What’s Hot: Stores
* Antennae: The Valley version of Neo-Ancestral and English comfy. An overstuffed armchair is slipcovered in a granny cherry-print tablecloth, $1,000. An unrestored white wicker chaise lounge has a cushion newly upholstered in a faded rose print, $800. A pair of matching armchairs covered in gold damask are $900. 13059 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 907-1810.
* A. N. Abell Auctions (often referred to as Abell’s Auction House): Furniture auctions every Thursday. The gavel starts banging at 10 a.m. sharp. After being burned out in last year’s riots, the auction house moved from Los Angeles to Commerce. 2613 Yates Ave. , ( 213 ) 724-8102.
* Flea Markets: The pros go to the Long Beach flea market, the third Sunday of the month, and the Pasadena City College flea market, the first Sunday of the month. But don’t expect rock-bottom prices. “The prices at flea markets have gone up in recent years, a good 25% to 30%,” says Ron Meyers. “ Wicker is sky high and it used to be dirt cheap. It’s more than the normal amount of inflation. Used furniture has become fashionable and the people who work the flea markets realize this as well.”
* Jack Moore Arts and Crafts: The place to find original Craftsman furniture, often for less than the cost of reproductions. The latest addition to Moore’s store is California Rancho-style furniture--the kind of cowboy/Americana pieces that fill the Will Rogers house in Santa Monica. Moore claims Rancho hasn’t yet peaked in popularity, so it’s still affordable. A matching sofa, easy chair, armchair, coffee table and two end tables in oak carved with flowers are $1,850. 59 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, 818-577-7746.
* IKEA: The Wal-Mart of furniture stores has four area locations--Burbank, Fontana, Tustin and Industry. The company line: “A concept store that reinforces the lowest possible prices to enhance lifestyle. It’s living better for less.” Translation: IKEA can be an insidiously dangerous place to browse. The Marketplace area, where rugs are priced at $7 and wicker chests at $22, is especially dangerous to the checking account. It’s not uncommon to find people who were “just looking,” later standing in the check-out line with more than $200 worth of “unbelievable deals.”
