I always knew that Starmall EDSA-Shaw is a good place to hunt for bargain items. But it's only…read morerecently that I discovered Japan Selection on the second floor. At first glance, the store looked like just any ordinary thrift shop selling Japan-made goods. Look closer, or better yet get inside, and you will see that they are more than just the usual stocks of cookware, kitchen gadgets, chopsticks, Lucky (or Pocky) biscuit sticks, and whatnots from the land of the rising sun. They sell second-hand appliances on an 'as is, where is' basis. This means they will test the appliance you want to buy in the store. But if it doesn't work later when you bring it home, you can't claim a refund. They also have pre-owned baby strollers and other baby furniture. Heck, they even have used surfboards. What really lured me to the place was the stacks of original Japanese manga comics, many of them are Naruto. I was giddy because my cousin who's learning how to read and write Japanese can now spice up his studies by reading one of his favorite manga/anime series in its original language. Without hesitation, I grabbed three books to buy. Right across the manga section was the used toy shelves. Here, I found countless Ultraman figures, diecast cars, robots, and baby toys. Clumsy me grazed one of the items on a shelf and it fell with a beautiful percussive sound. When I picked it up, I realized that it was a bamboo baby rattle. I bought it for twenty bucks to use as decoration at home. The only downside to Japan Selections is their dusty, topsy-turvy store. If you suffer from asthma, better stay out.

Best place to find those one-of-a-kind accessories and furniture. Even if you're not shopping, a…read moretrip down here is just so inspirational!

From the owner: Furniture & Home decor/Interior Designread more

I don't know about you but I like venturing into furniture stores, looking at all the really cool…read morestuff and pretending I will be buying them sooner than later. I think when I finally get my own place, whether it's because I'm starting a family or just getting my own space, I'm going to enjoy the furnishing part the most. I find it soothing and just fun checking out pretty things. It's a stress buster for me! Because I work at the Pioneer area, one of the places I go to is Ethan Allen Home Interiors. If you just pass by Pioneer Street you'll see a building with a glass display of home furnishings. How can I not drop in?! Ethan Allen will take your money because they have the prettiest home interiors. They have beautifully printed couches, gorgeous wood tables, antique-looking vases, plush pillows and beds - everything that will make the kind of home you dreamed of! I think on my first trip, I've picked out 7 items I wanted to buy. Thank goodness I wasn't ready to with my own home or else I would've gone out bankrupt! But, Ethan Allen does hold seasonal sales and while I have not gone to one, I believe prices drop relatively low. You know what that means - stay tuned for the sales and attack!

I dunno how anyone can ever miss this place. For one, it's a got a ton of colorful items inside it…read moreand two, it just looks too good not to check out! I'm not entirely sure what Shelter is, I just know it has super cool items in it. They have home decor stuff like plain colored vases in different shapes and sizes, plates, wall lamp posts and pillows with witty phrases on them! But they also have quirky trinkets like notebooks, note pads, paper weights, journals and scented candles, plus a few chic books! Walking into Shelter is like walking into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory - diabetes not included! If you're feeling particularly down, in need of some visual inspiration or just wanna see and buy something pretty, I'm sure this place will do wonders for you. If that's not enough, you can always just buy yourself a cupcake from Gigi's, which is located right inside of Shelter.

Anyone walking by this area of East Wing will not by any chance miss this catchy place. Everything…read morelooked really bright and pleasing to eyes. It has that fancy outdoor garden feel that a lot would totally admire. Books about art, interior design and even fashion are stacked in an unconventional manner. However, most, if not all of the furniture and home decors that are on sale are to fancy for me. What I loved about the place is that they house Gigi, a coffee shop that sells one of my favorite red velvet cupcakes. I may not be getting anything from the store but I can just sit on the garden seat, drink coffee, enjoy my cupcake and just appreciate the setup and mind my own business. This way, I can still appreciate the place with spending too much. This can be a really peaceful and relaxing way to kill time while waiting for whatever or whomever.

I first noticed that my interests had shifted from buying new clothes, makeup and other frivolous…read moreitems to picking up pieces that would beautify my home and personal space when I hit my mid-20s. Now that I'm pushing 30, the same applies. Hence, I love entering places like Gourdo's. Gourdo's is actually one of my go-to places for when I'm on the prowl for potential wedding gifts for friends who are soon to tie the knot. They present their customers with a vast variety of kitchenware selections to choose from -- from the most celebrated brands in the industry to some lesser-known ones that remain competitive with regard to quality. Gourdo's also has some very interesting trinkets and unique items that are season-based. Whether you need to spruce up your kitchen, pick up a last minute wedding gift, or simply need to kill time in the mall, come through.

