Columns, Home and Entertaining

Warm welcome for new luxe home store

BY Maurice Arcache

December 6, 2011
11:31 pm

The full moon rising is a feng shui-assigned date to attract luck and success to any maiden venture, dahlings, and what luckier time to inaugurate a très chic home decor shop than now.

W/17, a luxe home store that involves the collaboration between designer Andy Vásquez-Prada and Kaye Tinga, had a house blessing by Fr. Enrique Rabonza.

The shop, according to Prada, is borne out of the “desire to help Filipinos learn the basics of customizing luxury and elegance for the home through furniture and home furnishings they can mix and match.”

Customers can choose from a showcase of the best from the East and the West with pieces that are made from world-class materials and boasting of ingenious designs.

Andy’s love for interior design started at an early age. His mother, Mari Cris Sangroniz, inspired him to take up interior design at the Philippine School for Interior Design. He later took up further studies at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London. He had put up his own trading company before joining the Rustan’s home division as curator in 2004.

His partnership with multifaceted Kaye T, the director of social enterprise, means “that W/17 also takes to heart the value of social responsibility by ensuring that it stays true to fair trade principles and helps local communities of furniture-makers,” he said.

For your Christmas shopping, check out W/17. It’s at 2241 La Fuerza Compound along Chino Roces (formerly Pasong Tamo) in Makati.

Swarovski dazzlers

Swarovski dazzled with its Winter 2012 Collection, which was presented at Rustan’s Gallerie. A collaboration with the Philippine Tatler, “Swarovski Wings of Fantasy” featured the collection as well as a photo exhibit featuring 10 of Manila’s beautiful faces wearing the Swarovski Heritage Catwalk collection, naturellement.

The photo exhibit showed us works of our top photographers capturing the sparkling moments of 10 selected women wearing the new Swarovski collection.

Included in the awesome collection are the Dryade Sautoir Feat Bag, Montaigne bracelet and necklace and Octea Sport Ultra and Nirvana Flash, both in white.

But my personal choices are the simple but classy necklace and matching pendant earrings, the Paloma necklace and the Pure bangle. Absolutely gorgeous, palanggas.

Leading the successful event were Rustan’s EVP Anton Huang, Tatler editor in chief Anton San Diego and Swarovski’s tall and dashing Chris Neff, and Maria Lopez.

There was a special silent auction of some pieces in the collection. Beneficiary was the Philippine National Red Cross.

Dazzling Swarovski continues to combine magic and grace with its sophisticated creations. Check out Swarovski’s world-renowned precious sparklers, palanggas.

Dining at Naci

It was out of my driving zone, but moi made an exemption and went to the opening of Naci Comfort Food and Dessert Bar at Fox Square Bldg. in posh Greenhills, San Juan.

The red-carpet launch was hosted by TV’s Tim Yap and attended by celebrities and hot namedroppables, such as San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, Rep. JV Ejercito and Vice Mayor Francis Zamora.

Naturellement, chef Ed Quimson came up with an excellent menu—junior crab cakes, taco spring roll, beef caldereta lasagna, slow-roast pork belly and various pastas. Cebu’s popular namedroppable Manny O’ Wines were served together with calorific but yummy desserts to get everyone’s adrenaline and weight up, dahlings.

“We offer food, to be shared and enjoyed with good company,” said Nadine Nocom, GM of Naci. “The homey atmosphere and attentive service at Naci will allow our diners to sample a variety of creative dishes as a light snack or entire meal at very affordable prices.”

She added that “Naci will serve wholesome lunch, gourmet-style snacks, superb dinner plus a wide selection of cocktails and award-winning international wines.”