As featured on BusinessWorld last Nov 29, 2021
IF SANTA Claus really is coming to town, you better make sure your house isn’t naughty, but very, very nice. We’ve put together a list of furniture gifts from ITOOH Homestyle (shopitooh.com) which can be bought online so you can make your home a centerpiece for the holidays. These are also made by local artisans, so a purchase can help someone else have a very merry Christmas.
We’re starting off with the Escolta Dinner Plate (P2,500 for a set of seven), made by master potter Ugu-Bigyan. Handmade in clay and glazed with red and black, these bowls add an earthy, bohemian touch to a table with some room for eclectic coziness.
For truly dreamy reads, there is the Cloud Bookend Set (P2,115), hand-carved in black Romblon marble. These marble products contribute to the economy of Region IV-B MIMAROPA, a region where marble crafts are considered one of the main livelihoods of the local artisans. Each item is hand-crafted by skilled craftsmen who have been in the industry for decades and whose artistry is passed down through generations.
For the lounge or the library, what about a nice TV tray or bar stand? The Large Rattan Nito Tray with Folding Stand(P2,600) from Manang.ph can hold drinks, snacks, and a magazine (for four). Fortunately, the fact that it folds up makes it portable, and after dinner, you can haul it to the bedroom (to hold more snacks).
Guests will certainly be impressed with the Nodum Candle Holder (P4,800), a glamorous Art Deco-inspired candle holder with a glass cone shade, standing at a height of 73 cm. This can go really well with the Prizmic & Brill Stationery Box (P23,700), in case a friend wants to write letters by candlelight. The box is made with a stamped cowhide leather exterior, a soft taupe faux leather interior, and finished with brass details — and it folds out into a mini escritoire (a small writing desk). All this can go on top of a Kipling Desk (P29,680), a true work of art with a stainless-steel metal frame with a dark leather exterior, nickel accents, and a dark wood trim — all outfitted with multiple drawers and shelving.
Why not hide things in plain sight with the Purma Ottoman Trunk (P27,109), upholstered in indigenous Pis Syabit from Sulu and Yakan weave from Zamboanga, as well as vintage fabric from the Netherlands. Padded for guaranteed comfort, the hinged top can be easily opened to access generous storage.
Finally, to add a festive touch to a front door, Philippine Treasures, Inc. is offering a Handcrafted Wreath with Assorted Berries (P1,000). All wreaths feature a handwoven wire base, varnished imitation leaves, glass beads, and specially hand-carved wooden berry-shaped beads from the Southern Philippines. This can go on any surface, up on the door, or on a wall — and it can be reused every year, like a new holiday tradition.
These and more are available for online purchase at shopitooh.com. — JLG
