Are you looking for bathroom ideas (showrooms with built-in bathrooms) or just to touch and feel the fixtures? For fixtures, I recommend AF Supply - VERY snotty but they have good mid-to-high-end range products on display. They have a "live" shower where they turn the showers on to give you a feel of the pressure. If you like specific brands you could visit their showrooms - Duravit, Toto, etc. Gracious Home and Kraft Hardware also have fixtures. I don't recall seeing any showrooms in the city with built bathrooms. I went to Walker Zanger in Perth Amboy, NJ, and Porcelanosa in Long Island and in Paramus, NJ. Walker Zanger in NY is smaller, and I have not been to the NY location of Porcelanosa. I would expect these places to be smaller anyway. I also visited Central Plumbing (I think its in Soho). I liked Duravit and AF Supply the best. I have heard of NYKB building - I haven't been there, but maybe they have some plumbing places in the building. They are open to trade only. It depends on what you are looking for - tiles, built bathrooms for ideas, or plumbing fixtures.

Europe is not really as compartmentalized as the U.S. in terms of home improvement. There is not really a remodeling porn industry, shops tend to be spread out, and the Home Depot concept doesn't really abound. There are a few Mega Home centers or home hypermarts ,but they tend to be in the suburbs. In town , to see a lot of gear in one place your best bet is the dept. stores. I like BHV on the north corner of the Hotel de Ville. Interesting hardware store in the basement. Samaritaine has a pretty good appliance section and a good spot for a reasonable lunch on the roof (weather permitting) Bon Marche is giagantic. Les Halles was the old cooking neighborhood and still retains a bit of it's old self. For basic itemd and tools especially copper - DEHILLERIN is considered mecca. A.SIMON is also in teh hood and a bit more glam. Can't point you to any appliance hypermart - sorry. You'd better read up on importing stuff back to the U.S. because most stores will only sell you the stuff and deliver it to a freight forwarder. That $900 induction top could easily cost you $2500 by the time it reaches your door in Seattle if you don't know what you are doing. You'll of course have the usual warranty and service hassels should you need them. Also bear in mind that the elect. frequency is different in Europe, so be sure and induction top can support our cycle rate.

last track of this thread, but wanted to follow up. trailrunner, we didn't end up making it to thalia's. we went over for lunch on one of the days and it turns out to be almost directly across the street (on 50th) from Toloache which we think has the best Mexican food we've ever had. We were there last summer shortly after they opened (read about it in Elle Decor) and loved it. The draw was too strong for DH who adores Mexican.. unfortunately where we are you don't find a lot of good Mexican. Next time, will have to try Thalia's... I also love that they have a take out kitchen - growlery, we will definitely be going back to S. House. I guess their cafe is run by Aquavit which I think is known for the best Scandinavian food in NYC (although what do I know I'm from Boston). Can I just tell you that I had the most delectable dish of food ever while in the city? It was at the bar room at the Modern (at MOMA). Wild Mushroom soup with Chorizo Wontons - such an unusual combination of flavors and so tasty... I am still dreaming of it. We also LOVED Nobu (went for our first time). The sashimi salad and the shrimp tempura were TDF. Was served less than fully cooked chicken one night when DH and I ate at the bar at Jean George. DH insisted that JG would never make a mistake and that he obviously intended the red juices flowing from the chicken... I disagreed and asked for it to be cooked a little more. I know there is a trend in the food world to serve things rare, but I have to draw the line at chicken. thanks again.

Would you travel to Long Island? We got all of our lighting at N&S Electric, in Huntington. Good selection, excellent staff. A pleasure to work with.