Home shopping, redefined

IKEA ain't the only Euro-style furniture store in these parts. A dozen design-savvy shops have opened recently. Our guide has the goods.

We're finally a member of the urban-cool club: IKEA is here, IKEA is here!

But the monster store in Sunrise isn't the only bit of sizzling interior news. All kinds of new furniture and home decor stores have opened or are opening in South Florida.

"The city has such a great vibe and energy, " says Mitchell Gold, of North Carolina's renowned Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams -- a talented duo who did the sets for Friends, among other TV shows. "We felt it was a crucial place to be represented as a company especially because of the design and shopping scene there." Look for their showroom in the Design District.

"Miami is really big right now all over the world, " added Ozlem Isimer, co-founder of Cilek, a Turkish children's furniture store that will open at The Village of Merrick Park next month. "Because there are people from everywhere, it makes an outsider feel comfortable."

And if you don't want to spend a lot, yuppie favorite West Elm popped up recently in two locations -- Dadeland and the Shops at Midtown.

Shoppers, start your salivating.

Herewith, a few more spots to put on your retail radar:

* BASE Annex: Call it the anti-Pottery Barn. "We're an irreverent alternative to home furnishing stores, " says owner Steven Giles, who also runs the neighboring BASE lifestyle boutique. Plan on spending time digging through this camp-meets-fabulous funhouse of seven themed rooms. For example, the Log Cabin looks just as it sounds, with outdoorsy kitsch from a spooky resin rabbit sculpture ($38) to imposing wooden deer-antler chandeliers ($4,475 and $5,500). The Camo-Phile room houses everything camouflage -- binoculars, a flask, even a gilded Louis XV wooden armchair done up military style ($825).
927 Lincoln Rd., Suite 118, Miami Beach, 305-695-4026, www.baseworld.com.

* Grupo Kettal: Looking for primo quality outdoor furniture? This 43-year-old Barcelona-based company has outfitted many an Ibiza villa as well as other glam coastal getaways. They don't just sell your everyday lawn chair -- we're talking heavy duty furniture whose high-tech finishing and cushions are resistant to heat, sun, mildew and stains. If you've hung around The Delano lately, you may have already lounged or leaned on something by Kettal. Standouts: slim, sleek aluminum deck chairs ($2,300) by Patricia Urquiola, an Italy-based Spanish designer known for her attention to comfort and elegance, and a striking made-for-two Biarritz Triconfort chaise with UV-shielded Sunbrella cushions by Argentine architect Jorge Pensi (from $7,900).
147 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, 786-552-9002, www.kettalgroup.com.

* Moooi: If there was any question about Miami's status as a design destination, the debate is settled -- Moooi ("extra beautiful" in Dutch) is in our midst. Midtown, to be exact, across the street from way mainstream West Elm. At the primarily black and cream space, dramatic lighting fixtures, curvaceous armoires and ornate chandeliers cost from $500 to $8,000. All have a sense of fun with a few helpings of European sophistication thrown in.

This is the first U.S. showroom for the Netherlands' Marcel Wanders, Elle Decor's 2006 Designer of the Year, who is currently working on David Caruso's pad at the soon-to-open Canyon Ranch condo in Miami Beach. Known for his iconic Knotted Chair, which he produced for the Droog collective in 1996, Wanders was also the creative force behind the fantasy-like Mondrian South Beach hotel residences.
3438 N. Miami Ave., Miami, 305-573-4041, www.moooi.nl.

* Sharron Lewis Design Central: With its huge, gleaming windows and cheery, sophisticated decor, SLDC is one more reason to visit Miami's burgeoning downtown. Former Kiwi by way of the Big Apple, Lewis fills her days spiffing up the homes of style-conscious denizens as well hot spots like North Miami's Sushi House and Sagamore's Social Miami. Her most recent project was Cher's former spread on La Gorce Circle in Miami Beach. Another celeb now lives there. She won't say who.

Housed in the historic Franklin Building, SLDC is the place to outfit your contemporary abode. Hunt hardware for doors and cabinets from a great U.K. line called Turnstyle Designs, exclusive to SLDC. Handles, knobs and pulls come in an assortment of materials -- from leather to chrome and satin finish from $50 to $700. Lewis is also known for her custom mirrors, floorings, luxurious fabrics and domestic necessities such as soap, candles and sexy cocktail glasses. Lewis, with a staff of 15 who make all the furniture at her nearby upholstery factory, charges $150 an hour.
1601 NE Second Ave., 305-373-7330.

* Things: "We're an eclectic mixture of different styles, " says Arlene Windess, co-owner. "We pride ourselves on carrying things you don't see in other stores." Las Olas strollers who have happened upon this tidy, approachable shop can't believe their luck. It's an excellent source for home accessories, lighting and furniture -- with down-to-earth prices. A crystal chandelier goes for $250, delicate yet modern champagne flutes are a steal at $30 for four and a striped conversation piece lamp by Flambeau for $329. Service is sweet, subtle and unrushed. (Read: You want to buy stuff).
401 E. Las Olas Blvd., Suite 180, Fort Lauderdale, 954-779-7471, www.thingshome.com.

MORE NEW HOME STORES

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Founded in 1989 by two partners outside Charlotte, N.C., this company has grown a great deal, with sales exceeding $100 million. The pair -- who are also authors and set designers -- are known for their comfy-chic furnishings and innovative fabrics (velvets, denims, mohairs, chenilles), many with a green sensibility. It's their first showroom in Miami.
Buick Building, 3841 NE 2nd Ave., Miami, www.mgandbw.com.

MIYO Home
The 4,500-square-foot Midtown space is brimming with hard-to-find items -- from hand-carved jewelry and luscious-smelling candles to large drama pieces and all-weather furniture -- from the owners' jaunts to Indonesia, Europe and Asia.
47 NE 36th St., Miami, 305-576-4170, www.miyohome.com.

Stoai Concept
This French company puts out quality, handcrafted patio chairs, chaise lounges and couches. Shopping here is a lulling experience, with a Zen garden out back and airy, meditative interior.
2300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-573-1117, www.stoai-concept.com.

Cilek (COMING SOON)
For kids of the modern age. Opening in August, this will be the Turkey-based company's first U.S. location, with about 250 stores worldwide. The company uses German engineering to create fun, functional furniture such as a race-car bed that has an actual ignition and headlights.
Village of Merrick Park, Coral Gables, Third Floor, www.cileknewzealand.com.