!–paging_filter–pIn addition to a lovely a href=”http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/totokaelo-jill-wenger-on-s…” target=”_blank”blog post in T Magazine/a today extolling the virtues of Seattle, Jill Wenger has put some things on sale at Art and Object. We know what we’re doing this long weekend…/pp style=”text-align: center;”img src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/main__mg_4447.jpg” alt=”chair” height=”333″ width=”500″/pp style=”text-align: center;”The a href=”http://art-object.totokaelo.com/totokaelo/olmstead-chair/natural/IL45A1” target=”_blank”Olmstead Chair/a, which was part of our…

Once upon a time, a home item from Nordstrom basically meant a nice chunk of crystal from its gift store. Now, the Bellevue and Seattle locations (downtown, 500 Pine St., 206.628.2111; Bellevue Square, 100 Bellevue Square; 425.455.580) have a bona fide home collection, Nordstrom at Home, boasting everything from sweet Lamp-in-a-Box table lamps ($38) to…

!–paging_filter–pButter Home (Capitol Hill, 1531 Melrose Ave.; 206.623.2626;a href=”http://www.butterhomeseattle.com” target=”_blank” butterhomeseattle.com/a) might be small (at 300 square feet) and tucked away in the Melrose Market loft, but it’s mighty cool. Current crowd-pleasers: Sheepshead Design’s screen prints ($20–$60) on reclaimed wood by Philip Sachs, and pendant lamps with exposed filament bulbs ($45), popularized when Butter began…

Alchemy Collections (downtown, 2029 Second Ave.; 206.448.3309) has a diverse mix of mod furnishings, including the indoor/outdoor Alchemia dining chair ($319 and up), which comes in some knockout neon shades. From David Trubridge’s groovy geometric sphere pendants (starting at $340) to the minimalistic magnetic organizing elements by Seattle’s Three By Three Click! Design That Fits…

If your taste runs toward the high end, but your budget doesn’t, consignment shopping for home furnishings is where it’s at. Not only can you find deals galore at these shops, but you can sell your own gently used furniture to offset the price of your new-to-you pieces. Consignment stores tend to offer a varied…

If you’re looking to furnish your home with eccentric and unusual conversation pieces, add these stores to your shopping list. Find taxidermy, medical antiques and fraternal order ephemera at The Belfry (309A Third Ave. S; 206.682.2951) in Pioneer Square. Owners Christian and Jessica Harding have a keen eye for the eerie, spooky and downright unearthly….

!–paging_filter–pAs well as a comely collection of contemporary modern pieces—from Blu Dot to Kartell—Chartreuse Modern (Belltown, 2609 First Ave.; 877.328.4844; a href=”http://www.chartreusemodern.com” target=”_blank”chartreusemodern.com/a) shows an eclectic field of midcentury pieces, from accessories, such as a sky-blue Holmegaard vase carafe ($159), to chairs, such as an Eero Saarinen–designed side chair ($325), still bearing its Knoll production…

Left to right: Hand-stitched floral pillow ($650) from Susan Wheeler Home, local artist Nancy Klapmeier’s custom horse silhouette pillow made of felted wool and vintage suit scraps ($65) from  Ludlow Home; Ryan Studio Neo Stripe Lagoon pillow ($225) from Veritables; Great Findz vintage pennant pillow ($78) from Haystack Home in Kirkland; and an antique suzani pillow ($225) from…

Aside from tempting tabletop fodder and furniture, Camelion Design (Ballard, 5330 Ballard Ave. NW; 206.783.7125) has a fabulous fabric line ($150 per yard), with a swatch count of 1,000 to choose from to give your couch or chair a classy new cover, or to create that just-right accent pillow. (FYI, Camelion recommends Eidem’s Upholstery, just…

Dig Nursery (Vashon Island, 19028 Vashon Hwy. SW; 206.463.5096) is a full-fledged, flora-rich nursery full of garden goodies, from plants and seeds to colorful pots and crow statuary. Exotic flora is the focus of The Palm Room (Ballard, 5336 Ballard Ave. NW; 206.782.7256), where you can buy one of its sexy succulents or tropicals, or…

Masins (Bellevue, 10708 Main St.; 425.450.9999) has been decorating homes in the Pacific Northwest since 1927. Today, this decidedly up-market and sophisticated store is filled with designs from Stickley to Kravet, and a staff of accredited interior designers to guide you through the process. Current crush: a dining table with a stained cobalt blue top…

NuBe Green (Capitol Hill, 1527 10th Ave.; 206.402.4515) really makes green beautiful—from vintage blanket-covered club chairs and salvaged wood furniture to handmade Pebble vases ($14–$26) from Seattle’s Material Good, which benefit good causes. It even has a rental service, complete with charming reclaimed place settings, vintage bud vases and candelabras, to make your next shindig…

!–paging_filter–pI recently unearthed a print of a French cartoon that my husband bought on a Paris street years ago. nbsp;It was sitting in a tube in my old pantry. Some combination of inconvenience, expense and inertia kept me from framing these pieces. I’ve since learned I am not alone—maybe as many as 41 percent of…