Quality craftsmanship and fair trade distinguish the Old World Marketplace

Located just six blocks south of Safeco Field, Old World Marketplace works hard to set the ambiance of a Mexican bazaar. Fiesta music wafts through the air, a saleswoman offers customers a sampler of chips and dip (made with packets of spices available for sale, of course), and the exposed brick and warm "adobe" walls flatter the store's astonishingly varied inventory of furniture, garden wares and tchotchkes.

Upon entering Old World, I was immediately entranced by a folk-style, carved pine bench, festooned with huge, colorful swans intertwined at the back and arms. While I'm not known for my love of things subtle, I couldn't give the bench more than a brief, cursory look ... because just beyond it stood a waist-high, solid cast-iron fire pit grill shaped like a pig. Oh, and shelves stacked with terracotta angels and smirking suns! And tin luminarias! This place is kitsch heaven.

Quality craftsmanship kitsch heaven, that is. Upon closer inspection of these pieces, you'll see that not only are they artisan-made, they are also steals for their price ($199 for the bench, $149.99 for the grill, 99 cents to $5.99 for the angels/suns/lanterns). Even the wildly-painted, freestanding tile basin/sinks on carved wood bases ($199 each) – more riotously decorated than anything you'll find in the restroom of any Azteca restaurant – are of exquisite, heirloom caliber.

Staffers say that the owners travel to Mexico every six to eight weeks on buying trips, working directly with the artisans and their families, and that they pride themselves on their fair trade policies and building relationships. Because of these trips, Old World Marketplace's stock changes frequently, and the shop can offer pieces that are rarely available for direct sale in the United States.

While Old World boasts an extensive selection of over-the-top eye candy (Old World Marketplace does specialize in Mexican décor, after all), there are plenty of other pieces to satisfy more refined tastes. In the back room stands a jaw-droppingly majestic king-sized headboard of intricately carved and stained wood, upholstered with leather ($1,499). And on my visit I kept returning to fondle an understated armoire, also of dark stained wood, with iron scroll work bars and handles ($599). Their selection seems endless, really – representing everything from formal copper-topped dining tables to full-service sets of bubble-glass dining ware.

The keyword here, regardless of highness of brow, is rustic. Think unfinished pine, acid treated marble, painted tile, ornamental tinwork and wrought iron. And everything looks hand-crafted because it is hand-crafted.