Mad About Plaid Furnishings -

You don't have to be of Celtic ancestry to appreciate the versatility of plaid. It's a classic pattern that plays well with prints if you don't want to go totally traditional. A little plaid above a chair rail keeps the pattern from overpowering this room. Pair plaids with complementary colors or be daring and just work in what you like. Thibaut's Oakley Plaid wallpaper is $78 for two 4 1/2-yard rolls of 27-inch paper. Find retailers at thibautdesign.com or (800) 223-0704In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we found a few fun pieces -- some Tartan-inspired, others less traditional.Love lines Get them straight in the London chair's pattern and proportions. $599 at Crate & Barrel stores,crateandbarrel.com or (800) 967-6696. Key West Plaid coolers from Target. These cheerfully colored acrylics tumblers are perfect for filling with the beverages of spring and summer. $14.99 for set of four at target.com or (800) 591-3869. In Ralph Lauren's Glen Plaid barware you'll get a plaid to match any decor. $80 for four tall highball glasses or four old-fashioned glasses at macys.com or (800) 289-6229.Meet the Girls is Kichler's line of frilly, feminine lamps. This number, Bonnie, sports a plaid shade on a nickel-finish base with glass accents. $90 at kichler.com or (866) 558-5706. A vision of tulips. Plaid-matted prints in 20- by 23-inch white-washed wood frames. $99.99 for pair at sears.com. The next best thing to wearing it: Casual cotton for dining by Grace Plaid. $6.99 for placemat, $3.99 for napkin at sears.com or (800) 349-4358 for in-store pickup. Plaid from Belgium. Wool-like Arawak rugs come in assorted sizes. Prices start at $79 for a 24- by 47-inch rug at homedecorators.com or (877) 537-8539. Your name in cloth For Celtic tribes, especially the Scottish, tartan is an identity fabric. Historically, specific plaids were woven to represent a particular clan. If you're Irish, you can bring home a bit of your heritage by using a tartan as a sofa throw or by having the fabric made into throw pillows, window valances or other accents. Look for a tartan associated with your family name by searching at houseoftartan.co.uk/irish. The Scottish company has 5,000 Irish surnames in its database (compared to 18,000 Scottish names) and links Celtic names with geographical or tribal origins to suggest a match among its fabrics. Contact Kimberly L. Jackson at (973) 392-7846 or e-mail her here.