I would have posted photos of loots from our most recent trips to Dapitan and Tiendesitas but, quite unexpectedly, I got sick on December 23 and I didn’t feel better until late evening on Christmas day. It was a quiet house on Christmas Eve. The house helpers attended midnight mass in town and, a little before midnight, Alex roused me from sleep, hand on hips, demanding why the lights were out and why there was no food. I was too sick to get out of bed, Sam didn’t even leave her room but Alex and Speedy did have sandwiches (?) and hot chocolate together. As for me… well, talk about going on a forced diet on Christmas.
Anyway, I’m much better now and I can show you my new treasures. 
It was Sam who discovered the ash tray at a store in Dapitan. Made from distressed wood, the otherwise stark piece was made whimsical with the addition of two figures. Sam Alex says it’s a bee fly and an ant; I say it’s an angel and a devil.
But the ash tray is not really the centerpiece for the coffee table in the living area.
What I placed there are baskets of potpourri. The baskets are made of bamboo (3 pieces for P100 in Dapitan). Inside are scented barks, leaves, flowers and pine cones on top of dried pine leaves that have fallen off the Christmas tree. Result? Natural air freshener!
The napkin holder we bought in Tiendesitas. Carved wood with a sunflower design.
The Christmassy paper napkins and the potpourri… okay, there’s a warehouse building along Quezon Avenue where every item is sold at warehouse prices — from plasma TVs to dinnerware (including some gorgeous Mikasa sets) to flatware (I saw Oneida sets) to paper napkins to boxes of Martha Stewart potpourri.
Now, let’s move from the ground floor to the staircase which looks like this.
I love those pendant lamps and if Meralco weren’t so greedy, I’d keep them on all night. But Meralco is greedy. When there are guests, we do keep the pendant lamps on. We have to unless we want guests slipping and falling down the stairs. But when there’s just us, usually, we keep a light on the corridor switched on and when the kitchen lights below are on at the same time, the pendant lights become unnecessary. But late at night when the entire ground floor is dark, if you’re on the second floor going downstairs, you really want those pendant lamps on the stairs switched on unless, like a cat, you can see in the dark. Plus, the telephone is on one of those shelves. At night, it’s difficult to read the numbers or take down notes unless the trio of pendant lamps are on.
In short, the pendant lamps are necessary but it would be nicer if we can keep their use down to a minimum. Solution? A table lamp beside the telephone.
The frame is wrought iron and the shade is painted and laminated thick paper (don’t ask what kind — I just know it’s pretty).
Strategically positioned, the lamp illuminates the telephone and a large portion of the staircase. A third basket of potpourri was moved to the staircase to neutralize the smell of the cat litter boxes near the foot of the stairs. We try to clean the litter as often as possible but, like humans, cats pee more often in cold weather.
What’s in the clay jars? According to Sam, they’re nothing short of hideous. The floral arrangement, not the jars.
Okay, fine, I’m no flower arranger. But when I bought the dried flowers, twigs, leaves and rattan fruits, I was so sure I’d make a good job of creating something artistic with them. Easier said than done. But, never mind. The real intention in placing the two clay jars between the shelves was to draw the eyes away from the wires of the modem and router, and the electrical outlets where they are plugged in (the other modems and routers are upstairs, more strategically positioned so as not to be eye sores). Despite the lousy arrangement, the dried flowers are really pretty. I really love them. So rustic and so quaint. And they are not artificial. Bought in Dapitan.
wow, very impressive stuff. i love the intricate details on the lamp. and the baskets with potpourri are lovely. i love stuff like these and i just know i’m going to be broke if we ever finally visit the Philippines.
LOL And the fact that they’re so darn inexpensive will just drive you to buy more. Dex, you’ll go shopping crazy in Dapitan.
Hi Connie, I’m very interested in finding where that warehouse in Quezon Ave is. if you would be kind to tell me where it is exactly. Thanks
hey!
share the address of the warehouse in quezon city
Speedy says it’s between Roosevelt and Araneta Avenue. If you’re coming from EDSA, it’s on the right side. You can’t miss it because it’s a long building with all-glass frontage.
Inggit ako! LOL Two years ago, I had three American friends who went nuts in Greenhills (Greenhills pa lang yan ha). They ended up pooling their money together to ship all their loot (which included furniture) back to the U.S.
Now that we are actively planning building our house here, I find myself making lists of Pinoy stuff I want to have/feature in the new house. Not only that, but really take advantage of set-ups like that warehouse to bulk buy dinnerware that would cost an arm and leg here (I remember an old post of yours about Noritake sales) Hay.
Mik, when we moved to this house 6 months ago, most of the furniture were ordered in Greenhills so I KNOW what you mean about going shopping crazy there LOL. Re Noritake, e-mail me when you’re ready to go there so I can give you the address of the warehouse.
Thanks, C! Haha I have to make sure I actually save enough for everything I want… lol baka matagalan haha
I like the lamp. And the napkin holder. Any chance you remember the name of the store in Tiendesitas where you bought it?
btw, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
The Noritake factory will still be there, Mik, no worries.
Nikita, naku, I don’t remember. Happy New Year too! Let’s get together again soon.
The lamps are gorgeous! I can imagine the stress they can give bill-wise, but they do light up the staircase beautifully!
I love them to death, Toni hehehe. But Speedy goes ballistic when we forget to turn it off.
Ang pretty ng lamps nyo sa stairs!
Gusto ko sana bili rin, but knowing Marc, it will take him 10 years to actually put it up. Alam mo bang malapit nang mag-anniversary pagbili ko ng wall decor sa isang expo bago nya ikinabit? 
I wonder… Are there outdoor stuff in Dapitan? Namamahalan kasi ko sa Tiendesitas eh. I’m having construction done sa likod ng house namin, pa-tiles and landscape. Meron ba sa Dapitan murang outdoor benches and decors?
Hay, Gail, hire someone to install them. LOL Yung garden namin bago nagka-ilaw, kalahating taon halos kasi I waited until Speedy had time and was in the mood.
Re Dapitan: Yes, lots of outdoor furniture. So many designs pa.
…you’ve moved? no longer in Antipolo? why
Hi Ruby. Still in Antipolo. Different subdivision though.
hi Connie, I just got curious, I thought you’ve moved…maybe because I’m looking for a house myself ( nice, affordable, and in a good location:)….we’ve been renting for the longest time and this last one is a bit pricey…sayang, but am not brave enough to put up the equity for a house & lot…plus all the paper work involved daunt me, I’m working and I’ve no time to secure all those….oh well,….
Hi,Love your blogs and Great Pics!
I was wondering, You talk of Dapitan as a place to get house furniture and decorations, but where is it exactly? I know of the street in Sampaloc and of course the Dapitan of Jose Rizal. I have been to Tiendesitas in March when I last visited the Phils. Love the food and local crafts there. Hope you can tell me so I can check it out the next time I’m there. Thanks.
Dapitan Street. Yes, in the Sampaloc district.