We are headed to NYC next weekend and I need a little advice. What area of downtown should I head to if I want to visit the smaller, independently owned boutique style stores? Prices aren't a consideration as I am focusing on the actual store design and the displays. I am not looking for clothing stores, but more for home accessories, stationery & books, etc. I used to automatically head to Soho, but has it become over run with "mall stores"? Should I check out the West Village? In all our visits to the city, I have never been to the meatpacking district, are there shops there or is it more clubs & restaurants? Looking forward to an afternoon of walking, visitng shops, and of course eating! Thanks in advance for you help.

If you are going to look for home furnishing stores, you are doing a disservice to yourself by skipping ABC Home Carpet.

Huge massive store but it puts every other home store to shame. Some of the areas in the store are quite boutiquey.

Near Gramercy Park.

The East Village has a lot of small funky boutiques. Soho has a lot of chain stores now, but there's still some good stuff, especially of you go farther West of Broadway. The meatpacking district is quite small, and has only a handful of stores, but it's not a bad spot to check out. Have fun!

There are still some very cool home decor stores in Soho. My favorite is Moss on Greene St. You should check it out if you haven't been there. Also in Soho I like Dialogica on Greene, Simon Pearce on Wooster and Waterworks on Broome.
Tribeca has some neat shops also. Some of my favorites are Dune on Franklin, Room on Duane and Totem Design on Franklin.
The Meatpacking District is another good area for some interesting shops. Bodum on W. 14th has an in-store cafe, Karkula is another place worth a visit on Gavsevoort St. as is Vitra on 9th Ave.
In a completely different vein is the gorgeous Takashimaya on 5th Ave.

Hi everyone, thanks for all of the great ideas so far, I really appreciate it! I went to ABC a few years back but might stop in again. Sequess thanks for the specific recommendations, they are great. Keep the suggestions coming!

De Vera at 1 Crosby St.

John Derian Company
6 East 2nd Street

Global Table
Sullivan st
http://www.globaltable.com/

Uptown, Felissimo on 56th just west of 5th is not far from Takishimaya. I like William Wayne for more tradiitonal things on Lexington and 63-64 (they have a website but the shop's better). There's also a place right near there that only carries "white" things from linens to furniture.

"Dune" on Franklin Street (Tribeca) is a must. It's a playground for modern furniture lovers.

There is a great (non-chain) furniture & accessories store on the west side of West Broadway in Soho. I don't know the name but I refer to it as "the Chrome Store". I like the way they display things there.

There are also some interesting stores around in Chelsea around 15th to 20th on both Seventh and Eighth Avenue.

YOu might also try DUMBO in Brooklyn.