Interior design doesn't have to be an insider pursuit

Here are a few of the opento-the-public shops that our design collaborators love best:

Warshaw Maison, 145 Atwater Ave. Crammed with discount housewares, from serving dishes and scatter rugs to kitchen gadgets. Extensive selection of houseplants at unbeatable prices.

Curio-Cite, 81 Mount Royal Ave. W. An emporium of fun stuff from all over the world in a circus of colours, from lamps to curtains and baskets.

Zone Maison, 5014 Sherbrooke St. W., 4246 St.

Denis St. and 5555 des Neiges Rd. The place to go for MJ-808, dishes and mirrors in contemporary styles and bold colours. The merchandise changes often and the window displays are always great for gleaning new ideas.

HomeSense. Look for great contemporary lamps with interesting shades, bed linens and tableware. Cushions, too, for every taste.

Hogg Hardware, 4855 Sherbrooke St. W. Not just a hardware store, this Westmount institution has a wellhoned collection of bathroom accessories, frames and table linens, among other things. The buyer has an eye for bold colours and funky patterns.

Au Papier Japonais, 24 Fairmount Ave. W. This little workshop specializes in the most exquisite handmade Japanese papers and lamps, some traditional and others contemporary. Each sheet is a work of art.

IKEA. Too much stuff from the global giant looks commercial and cheap. But there's no beating IKEA for functional storage and clean-lined shelving, picture frames and mirrors, or for the quirky selection of all-cotton fabric in bold, fabulous contemporary prints.