mySimon Furniture Shopping Picks

If we had patios or back yards, we would want Frontgate's entire Contempo modular patio furniture collection. The rain- and sun-resistant black wicker is woven over an aluminum (read: lightweight! won't rust!) frame for a sleek, modern look. And the thick, easy-to-clean cushions resist fading and stains. If only Frontgate's stuff came with Pier 1 price tags. More patio furniture.

A place for everything and everything in its place. As seen on Extreme Makeover Home Edition: Gladiator GarageWorks, "the only complete garage organization system that also includes appliances." Created by Whirlpool, this line of heavy-duty modular storage cabinets, workbenches, wall systems, and flooring will make your garage/basement look so good you'll actually want to spend time in there working on all those projects you've been putting off.

Target.com has so much great stuff that's not available in their retail stores. Like the Home South Bali patio furniture collection - a sofa, rocker, chaise lounge, and a few small tables. The pieces feature powder-coated aluminum frames and dark brown all-weather wicker, with thick cushions covered in a durable polyester print fabric. The only thing missing is a pina colada and a pool boy. More patio furniture.

Who says book shelves have to be level? The Opus shelving system turns that notion on its head, or rather, its sides. Made out of 100% recyclable expanded polypropylene (the same stuff they use in motorcycle helmets), the Opus comes in white and black, and can be used both indoors and outside. You can even stack 2 together or side by side, and use them as room dividers.

Introducing the smallest - and most affordable - Fatboy yet: The Fatboy Point. Part kiddie seat, part ottoman, and part extra-cocktail-party-seating, the Point complements other Fatboy beanbags as well as "regular" furniture in the living room, the kids' room, or the the family rec room. It comes in lots of different colors and like other Fatboys, it's durable and easy to clean; just wipe it down with a damp cloth. Prices start at $89.

Why should clocks have to hang on the wall? Underneath the glass top of the Adesso time table is a working clock with hour, minute, and second hands on a white PVC face. The 3-leg table stands 20" high and the clock is 20" across. It runs on a AA battery, comes in black and stainless steel finishes, and makes a great living room conversation piece that you can actually use. Unlike your Hummel collection.

Verner Panton designed the first single-form injection-molded plastic chair in 1960. Almost 50 years later, it's still so popular that Vitra has released the kid-sized Panton Junior chair. It's just like the one for grown-ups, except it's 25% smaller (and much more affordable). Ideal for youngsters, the Panton chair comes in several bright colors that won't fade over time. Best of all, the strong-but-flexible polypropylene is super easy to clean. Check out the full line of Vitra modern furniture.

Need living room furniture? If you've graduated from IKEA but don't quite have a Design Within Reach budget, we suggest taking a look at these West Elm Goodwin sofas, armchairs, and ottomans. The look is modern, the poly velvet upholstery is luxurious, and the charcoal and mocha colors are versatile enough for any decor. Prices are $399 for the ottoman, $599 for the armchair, $799 for the 71" sofa, and $999 for the 88" sofa. And right now West Elm is offering discounted shipping when you order a 3-piece set. More West Elm furniture.

Now there are even fewer excuses for having your clothes in a big pile in the corner of your bedroom. The new West Elm storage bed has 6 spacious drawers built right into the frame, providing extra storage for packrats and people with small closets. You can use the bed with a mattress and boxspring, or just with a mattress - the frame is made out of sturdy pine slats. Also shown in this photo is the West Elm double stone rug. More storage beds.

We've got a soft spot for all things small and mid-century modern, so this round Rolly side table by Matt Carr is right up our alley, with 3 tapered walnut legs and a drum top with a storage compartment that's concealed by a sliding panel. The panel was created by laser cutting walnut strips and laminating them onto a canvas backing, keeping the strips in order so it looks like a single piece of wood. The table measures 19" high and 18" in diameter, just the right size for a cup of coffee and a magazine.

The StyleHive blog tells us that wicker is cool again. Except you no longer need a patio/deck/outdoor estate with a butler to enjoy it. These days there's lots of wicker furniture that looks just as nice in your living room as it does on the porch. What's even cooler than modern furniture that you can lift without injuring your back? Matching your décor with modern wicker handbags and wicker shoes, of course. West Elm Humboldt chair shown here.

If giant entertainment centers offend your design sensibilities, then you may appreciate the clean lines of the Offi Scoop TV table. With a form-meets-function nod to Charles and Ray Eames, the table has a storage compartment made out of molded birch plywood that will hold a DVD player and a few DVDs/games. The table looks a lot nicer than those sorry milk crates you've been using, but at 16" high by 24" wide by 16" deep, it's not built to hold massive rear-projection TVs. More Offi furniture.

Tight muscles? Knots in your back? Maybe you should get an iJoy 130 robotic massage chair. It uses what they call Human Touch Technology to mimic the same techniques that massage therapists and medical professionals use. The result is a customizable robotic massage that feels remarkably human. The iJoy works so well it just got the National Health and Wellness Club's seal of approval, and its massage technology is endorsed by the American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists. More massage chairs.

Bring new life to your bare walls with leaning bookshelves. You can use them to store books and CDs or to display framed photos and collectibles. The leaning-against-the-wall design adds stability, and even when full, the bookshelves won't overpower the room. Choose from a variety of sizes, materials, and finishes. Browse our Bookcases and Bookshelves department for more storage ideas.

Introducing the eNook, a place for everything and everything in its place. This wall-mounted workstation is not just a way to keep your laptop out of sight (and out of kids'reach), it's also a charging station, thanks to the 120v 6-outlet power strip that lets you charge multiple gadgets at once. The eNook's shelf holds laptops up to 30 pounds, and the fabric back panel doubles as a bulletin board. The result: More home; less home office.

We love big ideas for small spaces, like the Offi Perch lounge chair. The seat is made out of contoured plywood (just like the classic Eames lounge chairs) with wool upholstery, a chrome rod frame, and an elevated wire shelf underneath - an ideal place for magazines, books, or the remains of last night's TV dinner. And the minimalist design looks great with any modern decor. More Offi furniture.

For their "Best Seat in the House" feature, the people at Wired Magazine tested several office chairs to see which one was the most comfortable, adjustable, and aesthetically appealing. The Steelcase Think chair got the highest rating because it was so comfortable and required almost no adjusting. They admit it's not the most attractive chair on the market, nor is it cheap, but hopefully you can write it off your taxes. The Humanscale Liberty chair came in second.

Make your guests comfortable this holiday season with an AeroBed with IntelliWarmth technology. Its removable, washable mattress cover has ultra-fine heating fibers and 6 temperature settings, so your guests won't freeze to death when you turn your thermostat all the way down at bedtime. The bed inflates in one minute, heats up in 15, and shuts the heat off if it's been on for more than 10 hours. More AeroBeds.

Last month a mySimon shopper wrote to us about the joys of laptop desks. Not only do they protect your legs from a laptop's heat; they're lightweight, compact, affordable, and their non-skid surface keeps them in place. You can get this Targus Portable Laptop Desk for as little as $20 (computer not included).

Many design magazines and home furnishing stores have recently rediscovered stools. Inspired by 1960s Tiki mugs and barware, these Tiki stools by Offi can be used as side tables or stools, for both kids and adults. They're made out of durable molded polypropylene, and come in several colors. More fun Offi home accents.