THE LOOK

Crate & Barrel: Warm, contemporary, classic.

Pottery Barn: All-American lifestyle, timeless.

West Elm: Modern, relaxed, global and natural influences.

THEY SAY THEIR CUSTOMER ...

Crate & Barrel: is college students, newlyweds, people furnishing

second homes.

Pottery Barn: is proprietary info.

West Elm: is design- and budget-conscious.

SIGNATURE ITEM

Crate & Barrel: Bauhaus-inspired "Arzberg" teapot.

Pottery Barn: Buttery leather club chair.

West Elm: Parson's tables and desk.

PRICE POINTS

Crate & Barrel: About 110 sofa/sectionals from $499 to $5,196.

Pottery Barn: About 50 sofa/sectionals from $499 to $3,399.

West Elm: About 16 sofa/sectionals from $149 (a futon) to $3,045.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN THIS STORE ...

Crate & Barrel: Hallmark floating shelves for display.

Pottery Barn: They play their own CD compilations.

West Elm: Large on-site inventory for same-day purchase.

ONLINE

Crate & Barrel: www.crateandbarrel.com Sales, gift registry,

gift card balance check, corporate gift program.

Pottery Barn: www.potterybarn.com Sales, gift registry,

paint palette, room design, pillow choice tools.

West Elm: www.westelm.com Sales, tool for saving design ideas, assembly instructions.

CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY?

Crate & Barrel: Yes

Pottery Barn: Yes

West Elm: No

WE LOVE

Crate & Barrel: "The Dot" accent table.

Hammered metal shows some mettle, $229.

Pottery Barn: "Auburn" smart base desk lamp. Plug-ins recharge

personal electronics, $199.

West Elm: "Tree Stump" side table. Natural cypress wood

doubles as seating, $199.

THIS SEASON'S "IT" COLORS

Crate & Barrel: Aubergine, peacock blue, olive green.

Pottery Barn: Orange, yellow, green, bold prints.

West Elm: Warm gold, bronze, copper, cool silver, platinum.

ODD ITEM OUT

Crate & Barrel: Tufted Azure sofa's prim parlor provenance.

Pottery Barn: Kitschy Halloween murals.

West Elm: Remsen file cabinet's clunky casters channel the '70s.

BONUS!

Crate and Barrel: Free wedding party events.

Pottery Barn: Free design consultations on request, free classes.

West Elm: Spot promos. Example: Domino free with online buy.

MINNESOTA/U.S. STORES

Crate & Barrel: MN: 1 U.S.: 160.

Pottery Barn: MN: 3 U.S.: 196.

West Elm: MN: 1 U.S.: 34.