Shopping in: Chattanooga & Atlanta

Last week I visited Chattanooga and thoroughly enjoyed the city's quiet charm. Residents are justifiably proud of this city: a cultured and genteel berg just two hours driving from Nashville and Atlanta. If it's been several years since you visited, there's more to see than just the Choo Choo. There's a burgeoning arts community, beautiful riverfront parks, easy access to the outdoors and of course… terrific restaurants and shopping. I also ventured down to Atlanta for a quick spin through town to check out some shops.

Here's a quick overview of what I saw and loved:

Revival Uncommon Goods: Chattanooga's source for classic home furnishings with a modern twist. Owners Rodney Simmons and Billy Woodall have brought some fabulous brands from New York and Europe (Astier de Villatte, John Derian, Juliska and Simon Pearce) to appoint their gorgeous new store anchoring Warehouse Row. Also look for industrial antiques and hand-wrought light fixtures. The sale bin next to the cash wrap was a wonderland… I'm still regretting not picking up two charcoal alpaca throws with the red whipstitch ($62.50 marked down from $265.00) that were gone the next day. Lesson learned.

Nell's: Hollywood glamour has a home in Tennessee (and it's not in Nashville!) In 2006, Jimmy Adams moved his whole store from Beverly Boulevard to Chattanooga to raise his daughter, as well as the bar for interior design in Chattanooga. Everything in the store has a 1930s feeling, as though Katherine Hepburn might walk in with a drink and settle into one of the sumptuous Hickory club chairs. Adams has also brought in one-of-a-kind pieces from his travels. While it's not cheap, Nell's is another great place to look for sales: we saw a number of items marked 50% off.

Clement's Antiques & Auctions: Imagine that the contents of Versailles, Hearst Castle and Liberace's home were all emptied and put up for sale in a non descript roadside warehouse and you have an idea of what Clement's is all about. Serious Louis XVI and George III antiques mingle with kitschy Greek & Roman statuary and over-the-top pieces smothered with ormolu. If you have a large space and a love of ENORMOUS carved gold-leaf mirrors… this is your Xanadu. They also hold auctions 3-5 times a year.

Sid Mashburn: The founder and namesake cut his chops designing for Ralph Lauren & J-Crew before returning home to found his own label based on Atlanta's West Side. Mashburn brings back the classic haberdashery with a southern preppy flair. Many items are made in store (tailors are at work and on view) and he also carries classics "that can't be improved upon" like Levi's 501 jeans and Rod Lavers. Best of all was the service… they were friendly, intelligent, approachable and never overbearing.

Antiques & Beyond: If you're long on style and short on budget, A&B is your place. Every dealer in this antiques collective seems to have stepped up their game and wants to sell their wares. We saw a pair of Sherrill wingbacks upholstered in coral velvet for $950, generously proportioned mirrors for under $300 and too many great lamps to count for under $150. This being a collective, the list price is only the first offer in negotiation, so don't be shy about bargaining.