Maximize a small space
When it comes to floor space, it's not size that matters but what you do with it. Architect Nando Ng offers some tips:

• Nix heavy drapes on the windows and opt for slim blinds.
• Forget adding more bulky couches in the living room. Use small stools instead.
• Avoid adding walls or partitions.

For more tricks on working with a tiny space, check out how Nando Ng does it in his own home. Read about it in real living 's September-October issue.

Thrift-shop Goods
Some great finds at Evangelista Street in Makati: crystal wineglasses, vases, Japanese plates and vintage radios. There are big pieces, too: a molave dining table, leather seats, vanities and display cabinets.

Check out the goods at 532 Thrift Shop, Scarlet, MTS, and more. For a complete guide, turn to real living 's September-October issue.

Quick Room Fixes
You can't go wrong with plants-they liven up a room instantly. Display them in pots, jars, or vases on consoles and coffee tables. If your plants are tall and have nice, strong stems, let them stand in a pot in one corner of your room.

To create drama, play with yellow light, letting it shine not just from ceiling fixtures but from floor and table lamps as well. This will create dramatic light-and-shade textures on room surfaces.

Something New for the Kitchen
Check out hot cooking gadgets from Gourd's, a total cooking lifestyle store located at the Fort. This oil, vinegar, salt and pepper set selling for P 790 is a bestseller from their white ceramic collection.