Tropic Wonder

MANILA, Philippines - It’s easy to forget that we live in a country where the climate is the envy of many. As trends from the world over continue to influence the way we live – from the way we dress to the way we style our homes, one store reminds us that going back to our tropical roots can do us some good. Visually, furniture made with natural materials render the home a breezy, outdoor feel, balancing out the hardness of concrete walls. Warm and pleasing to the eyes, they are the perfect antidote to city living.

House of Leoque is home to many tropical-inspired treasures. Located at Bangkal Street in Makati, it originated as an online shop that sold native crafts and traditional wooden furniture. Since it opened in January 2008, House of Leoque has evolved into a brick-and-mortar store with a steady customer base of retail buyers, corporate orders, interior designers, decorators, contractors and developers.

“As time passed by, we found that are our market, majority of them are the young – more of the urban professionals types, call center agents, condominium unit owners, family start-ups, and so we are evolving and offering something modern, fresh and fitting for them. At the same time, we are not dropping the old Filipino furniture because it still has consistent demand and timeless appeal,” says Clea Barrion, sales and marketing.

With a mix of traditional and tropical themes with touches of modern lifestyle and interiors, they call their merchandise mix “modern Filipino”. Raw materials, decors and accents, as well as the traditional furniture are sourced from Mindanao, Palawan, the Bicol region, Batangas, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Baguio, and the Ifugao region. They also have some items imported from China and Thailand.

House of Leoque has also started venturing into designing its own pieces. “Our website has a “design” section where we post some sample designs. Our goal is to have 100% of our portfolio of furniture and accessories designed and done by the House of Leoque team – we share a love for all things architecture, engineering, arts and design,” shares Barrion.