Northwest Home's 2008 Top Shops

MODERN
AREA 51’s (401 E Pine St., Seattle; 206.568.4782) showroom, including the recently added sale section, always offers a great sight-seeing trip, whether stopping to admire a funky driftwood table ($395–$795) or eye-catching bed, instead of your ho-hum headboard, the Edo Bed ($995, queen), made of sustainable mahogany, features two Eames-reminiscent chair tops. Ready to part with a good vintage piece? Check out their in-store buying service.
 

A go-to shop for just about anything mod, DESIGN WITHIN REACH (1918 First Ave., Seattle; 206.443.9900; 126 Central Way, Kirkland; 425.828.0280) stocks indoor/outdoor products, iconic modern designs from masterminds such as Isamu Noguchi and Philippe Starck. If you can’t find what you want in-store, virtual shopping is a snap.
 

Large, sweeping, dare we say, diva-esque, pieces often dominate the innovative Italian showroom, DIVA/B&B ITALIA (1300 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.287.9992). Check out their cool new storage systems.
 

At INFORM INTERIORS (1220 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.622.1608) elegant modern furnishings for bed, bath and kitchen mesh perfectly with out-of-the-ordinary chandeliers by Ingo Maurer and timeless pieces from Danish designers such as Arne Jacobsen and Hans Wegner.
 

From small home furnishings to even smaller home details, KASALA (1505 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.623.7795; 1014 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue; 425.453.2823) stocks a dependably cool mix of couches, tables, lights, pillows and fun kitchenware that make great gifts. Don’t miss all of the same great goods, on sale or slightly dinged, at their warehouse (1946 Occidental Ave. S, Seattle; 206.340.4112).

LIGNE ROSET’s (55 University St., Seattle; 206.341.9990) repertoire of classically cool French design is unbeatable. New this year is the bold Pumpkin line ($1,010–$4,150), part of the re-decoration of the Elysée Palace for Georges Pompidou, which will add zip to any abode.
 

To fully envision the chic setups possible in your own abode, lounge around in LIMN’s (629 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.696.7077) room settings. Head to the other side of the store for streamlined kitchen options and a lighting collection.
 

For fun-filled modern and retro furnishings, drop in at RETROFIT HOME (1419 12th Ave., Seattle; 206.568.4663). On top of Blu Dot beds and cabinets, you’ll find smaller accents, such as bright, graphic patterned Company C rugs guaranteed to make any room pop.
 

John and Lara Tusher’s talent for showcasing mod furnishings is in fine form at their new South Lake Union location for VELOCITY ART AND DESIGN (251 Yale Ave. N, Seattle; 206.749.9575). Inside the year-old airy space, artfully accented by luminous pendant paper lamps, you’ll find Roost hand-carved acacia eyelet stools ($310), low-seated armless G. Romano Ted Sofas ($1,798), a cool collection of indoor-friendly garden gear, featuring self-watering GroBal mini plant pots ($15), brightly patterned Angela Adams rugs and hip Blik self-adhesive wall decals that can turn a room from tame to terrific in seconds, and much more. TIP: Only a small percentage of their original online store, accumulating goods since 1999, is stocked here. Handily, computers are at the ready for in-store online browsing. Alexis Chicoye

CONTEMPORARY
Husband-and-wife Evelyn Lee and Michael Hsu, owners of Belltown favorite ALCHEMY COLLECTIONS (2029 Second Ave., Seattle, 206.448.3309), opened a new 4,000-square-foot showroom in May. Visit CALLIGARIS SHOP BY ALCHEMY COLLECTIONS (1006 Western Ave., Seattle, 206.381.8305) to browse modern furnishings by Italian manufacturer Calligaris. TIP: Ask the staff about showroom floor models for sale, which can equal big savings.

BOCONCEPT (901 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.464.9999), Denmark’s most global retail furniture store, offers customized, coordinated and affordable furniture and accessories for every room of the home, including the rectangular minimalist Volani entertainment center made of black-stained oak, black glass and brushed steel.
 

Clean lines and splashes of color via 800 different upholstery fabrics define CAMELION DESIGN (5330 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle; 206.783.7125), where contemporary and antique furniture, bath and body products and pieces by local artists are all part of the mix.
 

CAPERS (4521 California Ave. SW, Seattle; 206.932.0371) mixes graceful furnishings with fun home accents and thoughtful gifts. Don’t miss the beautiful glass ornaments during the holiday season.
 

Visit CITY HOME STORE’s (517 E Pike St., Seattle; 206.324.4663) two-story showroom to pick up space-efficient, affordable, name-brand furniture perfect for city living. Most items fall into one of four pre-determined color palettes—natural, gray, green or ebony/ivory—so pulling together a polished look is a snap.
 

Quality European design at an affordable price keeps discerning shoppers coming back to DANIA (825 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.262.1001; 6416 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle; 206.524.9611; 12230 NE 116th St., Kirkland; 425.823.9160; and other locations). A clearance section in the back features slightly bruised and discontinued merchandise.
 

Over the past 70 years, KREISS (10400 NE Eighth St., Bellevue; 425.462.1502) has perfected the casual West Coast feel through bold, unexpected combinations of fabrics, textures, finishes and accessories. An example is the California Collection living room set, featuring natural materials, such as 100 percent cotton boucle.
 

