Cool Stuff: Pier 1 Ups the Hip Quotient

Have you visited a Pier 1 lately? I can't quite believe I'm saying this, but the fusty former "imports" retailer is looking pretty stylin' these days.

Jumping on the bandwagon with mass-market merchants like Target who are making a concerted effort to modernize and freshen up their home offerings, Pier 1 has dusted itself off for a bit of an overhaul. No longer a musty repository of all things global and faintly hippie, the store is showcasing new offerings with clean, modern shapes and fresh colors -- but that are still (for the most part) pleasingly affordable.

A sampling of some of my favorite new pieces:

Above: Top left: White Resin Buddha, $150; top right: Triple Glass Vases $15 and $20; bottom left: Square Lacquer Tray, $15; bottom right: Argenta Circles Bowl, $50

Top left: Smoke Blue Lamp, $125; top right: White Ceramic Lamp, $125; bottom: Etched Swirl Lamp, $125

Top left: Oval Aluminum Lamp, $125; top right: Kalista Lamp, $150; bottom left: Rectangle Lamp, $75; bottom right: Mesh Lamp, $90

Top left: Beveled Round Mirror, $113; top right: Stair Step Mirror, $175; bottom left: Metal Weaving Mirror, $125; bottom right: Silver Shine Mirror, $100

Left: Melamine Dinnerware, $3 to 5; right: Cerchi Dinnerware, $9 to $10

Left: Downtown Wall Panel, $150; center: Black Square Wall Panel, $60; right: Geometric Print Wall Panel, $100

Left: Wood & Metal Chest, $40; right: Recycled Paper Hamper, $80

Left: Orbit Chair, $69; center: Nance Armchair, $299; right: Easy Rattan Armless Chair, $200

Top left: Calmont Armchair, $599; top right: Rocco Rocking Armchair, $650; bottom: Rosedale Chaise Lounge, $950

Top left: Hylo Rug, $399; top right: Gingko Wool Rug, $250; bottom: Floral Dhurrie Rug, $299

Top left: Gray Slab Coffee Table, $250; top right: Gray Slab Console Table, $275; bottom left: Wharton End Table, $129; bottom right: Ryan Bow Coffee Table, $349