Houseware and Décor Finds in South Lake Union
Home to Amazon and a slew of great restaurants, SLU is also a hub of mod home furnishings.
By Seattle Mag August 15, 2012
This article originally appeared in the September 2012 issue of Seattle magazine.
Echoing the glitzy sleekness of the neighborhood itself is SLU’s hub of mod home décor shops, ranging from the locally owned Inform Interiors (now located in a larger location at Dexter Avenue N and Thomas Street), with its wide array of funky chairs, stools and metal tables, to the much ballyhooed West Elm, beckoning with recycled glass jugs, graphic-print floor poufs and rectangular lacquer serving trays.
Last summer, Ligne Roset moved from Western Avenue into new Westlake digs, where bright splashes of teal, chartreuse and orange add punch to clean-lined furniture, while colorful lighting and rugs prevail throughout Seva Home.
Follow your nose to Maria Christofilis’ Anthousa boutique nearby, the headquarters for the local company’s crisp and clean bottled home fragrances ($40-$90) and candles ($16-$32).
Extra incentive
Modern parents love Melissa Maffei and Melissa Van Flandern’s Tottini, which sits across from REI on Yale Avenue. In addition to pint-size clothing and toys, the Melissas carry modern, streamlined baby bassinets ($80 and up), high chairs ($150 and up) and rockers ($650 and up) suited for adult sensibilities.
Parking
Thomas and Harrison streets still offer something approaching urban legend: 10-hour parking meters and no fees after 6 p.m. (Don’t you dare alert the mayor!) Snag these spots on the blocks just east of Westlake Avenue N.
Follow Us
Coasting Into Calm
After purchasing a weather-worn, ant-infested cabin on an Oregon beach, a Seattle couple hires a regional team to transform it into a stylish weekend retreat.
When architect Andrew Montgomery first pulled up to his clients’ house in Arch Cape, Oregon, there were logs in the driveway, courtesy of the sizable swells that come with the coast’s king tides. At just 28 feet above sea level and as close as you can get to the water without being on the beach,…
Blueprints for Building Community
After tragedy struck a local restaurateur family, one of their daughters stepped in to complete the design for her brother’s unfinished home.
Although he was just 35 when a heart attack took his life, Khoa Pham’s imprint on Seattle’s international district was such that the city quickly designated April 21 as a memorial day in his honor. With his rescue pitbull, Pinky, by his side, Pham cut a colorful figure through Little Saigon and became well known…
Tuft Stuff
Tuft Ruft turns fiber art into a social, hands-on experience in Pioneer Square.
It all started with a bout of pandemic boredom. Like many, when COVID-19 hit, recent graduate Carrie Xiao found herself stuck at home, with extra time on her hands. One day, while scrolling social media, she discovered tufting: a textile manufacturing technique that creates a garment or rug with a “pile,” or raised surface. After…
Collaborating Cultures
Looking to build a home to welcome family and friends, one Kirkland couple turns to a sister to design a modern house with influences from the wife’s Thai heritage.
For many years, when homeowners planned to build or remodel, architects and designers advised them to think first and foremost about resale value. From the number of bedrooms to the materials, appliances, and finishes in the kitchens and bathrooms, homes were often treated solely as an investment, with an eye to future sales. In recent…