Style : DESIGN : Retro Retailers : Two new stores spotlight pieces of the past

Carol Hillman spends a lot of time behind the wheel of her pickup truck, scouring the Midwest for the seasoned furniture and recycled ceramics that occupy her Venice store, Ohio. So Hillman (a native Buckeye) often leaves associate Christina Ulrich to help customers browse through the abundance of flea-market and estate-sale finds, a true bargain-hunter’s paradise. “We specialize in anything from the 20th Century, with an emphasis on good design,” Hillman says. And that’s no lie. Situated in a former printer’s shop on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the 1,500-square-foot store is brimming with Mission rockers, Art Deco dressers and lots of ‘50s lighting, magazine racks, amoeba-shaped picture frames, pillows and upholstered furniture. Plus, Hillman offers a free custom-shopping service for those who know exactly what they want but can’t seem to find it. Just fill out a card; if she finds it, she’ll ship it-- or maybe even load up the truck and deliver it herself. Ohio, 1409 Abbot Kinney Blvd., (213) 450-4664.