When Dada and I started furnishing our starter home, we shopped mostly at IKEA, but Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel and Restoration Hardware served as my inspiration.
I would visit the stores to browse, and keep catalogs I received in the mail as reference, convinced that if I studied them hard enough, I can totally recreate the rooms in our own home without any help from an interior decorator. Ahihihi.
When we moved back to Manila, I belatedly realized that with the lack of choices here, and the prohibitive costs of shipping things from abroad, I had missed my chance of bringing home the accessories and accent pieces from these US stores that I've always wanted for my own home - jute rugs, lanterns, the perfect table linens, party/entertaining essentials and such.
So thank goodness for SSI, Pottery Barn is finally Manila!
Anton Huang and Elizabeth Quiambao of Stores Specialists, Inc. with executives from Williams Sonoma Inc. which owns Pottery Barn (from L-R): Michelle Hummel – VP of Global Merchandising, Jennifer Ozark-Blanton – VP Global Inventory Management and Franchise Operations, and Leigh Oshirak - Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Not even Typhoon Glenda could stop me from going to the press launch. I excitedly went to meet my friend Cecile at her home so we could go together. I wanted to see what they had in store, and of course, usisa what the prices would be like here in Manila.
I am happy to share that prices in general are not so bad. The ones that I liked were reasonably priced. The furniture though, well, knowing how locally made furniture costs, are on the high end.
But that's expected given that these are mostly made in the US, North Carolina if I remember right.
And now, for a tour. I started on the right side of the store and walked around the entire ground floor before heading up the stairs to the second floor. Here's what you can find:
cozy seating and natural fiber rug, very "cottage in The Hamptons"
nautical glassware & barware starting at Php395
throw pillows Php1,950 (inserts start at Php595)
everything you need for a chic dining room is here, dining chairs start at Php12,500
linen napkins, Php1,950 for a set of 4. White catering napkins are Php1,450 for 6
blues and whites and more table linens here
resin corals starting at Php2,250
wax candles and candle stands, they have flameless battery operated candles too
artisan made lanterns starting at Php995 for the glass lanterns
love this linen couch set
outdoor seating, wouldn't this be fantastic to have by the pool?
Jaraiza! This is what you've been looking for! Drink dispensers made from glass, Php4,500
Chic way to see what everyone's up to with that wall whiteboard calendar
Outdoor entertaining essentials
barware & glassware
wouldn't this make a sosyal lemonade stand?
Up on the second floor is the Bedroom section, the Bath section and the Design Studio.
From thick, fluffy towels to accessories, bathroom furniture and mirrors, the Bathroom section makes you want to redecorate your bath and start afresh.
washcloths start at Php295, hand towels at Php495 and bath towels at Php1,450
that hat stand where the bath robe hangs is about Php9,000+ if I remember right
get all these as a set - makes for cute and inexpensive wedding or housewarming present
The heart of Pottery Barn is Design Studio, where specially trained Design Specialists offer complimentary decorating and entertaining advice to customers.
Whether you simply need to select fabrics, throw pillows for your couch or want help in decorating an entire room, a Design Specialist will be happy to help you.
I actually asked the Design Specialist on how I can care for this jute rug I have my eye on, and she deftly advised that it was easy to maintain and just needed regular vacuuming.
jute rugs range from Php2,950 for a 3x5' to Php34,500 for a 9x12'
Of course, I was told it was best to use with a rug pad underneath, which should be coming in August.
Yes, while there's already plenty of eye candy in store, there's actually more pieces to come as Pottery Barn brings in more products in the coming months. Expect more colors and prints of slipcovers for their Anywhere Chairs and plenty of other items that you might see online or in catalogs but aren't here yet!
Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids are exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists Inc. and are located at Central Square, Bonifacio High Street Central, 30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City.
