Thursday, July 10, 2008; H05

Dear Jenna,

Congratulations! Newly married, with a new house in a new neighborhood: What an exciting time, even for a daughter of the president.

To help you settle in and set up house in Baltimore, I scoured the streets and scouted the home furnishing shops of the city and just beyond. (You've no doubt acquired a few family antiques, but it's always nice to add a new piece or two.)

Below is a guide to my favorite stores. But be warned: Navigating Charm City's streets can be confusing to newcomers, so have a GPS device handy.

Yours truly,

Terri Sapienza, Washington Post Staff Writer

The first thing I noticed when I walked into this shop was the smell of coffee, an intoxicating aroma coming from a cozy-looking cafe inside the store, right next to the home furnishings. As a coffee drinker and home shopping devotee, I find this combination of offerings near perfect.

The mission of this 7,000-square-foot shop, located between the Inner Harbor and Fells Point neighborhoods, is to promote green living. Everything in the store, from the cafe menu to the sofas, chairs, bedding, lighting, housewares and flooring, is environmentally friendly. A cool, earth-conscious standout: the Garden Bird wallpaper made from managed forest paper and water-based inks ($171 for an 11-yard roll). They also stock stationery, wall art, children's clothing, cleaning products and pet supplies, and offer design consultations for those looking to integrate eco-friendly items into their home. "It's a little bit of everything," says manager Angelica Benner. And it's all green.

1407 Fleet St . , 410-276-1180, http://www.bluehouselife.com.

A second location in Towson is scheduled to open this fall.

"A dash of color. A pinch of swank. A sprinkle of funk." Those are the words owners Lee Whitehead and Steve Appel use on their Web site to describe their take on interiors. With that in mind, a stroll through their store does not disappoint. Wall-to-wall leopard carpeting sits beneath an unusual and colorful collection of goods, including a pair of high-back, red leather, tufted chairs ($3,665 each); a white vinyl split-back sofa with chrome legs ($1,050); and six-foot "urchin sculptures" ($498 each) that greet you as you walk through the door.

Located in Towson, a 10-minute drive north of Baltimore, Nouveau resides in Belvedere Square, a charming neighborhood hub for retail shopping and restaurants. (There's even a Friday night concert series during the summer.) Although the shop's stock of upholstery, lighting, artwork and storage pieces is mostly contemporary, you'll also find a nice mix of more-classic shapes, the occasional Regency, mid-century and Asian-inspired pieces, and an in-house design center.

Another draw: instant gratification. Purchases can be taken right off the floor or scheduled for a quick delivery, sometimes the same day.

514 E. Belvedere Ave., Towson, 410-962-8248, http://www.nouveaubaltimore.com.

If contemporary isn't your thing, a few doors down is the House Downtown. This shop overflows cottage-y comfort with its slipcovered club chairs, painted furniture, piles of pillows and Dash & Albert's colorful, affordable cotton rugs (from $28 for a 2-by-3-foot piece to $385 for a 9-by-12).

But it's not all cottage living at this sophisticated shop, where the look is more chic than shabby, more urban than country. Mingled among the antique pieces, the pastel Pine Cone Hill linens and the white tin-tiled headboards are sleek, apartment-style sofas and black chairs upholstered in zebra ikat fabric with a pewter nail-head trim ($1,059 each). A recent store redesign introduced a high-end line of custom furnishings and an in-house interior design service.

The mix of styles (beachy, vintage, traditional and urban) and prices (retail and custom) make the merchandise as appealing as the atmosphere. "That's our motto," owner Stephanie Gamble says: "So comfortable, you may never want to leave."

524 E. Belvedere Ave . , Towson, 410-464-1440, http://www.thehousedowntown.com.

You know those stores you walk into and, before you've taken a second step inside, you know you're going to buy something? Red Tree is one of those stores.

A 10-minute drive from downtown Baltimore in the Hampden neighborhood, this cool and quirky shop sits in the middle of a four-block stretch of retailers and restaurants locally referred to as "The Avenue." (Note: If you're in the Baltimore vicinity, include this main street on your itinerary.)

The feel inside is a homegrown Anthropologie, with less mass production and more local flavor. Prices are better, too. (I spotted a trio of robin's-egg blue nesting tables for $185.) Two jampacked floors are filled with furnishings and home accessories as well as wares from local artisans, including jewelry, wall art, paintings, T-shirts and pottery. And the icing on this tasty cake: The owners couldn't be nicer. "We are all kind of artists ourselves and want to support local artists," co-owner Kacey Stafford says. "We love the flavor and authenticity it adds to our store. You can find something unique and handcrafted here. Something you won't find just anywhere."

921 W. 36th St., 410-366-3456, http://www.redtreebaltimore.com.

As you make your way along Light Street in the historic Federal Hill district, it's easy to miss this small and unassuming shop. Seeking it out will be worth your effort.

Opened in 2001 by designer and architect Patrick Sutton, this shop is carefully curated with furnishings, accessories, artwork, lighting and small gifts. (Interior design services are also available.) Although the new offerings are certainly stylish, the standouts in this space are the antiques and one-of-a-kind pieces, such as the sculptural wooden oyster sticks that stand almost six feet tall in a metal platform ($180 each). Other finds include an antique horse saddle on a stand; rain drums; old stone cooking pots; a worn, leather Chesterfield sofa; crusty urns; and sunburst mirrors. And sitting in the front of the store, a true statement piece: a stunning 115-foot, dark wood antique carpenter's bench ($4,895).

