Northwest Home's 2008 Top Shops

CLASSIC
ARTE FORMA DESIGNS’ (14210 NE 20th St., Bellevue; 425.644.2030) Eastside showroom features Old World-style furniture, by manufacturers including Southern Furniture, Kincaid and J. Marshall, plus elegant lighting and unique accessories.
 

Established in 1927, MASINS HOME FURNISHINGS AND INTERIOR DESIGN (220 Second Ave. S, Seattle; 206.622.5606; 10708 Main St., Bellevue; 425.450.9999) offers fine furnishings from more than 25 high-end lines, in a wide variety of custom finishes and fabrics. Both stores house showrooms by REGENTS HOUSE LTD. (206.683.0444), headed by John Stevens, creator of Masins’ Antique Acquisitions Department. Stevens stocks an impressive collection of antiques, fine art and fine imported luxury goods by Crown Porcelain, Coopers of England and others. Regents House also offers customized buying through major international auction houses and complete design services specializing in traditional and historic interiors. TIP: Visit Masins’ Website for information about sales at the Masins warehouse at 3701 S Norfolk St., Seattle.
 

Family-owned MILLER-POLLARD (University Village, Seattle; 206.527.8478) has been helping Seattleites beautify their homes for more than 50 years. Visit for the lovely classic furnishings, eclectic home accessories and complimentary interior-design consultations with purchase.
 

Indulge yourself at O AND COMPANY (by appointment only, 140 Central Way, Kirkland; 425.803.9006), where European antiques come together with luxury linens, fine crystal and luscious bath products. Looking for a gift for him? The store has an impressive selection, including a handsome crystal decanter, a hand-forged pewter bottle opener and an Italian-made humidor by Francesco Lionetti.
 

The possibilities for creative gifts are endless at TABLEAU (2220 NW Market St., Seattle; 206.782.5846), whether you’re shopping for yourself or for someone else. Red Egg and Silver Plume furniture, Vilac French wooden toys and folk art by Debbie Thibault are just a few of the stylish offerings.
 

At THREE FRENCH HENS (23330 Maple Valley Highway, Maple Valley; 425.413.4367), owner Sue Roberts and designer Anne Steward showcase European-style furnishings—such as antique chandeliers, colorful Italian pottery and traditional sofa sets—in a oft-revamped, whimsical setting meant to inspire customers to “taste with their eyes.” Jennifer Schaefer

ETHNIC/INTERNATIONAL
ASIAN STYLE’s (915 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.628.3099) exotic inventory blends Korean and Japanese furniture pieces fashioned from dark red Oriental Elm with Buddha statuary, celadon bowls and vases and coolly modern handcrafted lighting by Galbraith & Paul.
 

AZTLAN HOME DECOR (1427 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.621.8989), Aztec for “paradise,” offers two floors of handmade arts-and-crafts pieces from Mexico, including traditionally decorated armoires, occasional tables and shoji screens.
 

A popular locale for Guatemalan textiles, Portuguese terra cotta kitchenware and folk art accents, such as hanging pendants and metal Mexican running horse whirligigs ($75–$100) for your garden, BITTERS CO. (513 N 36th St., Seattle; 206.632.0886) now has a nearby site where they make small home furnishings, including side tables and chairs, from reclaimed woods.
 

At DAVID SMITH AND CO (1107 Harrison St., Seattle; 206.223.1598), you’ll find wonderfully diverse Javanese pieces, ranging from terrific tables to exotic gazebos, made of teak, rosewood, elm and tamarind, as well as in-shape antiques and hand-made decorative pots and statuary.

HOMESITE (4818 14th Ave. NW, Seattle; 206.957.9550) carries stately indoor and outdoor furniture from Palu Ltd., classically designed mahogany desks, armoires and beds that are functional and timeless. Check out local rotating artists for one-of-a-kind pieces.
 

Sister shops KOBO (814 E Roy, Seattle; 206.726.0704) and KOBO AT HIGO (604 S Jackson St., Seattle; 206.381.3000) showcase contemporary artisan pieces, ranging from vases and furniture to eye-catching plates and mugs made by local potter Sam Scott and traditional Japanese tableware by Akiko, whose quaint pottery is featured at chef Tom Douglas’ restaurant, the Dahlia Lounge.
 

Less is more at SIMPLICITY DECOR (126 Park Lane, Kirkland; 425.803.0386), where owner “A” Liengboonlertchai’s favors minimalist pieces, particularly from Thai designers. We love the new chunky line of oak and ash Hida furniture and soft silky Shiraz pillows and cushions ($30–$60) from China and Indonesia.
 

Inside its warehouse-size SODO showroom, MOE’S HOME COLLECTION (1926 Sixth Ave. S, Seattle; 206.405.4411; 253.838.4800) displays an eclectic mix of restored and reworked Asian antiques, for example, antique cabinets topped with rich zinc tops, with high-end contemporary pieces, such as posh leather furniture and decorative pillows, trays, bowls and candles. A second Washington state locale is set to open soon in Federal Way.
 

