to fit in all 150 shoes.

Then by accident we visited Federal Hardware. Each shoe cabinet can fit 50 pairs of shoes. With the dimensions of 35 x 48 inches (w x h), it was neither bulky or too small. The cabinet door is screened so that the shoes can still breathe.

It also had a pleasing aesthetic look and fitted a space in the landing that is not normally used.

Look at all that space! It is advisable to place a deodorizer inside to eliminate some of the shoe odor.

Where to find:
Federal Hardware
Owned and Operated by Ceramic Plaza, Inc.
2250 Pasong Tamo St.
Pio del Pilar, Makati City
Tel. No. (632) 89301654 (632) 893-6277————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Shoe/Footwear Cabinet is a post from: Shopping Finds

My idea of [tag]home office furniture[/tag] or a [tag]workstation[/tag] is one that serves its purpose yet looks attractive. In my new home, I had a vacant space in the landing of the second floor. I knew this was the perfect spot for my workstation. I didn’t want that”office look”. Scouring the internet for workstation ideas , I came across these photos. I like the idea of a filing drawer and the warm wood finish.

The corner design is quite a space saver

The idea of mixing books and work blends well with my needs.

Since I could not find the ideal workstation furniture, I had it customized by a talented carpenter. Much as I wanted a corner workstation, the window was a hindrance to the design. Wood finish seemed the best choice but there was an existing white bookcase in the den.

This was finally the design of my workstation.

There is a keyboard drawer , drawer, 8 filing cabinets and lots of space for books. A hole for electrical wires for the desktop computer exists in the middle of the table. The lacquer white finish and polyurethane top makes the table scratch resistant. Enamel paint easily cracks.

The customized home office furniture cost me 19,147.00 pesos or $396.00

It’s quite a piece of furniture. I’m loving working on it now.————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Home Office Furniture is a post from: Shopping Finds

Over at Loft Details along E. Rodriguez avenue near Eastwood, one can find unique furniture imported from Malaysia and other nearby Asian countries. This mocha/cream sectional sofa is quite ideal for the TV room as it has a lounging chair and wide seats. The nice thing about this sectional sofa compared to others is that one can position the lounging chair to the left or right whichever suits the owner. I tried this out and it’s quite cozy. The list price is 73,000 pesos with a discount of 15% if you’re interested to buy it. ————

Have you visited my personal blog, Touched by an Angel, my husband’s blog at The Warrior Lawyer and my other blogs like

Pinoy Food Photo Blog for Restaurants & Food Events
Your Pinoy Real Estate Broker for Real Estate Needs
Techie Gadgets for Cellphones, Laptops & Gadgets. Please pray for us that justice will soon be served with regards to my son’s death at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort.

You might also want to visit my daughter’s ukay-ukay blog at ukaymanila.com.

Thanks for visiting….Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

Sectional Sofa Set is a post from: Shopping Finds