Alas, this particular sense of chic doesn't come cheap. But if you're searching for something sophisticated and definitely distinct, you'll find it here.

1000 Light St . , 410-783-150 0 , http://www.patricksutton.com.

Located at the newly developed Bond Street Wharf, PAD is a modern home furnishing store divided into two sections: One sells PAD furnishings; the other is an exclusive seller of the Italian brand Calligaris.

The sides differ in manufacturers, but they share the same contemporary style with sleek shapes, clean lines and bold colors. A recent stroll through the shop found graphic wall art in blue and orange ($250 each), white lacquered chairs with black and white upholstered seats ($280 each) and a smoky-blue leather accent chair ($525) and sectional ($3,160). You'll also find your share of acrylic chairs, cafe tables, drum pendants and a mix of accessories, tabletop items and linens.

PAD offers free "white glove" delivery (They'll bring the item in, set it up and take out the trash) in Baltimore and surrounding counties including Montgomery, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Howard and Frederick. The bonus: Every purchase is returnable, even special orders. "Quality is very important to us," says owner Nick Johnson. "We know if we sell someone a piece of junk, we're going to get it back."

(Johnson also owns Su Casa, a shop just down the block that sells more-traditional furniture, accessories and gifts).

1500 Thames St., 410- 563-4723 , http://www.calligarisshop.com/Pad/.

Earlier this year, Deborah Gore Dean closed the doors to her 10,000-square-foot store on M Street in Georgetown to open two smaller shops: One still sits in Georgetown; the other recently opened in Baltimore's Mount Washington neighborhood.

Her square footage might have decreased, but Dean's discerning design eye remains in full force, as evident even in the Baltimore storefront, a charming one-story, ivy-covered brick building complete with its own outdoor water feature. The feel is instantly soothing and chic.

Another thing that hasn't changed: the steep prices. The merchandise (old and new) is exquisite, but for most it will remain out of reach. For example, a jumbo glass jar lantern costs $4,150. An 18th-century French white-painted parcel-gilt commode, circa 1760, is $16,250. An imposing empire-style mahogany bookcase will set you back $20,800. Of course, more affordable (yet still pricey) accessories can also be found, such as bed linens, bath towels, dinnerware, candles, books, stationery and frames.

Even if it's unlikely that you'll be outfitting your home with the goods at Gore Dean, a lingering browse is definitely worth the trip.

1340-D Smith Ave., 410-323-7470 , http://www.goredean.com.

In search of something a little sleeker? Just a few steps from Gore Dean sits Home on the Harbor, a mecca for modernist furniture with the familiar cast of contemporary characters all represented, including the Eero Saarinen side table (starting at $413), the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Barcelona lounge chair (starting at $4,803) and the Phillippe Starck Ghost chair ($410). You'll also find Emma Gardner rugs, FLOR carpet tiles, Chilewich cubes and accessories from Umbra, Alessio and Middle Kingdom.

Clean lines, shiny surfaces and bold colors abound. My tastes typically lean toward the traditional, but I gave serious consideration to a steel-framed side table painted a yummy watermelon color (Strut side table from Blu Dot, $199). But what initially caught my eye was what was sitting on the tabletop: a dramatic and playful Baroque-style lamp made from polycarbonate (a.k.a. plastic) and dyed a rich black (Bourgie table lamp by Kartell, starts at $362). The contrasting colors were unexpected, fun and attention-grabbing -- the perfect way to describe this shop.

1340 Smith Ave., 410-433-1616, http://www.homeontheharboronline.com.

Reserve extra browsing time for this shop -- you're going to want it. Second Chance Inc. is a not-for-profit group in an industrial part of town (right behind M&T Bank Stadium). The whopping 60,000-square-foot space houses architectural antiques and salvage (as well as antiques dealers, consignments and donations). Its mission, manager Lynn Fingles says, is "workforce development, repurposing and keeping things out of the dumpster."

Second Chance inventory is spread among five warehouses, but you won't need to search long to unearth treasures because they lie just about everywhere. From shelves of salvaged architectural elements, such as door knobs, tiles, corbels, radiators, mantels and hardwood floors to a parking lot strewn with claw foot tubs, metal grates, painted urns, brick pavers and vintage chimney pots. Prices run across the board. You can find single china plates and teacups at $1 each and an iron-and-steel bulletin board, circa 1928, rescued from the deconstruction of the Philadelphia Convention Center for $15,000. (A customer who purchased one was planning to use it as a headboard.)

On my recent trip, I spotted a 24-inch antique cast iron kettle ($250), a vintage silk suzani tapestry from central Asia ($550), a salvaged door painted peacock blue ($70) and a pair of Asian-inspired armchairs just waiting to be refurbished ($250). I also saw a five-foot-tall suit of armor ($150), just in case you're interested.

1645 Warner St., 410- 385-1101 , http://www.secondchanceinc.org.