Furniture as You Want It

CEBU, Philippines -  Your ideal furniture that was once only in your mind can now become a reality. An innovative concept that aims to provide made-to-order and client-specific furniture designs is here - Mi Ystilo (My Style) by Heritage MueblesMirable Export Inc.

The 20-year-old furniture maker, which is known for top quality, durability and punctuality in delivery, goes out of the traditional way of manufacturing fixtures and ventures into custom-fabricating furniture the way the client wants it. Each piece of furniture is carefully hand-crafted the Cebuano way with the assurance of quality materials and fine workmanship.

This novel service feature, according to Heritage MueblesMirable Export Inc. president and chief executive officer Charles Lim, is a way "to respond to the needs of the ever-changing market and survive in the fast-paced industry." The shift is not easy, he admits, but at the same time they "do not want to lose the opportunity."

Chief marketing officer Sunshine Lim adds that "Mi Ystilo" aims to adapt to the evolving market demands. The custom-made furniture concept welcomes all types of designs and caters to all market segments. After creating the design, the client can approach Heritage MueblesMirable Export Inc. to produce the particular pieces.

But the service actually starts before production. "We help the client especially in terms of technicalities, the right materials to use, color and [other] specifics," Sunshine says. The company has in-house designers and around 300 highly skilled workers. Charles stresses that the main thing in producing furniture is the quality of the finished product. Most of the materials they use are sourced from Indonesia and the Philippines. Each piece that comes out of their production facility in Barangay Soong, Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City has gone through proper quality-assurance procedures.

To start clients off on their own creative journey towards the "exact" furniture they want, "Mi Ystilo" initially features the furniture designs of interior designer Ivy Rose Canton, New York-based interior designer and space planner Erik Richard Lopez, and licensed architect Ryan Ricardo. 

Canton, who belongs to the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers, values the originality of each furniture piece. She is also more towards contemporary designs, especially those with curves, just like her red cloud dining set. This lady designer is always fascinated by clouds, always amazed at how they change shapes constantly.

The requirements of the client come first. "We have to make sure [every piece] suits the client's needs and fits well with the client's space," Canton said. "Fit and functionality, then comes the form."

Lopez, for his part, presents his "Oceania," a furniture set comprised of a solid beach wood table, a solid mahogany chair, and E light as an ornament. It's made specifically for a hotel project in Boracay.

The E light, which goes as an ornament with the table and chair, was born out of a sketch that was geometrically and graphically designed in his own initials and was then named after him. With his love for Scandinavian shapes and contemporary Filipino design, he has also created his own modern version of the "butaka," a chair with long arm rest.

Lopez had signed up with Heritage MueblesMirable Export Inc., after the company impressed him by executing his vision beautifully and perfectly. "I had them produce my design and they made it perfectly clean in the first round unlike those in New York that usually takes three to four prototypes to achieve what I really envisioned," he said.

Lopez said that while Filipinos have fantastic taste and design skills, customized pieces are not yet common in the Philippine furniture industry as compared to New York where it has been practiced for years. "But through 'MiYstilo,' we want to let [people] know that, hey, your designs can be made here locally. There's so much talent in here," he added.

Meanwhile, Ricardo has come up with a leisure chair that has not yet been named. A graduate of the University of San Carlos - Technological Center, the licensed architect is involved in master-planning commercial, residential, and subdivision projects, as well as middle- and high-rise condominium developments.

The creations of the three designers were formally launched on May 30 at the Blue Elephant Sky Lounge, Apple One Tower, at the Cebu Business Park. The pieces are on exhibit at the Heritage MueblesMirable Export Inc. showroom in Mactan. With "MiYstilo," everyone may now design their own furniture - from their own inspiration and for their own purposes.