I'm looking for ideas on areas and/or cool stores for housewares and home decor items. Looking for funky places unique to Paris and not necessarily the super high-end designer boutiques. My style leans toward contemporary, but interested in all types.<BR><BR>I'm staying in the Marais and planning on hitting the flea market on Sunday. Appreciate any thoughts.

TMJ, don't miss BHV (www.bhv.fr). You could spend at least half a day there.

There are many good shops scattered around all over the city. Here are some favorites/favorite streets:<BR>Catherine Memmi has gorgeous stuff, also pjs, robes, slippers. On rue St Sulpice. Lots of great shopping on this street, check out Liwan (cool Lebanese loungewear) and Maison de Famille, which has a mix of home stuff and clothing (another branch can be found in pl de la Madeleine)<BR>You might like Colette, the super trendoid concept store on rue Fbg St Honore. It's mostly clothing but has some house stuff. Very contemporary.<BR>The neighborhood around place de la Bastille has some neat shops. Some, like the furniture stores on blvd St Antoine, are so outrageously tacky they're funny. Some of the small shops on/off the rue Keller and rue de la Roquette are funky. <BR>Try rue Oberkampf as well (funky in general; not sure how much decor stuff).<BR>Antoine et Lilli (several locations) have wacky/tacky home stuff and clothes. <BR>Finally, I like Mise en Demeure on Cherche Midi and blvd Raspail (metro Sevres Babylone). It is more trad/classical than contemporary. <BR>Will try to think of more.

Appreciate the thoughts so far. Francesca, we do love Catherine Memmi's store. It's exactly our style (we actually had a coffee table made that is in a style similar to hers). Can't wait for my trip.

Warning: vague response coming! It seems to me that there were some neat home furnishing stores in the Jewish Quarter. Also, my understanding is that there is a good houseware store near or across from Les Halles. Finally, La Sameritaine (sp?) has some interesting things. We saw the funkiest refrigerators there: They were rounded in pastel colors. Reminded me of some kind of seed pod.