[burningyen]

Is OP in NYC (ElD mentioned SoHo)? If so, ABC Carpet is a good place to browse for ideas and to see if they have any special deals going. Their prices are normally unreasonable, but every once in a while you'll find something priced to move. I found my beat-up country-style dining table/chairs set that way. Another really nice store is Miya Shoji in Chelsea. This old Japanese guy makes everything by hand in his workshop. He uses no nails or glue. Everything is made with tight-fitting parts and pegs in a semi-traditional Japanese style. The coffee table I bought from him is like a work of art. His stuff's not cheap, though.

My non-baller friends recommend Room and Board as a good catalog for stuff that is a couple of notches above Ikea in terms of quality.

ElD's idea to just walk around SoHo is a good one, too.