The demand for a sofa that had oomph, and that didn’t sag after a few years, drove a design team to collaborate with US-based retailers to import the best of American furniture brands.

Unless you have a deep pocket, the options here are few and the prices are prohibitive due to taxes and store overhead. Hence, design duo Ivy and Cynthia Almario and restaurateur Guillermo Nieva partnered with fitness guru/retailer Joey Luna and Lee Imperial, president of Furniture Direct, one of the largest furniture stores in the West Coast, to create a company called Glassful Holdings, Inc.

Renting the former residence of the late antique dealer Viring de Asis from her daughter, Lisa, the company has transformed that iconic home into a furniture haven called Shelter that offers high-end American brands at affordable prices.

“After years of telling clients to squeeze their butts and give me eight more [repetitions], I’ve been going to buying shows, picking items,” Luna says, Shelter’s creative director.  The showroom offers a wide range of transitional and contemporary furniture styles, the latest coffee-table books, scented candles and artisan accessories.

Tasteful, affordable

Imperial has long wanted to establish a presence in the country. His company, Furniture Direct, is a must-see in Las Vegas and also has the largest furniture-based website in the West Coast. The Las Vegas showroom offers design services as well.

When Imperial moved to Las Vegas, there weren’t enough home stores that provided a variety of options on tasteful and affordable furniture. It gave him an idea to fill in the void by setting up a furniture store of premium brands at competitive prices called Furniture Direct. In 1996, when it took forever to get an Internet connection, Furniture Direct was one of the first companies to put up a website. Other factories thought Imperial and his business associate were insane in using the Web as a medium to lure customers to the store. The concept proved successful, though, giving customers more choices at different price points.

In 2001, Luna joined the company and is now the vice president.

The Almarios told Imperial and Luna that many residential and commercial projects in the Philippines needed a wider furniture selection. Some affluent clients wanted their sofas to be as comfortable as the upholstered goods in their US homes. Ivy added that having worked in California, they had grown accustomed to the premium materials and workmanship of American brands.

Shelter positions itself as an aspirational store offering these brands. It also has a library of fabrics to let the client customize the furnishings.

The shopping experience is unique. The De Asis’ residence is a composite of salvaged parts of ancestral homes. The antiquity of the piedra china, narra finishes and stained windows emphasize the modern lines and finishes of the furniture.

Over a healthy lunch of brown roast, grilled vegetables and fresh fruit, Luna recalled that De Asis would invite his mother and other prospective clients for lunch at this place. As they soaked in the ambience and De Asis’ hospitality, they ended up buying antiques.

Shelter extends that graciousness to clients, who can come for merienda and look for a couch, a sleeper or a sectional sofa or a coffee table that would suit their living room; or a novel gift item such as bejeweled picture frames, antique bottles with crosses, or golden wings by Michael Aram.

Luna observed that Filipinos tend to be swayed by the styles of New York or Milan. The furniture for these countries are designed for temperate conditions. Miami should be the inspiration instead, since the weather is equally humid.

“We brought in home fabrics and sofas that would suit this climate,” he said.

Choices

Imperial, who is Shelter’s managing director, cited G. Romano, a Canadian company known for its upholstery.

“It has a green story,” he said. The wood frames are sourced from responsible forests in North America, the seat cushions and foam padding are a combination of soy-based foam core (to reduce the carbon footprint) and down feather inserts, which make it ideal for the tropics. Even the upholstery uses sustainable materials.

To furnish a dramatic home, Bernhardt Interiors, a North Carolina company, has a diverse design collection in a variety of period styles, while the furniture is known not only for using high-strength framing, durable-steel springs and lasting materials but also for its artisanship. In upholstery, the corners withstand pressure and wear. The craftsmen of this company securely attach corner blocks and braces to give extra support and durability. It also uses veneers that resist warping, swelling or damages brought about by humidity.

Customers with European sensibilities will prefer the styles of Dellarobia, which are more fun and colorful. This American brand imbibes European sophistication in its exceptional frame strength, fully white goose down filling, clean seams, tailoring and hidden zippers and hand craftsmanship.

Rossetto prides itself on contemporary Italian styles at pocket-friendly prices. Its signature look is streamlined.

Also European-inspired, the Canadian brand Jaymar is known for its coverings, especially leather from the world’s best tanneries and micro fibers. The furniture frames are built from solid and engineered hardwoods for utmost strength; it includes additional structural support members and corner blocked joints for stability. It has more sinewy springs than other brands and the highest foam density.

For some nostalgia, there are Art Deco pieces inspired by Walt Disney’s office, made by Drexel Heritage, such as the paneled leather writing drawer with nickel knobs, and carpets inspired by patterns from the Hearst Castle.

Knowing the furniture brands’ reputation, their construction and craftsmanship is like knowing the difference between a Mercedes or Honda, says Imperial.

“You’ll do better buying quality goods that last longer than buying something inexpensive and would have to be replaced.”

Shelter is at 3 General de Jesus St., Little Baguio, San Juan, open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 5106280.