THE DAPHNE CHAIRS

i wanted to take this chair home with me :) (photo: kelly medina)

madeleines and macarons and tea = lovely afternoon.

Color and whimsy mark Daphne's chair designs

Daphne Oseña Paez comes out on top, with her furniture line for Dimensione

Contrast the whimsy with a modern or industrial setting

Daphne Oseña-Paez turns to furnishing the home

The TV host-turned-blogger can add another title to her growing list of achievements: furniture designer.

Daphne Oseña-Paez, who cut her teeth on lifestyle shows with a focus on design, home and architecture, is putting theory to practice with her eponymous furniture label, now available at Dimensione, and line of home fragrances for Bench.

“Because of my show Urban Zone's influence, I was given opportunities to create products for the home,” Daphne says. “I set up Daphne as an independent brand that addressed the need for stylish, good quality, and affordable pieces for the home.”

Her first piece, which debuts at Dimensione, is a range of chairs fashioned from farmed mahogany wood. “My signature piece, the Daphne chair, is playful and a bit feminine,” she explains. “Nostalgia is a big part of my collection.” Available in purples, oranges, reds and yellows — inspired by her kids' love for ice cream — the chairs are whimsical yet rooted in practicality.

“I wanted something reminiscent of the prettiness of childhood,” Daphne adds. “I'm pleasantly surprised that it has turned into something like a ‘must have for every girl.’” Handmade by an export-accredited award-winning furniture manufacturer, the chairs may look delicate but they are designed to last.

“And the beauty of this piece is that it works in any kind of environment,” she points out. “I've seen it best in an ultra-modern, minimalist home. It stood out like sculpture. I've seen it in a small coffee shop used as regular chairs.”

The Daphne chairs are available at Dimensione Eastwood, Greenbelt 5, Rockwell and The Fort , Bonifacio High Street.