Some of the most popular features on AT include our round-ups of items from chain stores. Today's LA Times Home & Garden section sets Phillippe Starck, Kelly Wearstler and MOCA curator Brooke Hodge loose in Big Lots, Cost Plus World Market and Tuesday Morning, respectively, where they round up the items from these chain stores that catch their eye, at a price we can all afford. There are also round-ups of gifts for the gardener, inspired by nature, and Judaica pieces for your home. More, pics and links, after the jump...

Phillippe Stark goes shopping at Big Lots Phillippe Starck's advice on shopping the big box stores? “You must be very rigorous," he says, adding, "Try to find the essence, the most iconic or simple representation of a thing."

Brooke Hodge shops Tuesday Morning: Brooke Hodge's advice to choose “Clean, simple lines made from materials that look more expensive than they really are,” goes a long way in bringing home the cream of the crop from off-price outlet Tuesday Morning.

Shopping at Cost Plus World Market with Kelly Wearstler: Kelly's rule for high end style at a low end price? “Go for the simple and understated. Bright colors and wild patterns can tend to look on the cheap side.”

Holiday Gifts inspired by the garden: A roundup of gifts for the gardener that are a far cry from the usual including a salad bowl that you grow and eat, a garden of colourful water concious blooms and gilded leaves.

Judaica pieces for the modern home: Menorahs and other items some of which can be used year round.

Lofty transformation for the Masonic Temple: The Masonic Temple in downtown Long Beach has been transformed into livable lofts through adaptive reuse, which preserves the facade and other historical elements. Residents carve out unique living quarters while maintaining the integrity of the building.

[image: Al Seib for LAT; Al Seib for LAT; Al Seib for LAT; Gourmet Mushroom Pro; Glenn Koenig for LAT; Stefano Paltera for LAT ]