Cornelia Velt, the German-born owner of LIAVE HOME (1205 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.364.0748), stocks her pretty new store with affordable treasures from around the world, such as hand-blown glass vases from Japan.
 

Named for its street address and co-owner (Liberty Hanson, with mother Mary), LIBERTY 123 (123 Park Lane, Kirkland; 425.822.1232) presents unique home décor items and gifts and finely crafted furniture, including by Oly Studio, in a charming loft-like space.

MITCHELL GOLD + BOB WILLIAMS’ (909 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.625.1070; 1106 W Burnside St., Portland, OR; 503.972.5000) leather sofas are sublime, but it’s the hiply traditional Odette sofette, with more than 300 fabrics to choose from, that tops our wish-list this holiday season.
 

Visit ROCHE BOBOIS (1015 Western Ave.; 206.332.9744) to give your home a hint of the exotic with furnishings inspired by far-flung cultures. The Paris-based store works with talented European designers and architects to create three collections of exquisite contemporary furniture: Les Contemporains, Les Voyages and Les Provinciales.

SCHOENFELD INTERIORS’ (11555 Northup Way, Bellevue; 425.285.0570; 115 S Jackson St., Seattle; 206.518.5944) two showrooms—the Seattle location opened in June—feature the wares of more than 60 international vendors, including handcrafted bench-made furnishings by Burton James. The stores’ experienced design staffs will assist in customizing the size, finish or fabric of many pieces.

SEVA HOME (900 Lenora St., Suite 116, Seattle; 206.323.9920) in South Lake Union, and its sister store in Los Angeles, represents more than 150 lines from all over the world, so there’s something for every style and budget. It’s a great place to find smaller-scale furniture for urban homes. Jennifer Schaefer

VINTAGE/RETRO

CHARTREUSE (2609 First Ave., Seattle; 206.328.4844) offers an extensive retro repertoire. Round armless chairs from Artifort and plastic dining chairs fill the shop, along with tons of stainless steel kitchen options from Alessi.

COLLECTIVE (5339 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle; 206.782.1900) has a brand new, smaller locale and a large focus on sustainable wares for bed, bath and body, as well as their solid collection of vintage modern furniture. For even more great goods, check out Collective’s Ballard warehouse (1401 NW 50th St., Building A; 206.706.0520), typically only open Saturdays.
 

The character-filled shop DELUXE JUNK (3518 Fremont Place N, Seattle; 206.634.2733) is the ideal place to find that one much-sought-after vintage purchase, whether it be a room divider, art deco furnishing or one of their well-known dinettes.

GREAT JONES HOME (1921 Second Ave., Seattle; 206.448.9405) mixes a posh Hollywood regency storefront with an interior design service for help with the massive selection of lush, tufted couches, which can be custom covered. The most comfy seat in the store: a vintage olive green silk velvet Barclay Butera Somerset sofa ($5,998 base price).
 

The hum of a 300-pound rotating lighthouse light ($3,200) greets you as you enter GREAT STUFF VINTAGE FURNISHINGS (5517 Airport Way S., Seattle; 206.931.6208), which is full of fun pieces, such as American carnival folk art, from the 1900s to the 1960s. Owner Kirk Albert has a knack for creating original works out of found objects, such as a lamp made of a deconstructed wasp’s nest ($1,800). We also found a trendy set of low-seated black-and-white houndstooth sofas ($2,800 each), and, for true collectors, an original Lewis and Clark Centennial Celebration Architectural Pillar ($9,500).
 

The eclectic fare at KOAP HOME (116 Central Way, Kirkland; 425.822.2003) ranges from colorful ‘50s-era Flensted mobiles ($47.50–$659) to vintage chairs and tables. Try spotting local designers in the mix, like graceful furnishings from City Collection.
 

The glam MAISON LUXE (1123 First Ave., Seattle; 206.405.2828) is replete with new and restored vintage furnishings, including accent rugs by Kelly Wearstler, and luxe lighting, such as the Lunar Brass Floor Lamp ($600) capped with a sexy scarlet silk shade.
 

Leah Steen’s new Georgetown store, REVIVAL HOME & GARDEN (5515 Airport Way S, Seattle; 206.763.3886), opened in March, has quickly become a must-haunt shop. A former decorator, Steen has stocked her bright space with a vibrant mix of Hollywood Regency-style furniture by designers such as MetroSofa and House Eclectic, smartly refurbished vintage goods and quirky pieces, such as a mirror made from an old foundry mold, and a slew of stylish accessories, from great glass wares to Bon Chic soy candles by Seda France ($25). The inventory is ever changing, so drop in often.
 

Inventory is always changing at the little underground locale, SPACE ODDITY (5318 22nd Ave. NW, Seattle; 206.322.6704). Mid-Century Modern finds are hand-picked and restored by the owner, Todd Werny, who snatches up anything from unnamed vintage art to Eames chairs.
 

Sister stores VERITABLES OBJECT and VERITABLES DÉCOR (2816 E Madison St., Seattle; 206.726.8047; 2806 E Madison St., Seattle; 206.322.7782) stock new and found contemporary pieces, ranging from gorgeous glassware and chandeliers to decorative table lamps and vases. Check out the set of three Triangle Nesting Tables ($623) at Object. Alexis Chicoye