Eleven years ago, buyers renovating bungalows in East Atlanta clamored for a local store where they could find inexpensive furnishings. The result was Traders, where the stock fit perfectly with houses selling in the $80,000 range.

"Today, those houses are selling for $200,000 to $400,000," said Shawn Ergle, who co-founded Traders with Michael Knight. "We saw that the community was growing and ready for the next step in decor."

H.M. Cauley / Special (ENLARGE)

Beds, nightstands and accents from the Area Urban collection, which keeps a limited supply on show but offers catalog orders.

H.M. Cauley / Special (ENLARGE)

This extra-deep sofa features a wide armrest ideal for holding a laptop. Vases, lamps, pillows and books are among the accessories in the Edgewood Retail District store.

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That step is Area Urban Interiors, part of the Edgewood Retail District on Moreland Avenue. It's just one mile from Traders, but the inventory is completely different.

"We certainly don't want to take away from Traders — we've struggled to get people to go there!" said Ergle. "But we did want to take a step up with our furnishings. We have a bigger and different product selection. Even our candle lines are different."

What you'll find

The sofas, armchairs, ottomans, beds, dining tables and other large furniture pieces come from several manufacturers, including Robin Bruce, Rowe Furniture, Charles Carol and more. Along with upholstered options, there's a line of leather seating as well. Though there's only room to showcase a few beds, the store's extensive catalog collection gives buyers access to a range of manufacturers.

Traders regulars may notice that Area's furnishings are a bit bigger as well. "We've intentionally gone with things that work well in larger homes, as well as bungalows and Victorians within a five-mile radius," said Ergle.

Along with large-scale items, the store is stocked with an array of accessories. Wall decor, bookcases, mirrors, shelves, figurines, vases, candles, decorative screens and lamps show off the store's sophisticated edge.

For buyers just beginning to decorate their personal space, the experts at Area offer a bit of free advice. Every other month, they host a series of "design therapy" sessions in which people are invited to share their decor successes and failures. There's a guest designer on hand to answer questions and tackle tough problems as well. The next series is set to run in April.

Best sellers

Buyers are big on the long Charles Carol sofa with its deep seats and oversized arms. "It's great for people who want to cuddle up or want an armrest big enough to hold a laptop," said Ergle. "It's multi-functional." Prices average $1,799.

Another hot item is the Turin bar table, a scaled-back dining table ($349) with a section that can be folded down when not in use or opened up for a crowd.

Trends

"We're seeing more buyers who want a bit more sophistication," said Ergle. "But they're also looking for multi-functional pieces as well." One of the items that fits that bill is a coffee table with metal legs and a hinged surface, so the top can be pulled up to create a desk, high enough to hold a laptop at the right level.

WHERE TO FIND IT

Area Urban Interiors

1253 Caroline St. N.E., Atlanta

404-521-2337

www.areaatlanta.com

Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; noon - 6 p.m. Sunday

In the area: Area is part of the Edgewood shopping district, with Home Depot and a mix of smaller shops, coffee bars and restaurants.