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West Elm unveils new winter and holiday collections

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Did someone say “holiday” already? West Elm did, actually, along with a slew of other stores. With Labor Day behind us, the retail world’s winter and holiday “look books” highlighting forthcoming furniture, lighting and decorative accessories are landing with a flurry. Writer Lisa Boone, producer Dianne de Guzman and editor Craig Nakano share their impressions of West Elm’s new collections, which are available Sept. 24 and will fall into three themes: “Classic Cabin,” “Enchanted Forest” and “Snow Drift.”

PHOTOS: West Elm winter/holiday preview 2013

Favorite pieces

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Foxed Mirror Bar Cart. With the holidays approaching, this polished nickel cart seems like it could mingle with a party crowd just fine. I don’t know how long the mirror shelves will last with tumblers tumbling and bottles scraping, but that’s what Chilewich is for. $399. CN

Gold Pinecone Garland. This delicate accessory is versatile, adding instant holiday warmth to any room. Drape it over the holiday mantel or lay it out on a dining table with some mercury glass votives and voilà: holiday glamour. $26. LB

Starburst dining table. The color of the wood, those rounded edges, the understated star-burst pattern -- so many reasons to love this piece. It’s unusual and a great alternative to the square modern table. $699. DD

Value picks

Capiz Orb Pendants. Though new wool blankets from the Faribault mill were a close second, West Elm’s lighting still stands out as a top budget buy. Quality is hard to judge off photography alone, but the Capiz Orb Pendants look like good values, starting at just $129. CN

Animal Plates. Rachel Kozlowski’s hand-drawn plates detailing dapper critters in human garb brought a smile to my face. So will the price: $8 apiece. LB

Party in a Box. The term drudges up visions of Dora the Explorer paper plates and napkins, but don’t be fooled: West Elm’s version of party decorations are whimsical yet chic -- six Champagne coupes and a metal cocktail shaker included. For $149, it’s an easy way to get in the party mood. DD

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The surprises

Sebastian Conran Collection. I haven’t exactly been enthralled by West Elm’s expansion into kitchen and garden gear, but some pieces in this new line seem promising. Beech and silicone cooking implements look good, and I could see the steel and beech Small Wine Rack in a lot of space-starved homes, perhaps as a spice rack in the kitchen or catch-all above the desk. $60. CN

Multi pendant: I have long admired West Elm’s collaborations with the kind of independent artists you might find on Etsy. Here, Berkeley jewelry designer Melissa Joy Manning creates a striking gold pendant that is a lot like jewelry for your home. Starting at $499. LB

Artist collaborations. Just when you thought you had West Elm’s style pinned down, the store manages to surprise, thanks to this year’s artist collaborations. I also liked Rachel Kozlowski’s dapper animal plates, as well as Shanna Murray’s feel-good message plates and Eduardo Garza’s jewelry tree (see gallery). West Elm shakes up its collection in a fresh way. DD

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