Gourdo's is beautiful!!! I love entering this place because my eyes just sparkle with all the…read moregorgeously designed kitchen items, and not to mention also super useful. Although Gourdo's may be a bit pricey the items are of really good quality and will certainly last you a long long time. Not to mention a great addition to your house aesthetically! The designs of items at Gourdo's are flexible for any taste or preference, you will certainly have difficultly choosing what to buy! I did not expect to like Gourdo's as much as I did but being a food lover and a feeling-chef I was so excited (for my mom) to buy all the great kitchen goodies. I think that the kitchen is definitely the most important room of the house and should be treated well enough and stocked with great equipment and decor and Gourdo's is the perfect place to get all that.

This was among my top picks for the gift registry for our wedding a few years ago. They have such…read moreamazing items from ceramics to throw pillows to unique lamps -- I could spend hours just shopping for decorative and functional items from Regalong Pambahay. They are very proud of the fact that a lot of their items are locally made, which is another good reason for me to shop here. The designs for their home decor are edgy, fun and youthful. I love the bold patterns of their lamps -- from geometrical shapes in black and white to fuschia damask patterns. While they offer amazing gift ideas for newlyweds and about-to-be-weds, I really go here for selfish reasons. I just feel like buying items from Regalong Pambahay transforms my home. The pieces they have look like expensive designer items but in reality they are within a very affordable price range.

Am I supposed to be impressed that we now have Pottery Barn? Because I'm not sure how I feel about…read moretheir astronomical prices. Alright. Maybe I'm being dramatic. Or maybe I don't see the fun in it because I'm not into shopping for furniture and items for a home. Yes, Pottery Barn is a store that anyone can go to when they need a bed, a table, some towels, a toy for your kid, a rug and items to make your home pretty. If you don't know what you want but are kinda sure that you want to fill your home with stuff from Pottery Barn, you can approach their interior designers who can guide you toward a better looking house.

Pottery Barn is pretty awesome. I happened to pass by the store at their launch party and had a…read morebrowse around. When I saw the brand, images of a american furniture chain come to mind and I thought it was going to be more for the masses. But when I browsed around, I actually thought to myself that 50% of the items, I would love to have in my house. They really make an effort to make the store look as attractive as possible. They have some cool items you can only find here like some amazing cocktail shakers, cheese serving plates, laundry baskets, candle holders, big glass water dispensers etc. 4 stars because I'm comparing it to Crate & Barrel, which I gave 5 stars.

I am in love with Crate and Barrel!…read more I had time to kill and stumbled upon the store in SM Aura recently. What struck me was the selection of premium glassware and ceramicware. I could just imagine having them at my home and transforming our home meals into instant fine-dining experiences. I am a firm believer that food and beverages taste better the nicer the china and glassware are! I was hooked on the immense selection for wine, spirits and beer. There apparently is a proper glass for whatever drink you have - ale, stout, lager, whisky, cognac. Name it. Ah. One day I will have a properly stocked bar in my home with proper glassware and proper implements and all my fellow Yelpers will be invited!

Crate & Barrel is a place that I like to go to whenever I'm in need of a breather. I've come to…read moreMegamall for the sole purpose of coming through C&B, and I've also walked through this place's doors just because I so happened to be in the area. Either way, I always enjoy the experience of walking through this place as I've grown older, I've invested more time, energy and resources in beautifying my personal space as opposed to purchasing makeup or clothes. I find that it makes me happy. In this sense, C&B offers exactly what I'm looking for: kitchenware, bathroom stuff, home decor, garden stuff, and everything in between. Everything is chic and pretty; an asset to any home.

People always tell me that a clean living space means a clear mind. Or maybe that's just my mother…read more In any case, clearing away clutter is an invaluable task, especially now that we're seeing the rise of condominium living in Manila. Be it in the bedroom or a personal studio, there exists an urgency to create and maximize a space where you can constantly engage in productive work. Make Room meets this need by providing containers and organizers of every shape and size. They have everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. Pillows, baskets, bath supplies, hangers, vanity organizers, make-up containers, flat sheets, eyeglass holders, shower curtains, towels and bath bins, standing containers for toothbrush and shampoos. Even salt and pepper shakers to organize your spices. Personally, I find their shower caddy very useful because I keep a lot of bath products in my shower. Consider Make Room a local, cheaper, and more focused alternative to Muji, the Japanese chain from next door that also sells organizers. If I need to move someplace, as long as there's a Make Room store close by, I think I'm all set.

I'm a huge fan of Make Room & More. They're all about organization and beautifying spaces -- two…read morepursuits which I have no problem getting on board with. I almost have to restrain myself every time I'm here as I want to purchase everything in sight. There are candles here from the USA, clocks, mugs, throw pillows (I've purchased one), toiletries cases (this too), linen sprays, room sprays, lunch boxes, jewelry organizers, and more. Their products are of varying brands but they have one thing in common: they're high quality. Stunning shop that I will surely patronize time and again as the need (or want) arises.