Columnist Muriel Stevens: Travel the world at Amandari

Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002 | 8:22 a.m.

One visit is not nearly enough time to explore the nooks and crannies of this intriguing store, but I was there early in the day, so I was able to explore. And when I spoke to Amandari owner Marilee Latham, I was better able to understand the Amandari collections.

It was only 15 years ago that Latham and her husband, Larry, became avid world travelers and shoppers. Before they knew it the pieces they acquired on trips to Asia were in great demand. Friends clamored for such pieces and brought lists of what they wanted the Lathams to bring them.

By now Marilee had traveled the back streets and alleys of their favorite towns in search of beautiful and unusual items they were collecting for friends, and to incorporate into her interior design business. She never goes to typical tourist places, preferring to go into the hinterlands where few tourists ventured.

Their visits were welcomed by the townspeople who were in deep need of funds. The entrepreneurial Marilee never missed an opportunity. You can see some of her private collection finds in the windows of the showroom. The displays change monthly. Part of the collection came from a dig in North Thailand. Overseeing the dig was a professor from the University of Pennsylvania.

Marilee's interest was so sincere she and the prof became friends and he allowed her to dig and to keep whatever she recovered. Ask, and Marilee will show you some mummified relics she uncovered.

The price range at the store is as wide as the selection of furniture, mirrors, architectural pieces, fabrics, pillows and silver jewelry. I'm in love with the tall bamboo stalks that require nothing more than river pebbles, a tall vase and a drink of bottled water each week. Sold by the stalk and available in straight bamboo ($5 per stalk) or spiral or curly ($15 per stalk). Bamboo survives in light or dark, but not direct sun.

Amandari designs its own furniture and can copy any design. Furniture is hand-crafted in Indonesia and shipped to America. Prices for these reproductions are super. Handcrafted soaps ($3) made from the Bagaho nut are so fine, some customers use them as shampoo.

Handsome mirrors are made with salvage from torn down buildings. Pillars and other architectural features, such as a gable from a temple in Thailand that was demolished, can all be seen at Amandari. Amandari is a veritable museum where everyone can shop.

Fashion Show update: It's amazing, the number of sales in progress at Fashion Show mall stores. Even more amazing is how the shoppers flock there during this major construction period. With reductions as high as 75 percent, this is the time to buy some of this year's holiday gifts. Check out the Christmas things at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Grand buys, if you've got a place to store the stuff.