About twice annually, YEAR OF THE MONKEY (2915 First Ave. S, Seattle; 206.382.1575) re-stocks its large showroom with finds fresh from Beijing. You’ll find beautifully ornate painted cabinets mixing with stone grinding wheels, hefty stone patio tables and traditional Quanyl and Yokeback bamboo chairs. Alexis Chicoye

HANDCRAFTED
You pick the size and style, and COUCH (3519 Fremont Pl. N; 206.633.6108), using only water-based adhesives and FSC certified wood, will create your dream settee.
 

The MCKINNON FURNITURE (1201 Western Ave., Seattle; 206.622.6474) craftsmen hand-build and hand-sand each cherry-trimmed glass Savannah dining hutch ($2,699 and up) and walnut Pacific rocking chair ($1,099 and up), personalizing edge treatment, foot styles or door pulls to customers’ specifications.

NORTHWEST FINE WOODWORKING (101 S Jackson St., Seattle; 206.625.0542) coop features a rotating display of handcrafted, hand-chiseled works by the Northwest’s finest woodworkers.
 

After 25 years of designing Craftsman furniture, THE JOINERY (4804 SE Woodstock Blvd., Portland, OR; 800.259.6762) has added a contemporary edge to its repertoire with the Modern Series, shaping FSC-certified hardwoods into sleekly designed coffee tables ($975) and reclaimed solid Douglas fir stump end tables ($770). Kate Calamusa

GREEN
Make our landfills lighter by shopping at EARTHWISE ARCHITECTURAL SALVAGE (3447 Fourth Ave. S, Suite E, Seattle; 206.624.4510), which offers building materials and architectural features salvaged from area homes and buildings, including maple flooring rescued from a gymnasium for $5.50 per square foot.
 

Since 1992, ECOHAUS (4121 First Ave. S, Seattle, 206.682.7332; 13131 NE 20th St., Bellevue; 425.952.4567; 819 SE Taylor St., Portland, OR; 503.222.388) has been making Seattle a healthier place with a range of environmentally friendly home products. (The store was known as Environmental Home Center until a 2006 merger with Oregon’s Environmental Building Supplies.) Many of these products are from local manufacturers—for example, natural-looking composite countertops made in Woodinville by Squak Mountain Stone—upping their green quotient by requiring minimal shipping. The new Bellevue location, opened in August, offers ample product samples that customers are invited to spread out and compare and a “paint bar” where they can test out Mythic Paint, a zero-VOC, ultra-low-odor paint in designer shades ($227.99 for five gallons of semi-gloss), and other brands.

GREENER LIFESTYLES’ (5317 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle; 206.545.4405) contemporary pieces, such as upholstered furniture made from sustainable materials, from recycled polyester to hemp, shows that you don’t have to sacrifice the environment to have a beautiful home.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME IMPROVEMENT OUTLET (21 S Nevada St., Seattle; 206.957.6914) is a store with a conscious: It sells brand-new building materials—many of which are leftovers from contractors—at a savings of 40 to 60 percent, in order to support construction of low-income homes in Seattle and South King County.

ONE EARTH ONE DESIGN (14300 Greenwood Ave. N, Suite A, Seattle; 206.418.8120) makes green shopping easy by showcasing products in staged rooms, from a kitchen to a working bathroom.
 

Nonprofit RE STORE (1440 NW 52nd St., Seattle; 206.297.9119; 2309 Meridian St., Bellingham; 360.647.5921) carries quality salvaged building and home-improvement materials for up to 50 percent less than you’d pay for brand-new materials. The store also offers pickup, salvage and whole-building deconstruction services.

THE SALVAGE STUDIO (650 Edmonds Way, Edmonds; 425.330.5425) specializes in creative home, garden and gift items made from recycled and reused remnants. Check out the Studio’s frequent craft workshops on topics such as making teaball-strainer ornaments or collage paperweights.
 

Looking for a hard-to-find item for an Arts and Crafts, American Mission Bungalow, Art Deco or Victorian restoration project? Visit the Web site of SEATTLE BUILDING SALVAGE (425.374.2550), a more than 30-year-old business that preserves the craftsmanship of the past via the Internet, after decades of retail sales. “Pre-1940 building materials were made to last,” says manager Victoria Thomle.

SECOND USE BUILDING MATERIALS (7953 Second Ave. S, Seattle; 206.763.6929) recovers up to 100 tons of usable building supplies every month, ranging from lumber to plumbing fixtures, to window and doors to an old pull-down school map ($45). The store has a boutique area where you can find vintage lights, fixtures, hardware, stained glass and other furnishings that reflect the architectural history of the Northwest.
 

Visit THE SEVEN MUSES (1127 Broadway Plaza, Suite 101, Tacoma; 253.572.9998) to browse artful objects—many made from recycled materials—from more than 100 artists. We love the large selection of cool clocks, made from teapots, brass figurines, candleholders, lamp parts and other interesting items.
 

Jim Newsom, founder of URBAN HARDWOODS (4755-C Colorado Ave. S, Seattle; 206.766.8199), uses nature as his muse when crafting high-end coffee tables, dining tables and other furnishings from salvaged trees. An example of his one-of-a-kind treasures is the curvy, almost flower-shaped Vashon Island coffee table, made of Western red cedar ($2,400). Jennifer Schaefer