Top drawer: fashion news and views

Forget, for a moment, the latest handbag, all-terrain shoe or multitasking watch. The question at hand is not what accessory you should next acquire for your own ensemble, but what exciting piece of decor your house wants for the new year.

A stop by Mobilia (42 Haywood St., Asheville, 252-8322) reveals plenty of inspiration (even in the no man’s land of post-holiday, pre-spring shopping) for rooms, walls and floors. However, even if you’re not in the market for major furniture or art purchases, the right small item can pull a room together and update a weary decorating theme. Here’s what to look for:

• [left] Birds are big: They’ve been popping up on graphic tees, paper goods and wall hangings (local artist Alena Hennessy takes bird imagery to a new level). These glossy ceramic avian accessories run $15 each and can fly solo or be grouped on a table.

• [right] Foiled again: Moroccan quatrefoil-inspired jars combine crisp white ceramics with ancient, four-point graphics for an antique-meets-modern feel. The lacy design is fancy enough to do without further embellishment; the austere finish goes with any color scheme. $65 each.

• [left] Tea for two: Tea ceremonies get an efficiency update with this double-spout pot. Pour two cups simultaneously from an elegant white service printed with a delicate floral motif. Old-world Japan meets the clean lines of postmodern design. $122 for the set.

• [right] Star bright: Remember mod wall-sized starburst clocks? The same idea makes a 21st century appearance in a smaller, table-sized version. An artful metallic setting houses a simple clock face; the whole clock is about 9 inches tall. $78.