maple

From Williams-Sonoma Home, the Somerset Table is a lovely piece that can be used almost anywhere in the house, as it could be used as a nightstand, where the shelves could be used to store books and other things you might like to have to hand, or as an end table in a living room. The pillar-shaped piece is made of Patagonian maple and has a marble top. Twin doors on the side swing open with antiqued brass knobs, revealing an interior shelf, which is removable if you need a larger space for storage. It measures 18 1/4" across and is 28" high. Price: $950 each, $1,800 for two.

Samples are a great way to get a good deal on designer goods, especially if they come from the designers themselves, since that usually means that they have not been handled by as many people as a display on a huge showroom floor. This Origami Table is a sample from Lee Weitzman Furniture. It was made by John Krieghouser of natural maple and its light color makes it a natural choice for almost any bright and open space, while the unusually "folded" legs add an elegant accent to the piece. It measures 48-in. x 84-in. Sale price: $1,950 (orig. $4,500).

This cabinet is definitely a must-have for a wine lover. Wine barrels are often discarded after a few years of use, but this one was reworked into a great cabinet/end table. The barrel stands just over three feet high and has a door that opens to one side, revealing an inner storage shelf and plenty of space for just about anything that needs storing. On top of the white oak barrel is a removable maple serving tray, so the barrel can be used as a serving station at a party, as well as as a simple storage device. Price: $850.

Fairy tales are not only about their main characters and the good ones make their supporting cast as vibrant and interesting as possible. Or, in the case of the villains, as evil as possible. This bed looks like it is something that Snow White's Evil Stepmother slept in. This isn't to say that the My Darling Bed from Dialogica looks evil, but it does have a wild, romantic element to it that is not evident in, for example, canopied beds with lots of lace. It is sculpted from solid maple and is available in both "smooth uncarved" ($2,600) and "carved" ($2,750) finishes.

Snow White's stepmother, who commanded those sinuous vines in the Disney movie, would probably go for the carved finish.