The Makati showroom of the store named after its owner, Ito Kish. Kish believes in the economics of good design, noting that a nice home environment doesn’t only show pride of place but makes for a good home environment as well. (Photo by NOEL PABALATE)

It was a story often told.  At the time Kish’s first outlet at Greenbelt opened, people were astonished to find a throw-pillow with a P 60,000 peso price tag.  No doubt eyebrows were raised with regards to the audacity of the owners to even consider showcasing such a “price-y” article!  But then again, the boldness of such a move underscored the themes which Kish (the shop) has been known for—excellent design and exclusivity.

After all, the throw-pillow was designed by noted designer and artist Anne Dreschel and was a one-of-a-kind item—at least locally. Says Ito Kish, the man behind the eponymously named shop: “It’s really a work of art.”

He knows whereof he speaks.  As a self-described “design consultant,” Ito spent almost all his life in the field of design and spent an equal part of it passionately searching for beauty wherever he could find and source it.  “I remember not being able to buy our yearbook in school,” he remembers, noting that the amount he intended for it he used instead for buying magazines about home interiors.

Not surprisingly, he spent his professional life specializing in “visual merchandising” for both local and international department stores.  “I spent five years in the Mata Hari department store in Indonesia,” he says, and before that “two years in Kuala Lumpur.”

All that wandering of course further honed his skills in designing and visual merchandising—both of which greatly enabled him for the next step in his career, when he decided to go home for good and strike on his own in the Philippines. Testing the waters first with his first stab at business at Urban Effects, he thereafter established Kish and the rest, as they say, was history.

That was in 2000 of course.  Since then, the store became known for its exclusive furnishings and home accents, as well as for the ever evolving (and changing) look of its stores.  It had also opened a bigger branch at the LRI Design Plaza way back in 2006.  The latter store, true to Kish’s spirit, continues to change, expand (in space) and evolve.  “We also relocated our offices in the same building,” he shares, although located elsewhere at LRI and not adjoining the store.

Considering that the LRI branch has a bigger area for showcasing Kish’s collections, Ito makes sure that the set-ups are changed every now and then to reflect the store’s unique philosophy.  He admits that it’s quite easy to do, considering that items move fast because they have limited stocks of similar merchandise.  These changes are also intentional.  “Our purpose is to educate homeowners and inspire them on how to live,” he says, adding that it would be better for homeowners and visitors to actually see the possibilities of interior design using quality and exclusive items.

Ito admits that Kish has an undeserved reputation for being “expensive.”  That is simply not true of course and is subject to debate considering that there are very affordable items available at the store.  He points out a uniquely-shaped coffee mug set that retails for under P500. “The same item is available at ‘Crate ‘N Barrel’ in the United States,” he says, noting that the exclusivity of such a piece underscores Kish’s aim to bring in quality items—the very same merchandise available in the US and Europe—and sell them locally. This is also the reason why interior designers patronize Kish, considering that they are assured that the items available are limited and truly exclusive.

Considering that tough economic times have affected almost everyone’s budgets, Ito shares a few tips on how to achieve a tasteful home environment without burning a hole in one’s pockets.

“First, de-clutter,” he says.  “It’s not unusual for Filipino homes to have four different calendars having four different years affixed to the walls,” he shares, “or have a wall clock in a bedroom when it’s more appropriate to have a small bedside clock.”  He says we should do away with those items that just take up space and add to domestic squalor.  Related to this is his desire for Filipinos to invest in additional storage space which is sorely lacking in most Pinoy homes.

“Second, get pieces that you can change every now then,” he admonishes. He cites lampshades as an example. Just change the ‘shades’ (i.e. color and shape) and chances are the overall look of the room will be immediately transformed.

Keeping it simple is his third advice. “Keep decorations and accessories simple. It’s so easy to over decorate a coffee table for instance,” he notes, adding that it’s always easy to add items and not so difficult to do otherwise.

Lastly, he advises homeowners to be neutral when it comes to a house’s color palate. “Color is very important,” he notes. It would be ideal to choose the colors that can easily complement one’s furnishing and décor pieces.

To those who still think that they are challenged when it comes to decorating their home, Ito advises them to visit his store and perhaps learn by actually seeing what good design and quality items can contribute to their home environment.

Contact Kish at 896-8366.