Lucky metal circular accent

Dunno much about astrology and feng shui but I can feel this accent, there a certain vibe on this one. This is a lucky charm accent. I think.
Besides, having been able to push the price so low, we’re already lucky. Did you know that during discussion with the fabricator, we drew the draft of this accent on the back of cigarette packing? And, eventually we made it. OMG! This is destiny. It was destined to be made.

Idle Clocks

We imported these clock kits last week. We’ll soon have unique wall clocks here at Leoque. First projects are the clocks on solid wood and clock on wood panels (something like this). Including the drawing, RnD, testing-1-2-3 pieces, we’ll be able to turn the clock on, i mean out, in 4 to 6 weeks. Can be earlier if we don’t have anything on the table. As it is though, we’re loaded with stuff-to-do (both pending orders, replacement items, new items and test makes). Sigh… too many projects, a few good men, and so little clocks, err, time.

Bottle and Weave

bottle & weave

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New photos, same old pretty natural tone accent bench

FOUR new photos of the THREE feet accent bench with TWO solid legs with ONE solid top slab forming this affordable quickie accent bench, display bench or occasional low-rise bench.

See the not-so-pretty-first-pic here and the specs as well.

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MyHome’s Special Issue – Designers: People Shaping Space

myhome april 2010

Received a copy of MyHome’s subscribed April issue last Thursday. Aside from noting how real pro magazine writers effortlessly describe an item (like… employ this conversation piece!), two other things of note: (1) They got new EIC, Jie Pambid and (2) to celebrate their 10th year, they have special issue showcasing the talent of homegrown designers that continuously redefine industry standards – Designers: People Shaping Space. We’ll definitely buy that.

designers: people shaping space magazine

Dubbed “Designers: People Shaping Space,” MyHome’s special issue is compiled and written by a team of editors, writers and photographers. The issue traces the roots of the country’s foremost designers — their beginnings, their most favored projects and their ideals and philosophies in designing.

The magazine features stunning visuals and straight-to-the-point articles on trust issues, hiring professionals, and insights on the interior design industry.

Put together by the Mega Publishing Group, the issue contains a compilation of the opinions and views of the Philippines’ leading interior design practitioners through a photo collage of their works, captured in 130 pages of interior shots. {via}

Magiting Project: Bamboo Taxis

Today is Araw ng Kagitingan and one magiting Filipino named Rustico Balderian had a great idea.

Instead of using jeepneys and small trikes, why not make a bamboo commuter and let it be powered by coconut biodiesel. To complete the exotic look, it is covered with woven mat (banig).

Some concerns though…

• I just hope it can still run and go out when it’s raining.
• The engine room will definitely go hot hot hot! It is possible that the outer banig and the bamboo framing inside will be exposed to heat. Heat + Fuel 1 (coco diesel) + Fuel 2 (bamboo & banig) + Oxygen (lots of it especially when the taxi is moving) = FIRE.
• Using cocodiesel fuel, would you actually look for sapin-sapin, kunchinta and kalamay after you smell what could be an appetizing exhaust flavah.

Rustico Balderian, municipal mayor decided to design and build a vehicle that would be a better mode of transport.  Two bamboo cabs were built, ECO1 and ECO2.  ECO1 seats 20 people including the driver and runs for 8 hours on one gallon of coconut biodiesel fuel.  ECO2 is a smaller cab that seats 8 people and even has a stereo.  ECO2 also runs for 8 hours on the coconut biodiesel fuel.  Both cabs are covered with banig, the traditional woven mat of the Philippines so they are colorful as well as practical.

