O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

When someone tells you, “Mukha kang Christmas tree sa suot mo! (You look like a Christmas tree in that outfit!),” it means you look tacky.

But the Christmas tree, like fashion, has evolved through the years. Today, we put so much effort in designing the symbolic tree that it’s not just a decorative piece anymore but a work of art. In fact, some even hire an interior designer to create a themed holiday décor for their Christmas wonderland.

Typical of many Filipino households, Christmas starts early at Tami Filler-Leung’s house on P. Guevarra St. in San Juan, which she converted into a showroom.

Tami and her husband Nelson don’t live there anymore but their two-story abode comes alive from October to December when the entire house is transformed into a Christmas Village painted with the colors of the season.

Flirty tivoli lights lend sparkle to evergreens, while Christmas balls in red, purple, blue, and gold flash like jewels.

Wreaths, tabletop arrangements, candelabras, and basket arrangements sit elegantly on the parquet floor, while Christmas trees are placed in every corner of the room.

Tami has been in the export business since 1987, making her debut in the international market via the FAME show of the Center for Trade and Exposition Mission (CITEM).

Her holiday décor is being sold by top department stores in the US like Neiman Marcus, Pottery Barn and Macy’s, among others. Tamilee Decors is also available at Harrod’s in England.

In the Philippines, interior designers and homemakers would flock to Tami’s showroom in San Juan as early as October not just to get inspirations for their holiday décor but also to shop for elegant Christmas trees and trimmings.

The Christmas tree is one of the most recognizable symbols of the season. And with the economic crunch and the difficult situation we’re in right now, people think of ways to cheer themselves up.

“In sprucing up your tree, choose just one color scheme. For the ornaments, don’t just dump everything on the tree. Think of a theme that you want for the entire house. You’ll never go wrong with that,” Tami shares.

Color It Christmas

As far as Tami is concerned, Christmas 2008 is already over. The collection currently on display in her showroom is Tamilee Decors’ designs for 2009.

“Next year’s theme is inspired by nature. The environment is in such a bad state just like our economy. So we try to do our share by using less plastic, lead-free paint, and less polluting materials for our products as much as possible,” she relates.

Tamilee Decors used to import a lot of plastic raw materials from China, Korea, Japan and the US. “We still have them, but we try to educate our clients to reuse the items over and over again. We’re also introducing new ornaments made of dried leaves, flowers, papier mache, twigs, among others that are locally sourced,” she says, pointing to a tree in the corner decked with hydrangea, papier mache fruits covered with crystal beads, dried ipil-ipil and langka leaves, accented with bows in copper and gold.

Nature has always been Tami’s source of inspiration. That’s where she gets her ideas in terms of design, materials, and presentation.

“My husband and I were tobacco traders. Since tobacco trading is seasonal, we only worked from January to July. So during my free time, I would pick up the dried leaves on the ground, paint them, and create decorative pieces out of them. So by Christmastime, I would have presents for my friends. That’s how it all started,” shares Tami.

Although she believes that Christmas knows no particular color, she follows emerging trends around the world to give her products a global appeal.

“There used to be a time when Christmas was identified by a particular color such as red, amber, blue, or burgundy. Now, it’s really eclectic. It’s whatever pleases you. The secret is to play around with one color scheme,” the designer with a gift for color notes.

Deep red, orange, and brown with tones of gold on a bed of ipil-ipil and langka leaves comprise Tami’s Rose and Hydrangea Tree collection.

Yellow paper roses painted in different shades of gold make up the Gold and Rose line.

“It’s the combination of these hues that makes this tree pop!” enthuses Tami.

Another tree teeming with nature’s bounty is the Natural Tree spruced up with abaca leaves tinted with alum, pine cones made into artichokes, cotton berries, lotus leaves, and bitaog berries covered with sparkling beads.

Complementing the fall colors of this season are cheerful combinations of gold lime and burgundy, gold and ivory, and red and green as expressed in topiaries, garlands, wreaths, pots, fruit baskets, pinecones, and candleholders.

Homemakers who are pressed for time but want to deck their halls for the holidays can buy a complete set of holiday décor (Christmas tree, tabletop, wreath, swag, and candelabra) at Tamilee’s.

Where you live can dictate, to some extent, what type of tree you need. Tamilee Decors also carries contemporary trees for condo dwellers. Those who lack space, on the other hand, can opt for the sleek Spiral Tree in gold, or a topiary decked with fancy trimmings.

Well, don’t let space or your budget stop you from bringing holiday cheer into your home. With prices ranging from P55,000 (Christmas tree with trimmings) to P250 (for a miniature topiary), one won’t go home empty-handed after a visit to the showroom.

“Decorating the Christmas tree is like dressing up for a ball. Be very meticulous in choosing the trimmings to make it look presentable and elegant,” Tami says with a grin.

So next time, take it as a compliment when someone tells you, “mukha kang Christmas tree.”

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Visit Tamilee Decors at 325-A P. Guevarra St., San Juan, Metro Manila. For inquiries, call 724-9110 and 726-7609.