Uptown Modern

Are you looking for some fun statement pieces, with a vintage twist? I suggest Uptown Modern, located at 5453 Burnet Road, in the Courtyard Shops.

They have a wonderful selection of fun, eclectic pieces that will compliment any modern, contemporary or urban decor. Definitely worth a visit or check out their inventory on the website: www.uptownurbanaustin.com

Highlights:

- vintage home furnishings from the 1940s through the 1970s in a variety of styles from luxurious Hollywood Regency, cool industrial , James Mont inspired Oriental and faux bamboo to sleek chrome pieces by Milo Baughman

- elegant glass and mod lucite chandeliers and lamps, as well as Danish Modern credenzas, desks, and buffets in teak, walnut and mahogany

- vintage Italian, West German, Scandinavian, American and Japanese glass and pottery, retro atomic clocks, sunburst mirrors, Curtis Jere metal sculptures, decoratives screens, gold gilt and silver leaf pieces as well as vintage original art and photographs

- some of the well-known designers they have had are: Miller, Knoll, Dunbar, Widdicomb, Brown-Saltman, Jalk, Eames, Saarinen, Bertoia, Platner, Kagan, Draper, Panton, Breuer, Thonet, Finn- Juhl, Wright, Nelson, McCobb, Evans and Laszlo

West Elm

Since so many folks in this neck of the woods came from California, they are familiar with West Elm. But for those who are native, this might be a new discovery for you.

West Elm is somewhere between Ikea and Z Gallerie - both with cleaner lines and more modern pieces. Those of you who are morphing to a more contemporary look in your homes will love to hop on their website and poke around: www.WestElm.com.

If you still need to hands-on experience when you're out shopping, here are a few of my favorite stores in Austin for finding a little more modern look at a modest budget:

- Urban Living

- Collectic Home

- Eurway

- Copenhagen

- Z Gallerie

These will offer a good cross section from urban loft to zen to full blown contemporary. Most are still running pretty good sales on the heels of the downturn last year. With economic predictions looking better, expect prices to start holding firm again in the next few months.

Reduce, Reuse, Recylce - Offices

Many of you have home offices and are on the lookout for inexpensive pieces that are not your typical "some assembly required", knock-down furniture.

Here is a great solution - Tops Furniture.

With three locations in Austin, they buy used office furniture from companies moving or downsizing. They have a wonderful array of real hardwood desks, file cabinets, tables, chairs - all that you could imagine. They even have more contemporary pieces such as glass topped bankers' desks. And at a fraction of the price.

So not only can you obtain quality office furniture for your home, you can also feel good about 'recycling' these pieces.

To compliment your new desk, they can order high end ergonomic desk chairs at a fraction of the price you'll pay elsewhere.

And as an added bonus, they have a whole room of office supplies for sale. Post it notes, staples, paper clips, 3 hole punches - all top quality for pennies on the dollar.

Check out the website for their locations: www.topstexas.com