Compared to the steel-chassised cars and bikes used, the bamboo cars definitely rate higher in those areas:

• The bamboo cars run on 100% coconut biodiesel.
• 90% of the bamboo car is made from bamboo
• Bamboo is indigenous to the area and is a common building material in the Philippines and other Asian countries.  Not only does that put the means of production into the hands of the local villages but it also cuts down on the transport of goods that wastes gas and time.
• Being such a fast-growing plant, bamboo is highly renewable making mass production easier.
• Bamboo is surprisingly strong for a grass and has a higher tensile strength than steel.  When woven, the bamboo sheets can easily replace steel panels.
• Bamboo does not require a great deal of processing for it to be incorporated into designs while it take five tons of ore to make 1 ton of steel plate.
• Not only does the bamboo taxi keep toxic emissions out of the environment, but growing bamboo for its production releases more oxygen.  Bamboo is a carbon neutral plant that rapidly takes in carbon dioxide in the air and converts it to oxygen.

Book: Interior Lighting

interior lighting

This book explains what makes effective lighting, tells how to design lighting to fit a living space, and provides instructions for installing the designed system. Learn how to create different moods in the same room, meet lighting requirements for a variety of tasks, and keep lighting system in order.

• Terminology of light and how to achieve desired effects and moods
• General, accent, and task lighting and how to combine them
• Descriptions of a wide variety of bulbs and fixtures, and how to best use them
• Illustrated techniques for extending circuits and installing fixtures and switches

Copyright of this book is 1991.

Hmmm 1991… while the author Kalton C. Lahue, busy making this book, I am busy playing marbles & family computer and raising pigeons!

Anyhow, two decades hence, the contents (interior lighting) of this book pretty much apply. Coz this book is old, new technology like LED lights are off, I mean, not discussed. Also, if you don’t want nosebleed, I suggest you skip the spectrum – luminance – footcandles section.

I especially like the types of lighting pages and the room-by-room portfolio… a breakdown of rooms and the corresponding lighting requirements and suggestions.

At light glance, so to speak…

• Entrance – It should be warm and inviting, with enough illumination to help the transition from outdoors into the living area.
• Kitchens – Since the kitchen is used extensively during day and after dark, it is important to consider natural lighting and night light. As dusk comes in, artificial lighting should be provided as well. Also, kitchen requires both general and task lighting.
• Bathrooms – Safety is critical to bathroom lighting because water and electricity is a lethal combination. Fixtures and lights must be positioned correctly.
• Living Rooms/Family Rooms -  Requires a highly flexible lighting system. They must provide a sufficient quantity and quality of light to accommodate activities and to create variety of moods.
• Dining Rooms – Though used almost for informal meals, a dining room lighting must be able to do all sorts of lighting like,  elegant lighting, relaxed ambiance and festive mood.
• Bedrooms – The bedroom is more than just a place to sleep in. You dress in this room, store clothes in closets, even as a work place for some. Because it plays many roles, the lighting should be carefully planned. Combination of table lamps,  recessed lights, wall lamps, ceiling lights are installed.
• Children’s Rooms – Think safety and growth when dealing with kids’ rooms. Use fixtures and outlets that will protect curious children from electrical shock. Make the lighting design flexible for future changes are kids grow. Kids need good task lighting for studies and hobbies. And, some form of reading lamp should be provided.
• Basic guide for the following rooms are also discussed: Studies and Libraries, Great Rooms, Hallways and Stairways. Please buy the book, anyways it will not go over P300 or (6$). Tons of lighting info packed inside the 112 pages. For the electrical DIY-ers, the last chapters (How to install lighting – and – Maintenance, Repair & Restoration) are recommended read.

As always, we are including some photocaps for interior design, and in this case, interior lighting for inspiration. Please see below…

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Jennifer Aniston buys furniture from Leoque

Breaking news! Breaking news!

Today, April 1, Jennifer Aniston buys furniture from Leoque Philippines.

By the way, exactly a year ago, April 1 2009, we got into trouble for posting that we opened a shop at Boni Highstreet beside the Dimensione store (obviously we deleted that post). There’s something about this April 1 date. We hope we don’t get into some kind of trouble this time around for posting this.

Material: Stainless Steel

stainless steel