Need an Apartment Makeover? These Are 6 of the Best Design Stores in the Country
May 9, 2019
Sure, IKEA is a city-dweller’s best friend. But when you’re looking for home decorating finds that won’t also be in five of your other friends’ apartments, it’s worth changing up your furniture-shopping routine.
To get you started, we’ve picked six of the best design stores around the country. Whether you’re planning on scooping up some statement pieces, hunting for vintage treasures, or just seeking IRL decorating inspiration, they’re aesthetic perfection. Pro-tip: You might want to opt for a Zipvan to haul away that Insta-worthy mid-century sofa.
1. ALCHEMY WORKS, LA: For all those times when you wished the beach was closer to your pad, it's worth hitting up Alchemy Works. This design store is all about that distinctly SoCal brand of cool, whether you visit its original location in Los Angeles's Arts District or head down to the nautical Harbor House at Lido Marina Village in nearby Newport Beach. Grab an artsy seaweed print for your wall, peep at whatever vintage car (or, on occasion, sail boat) is parked in the showroom, and feel good about supporting California's home-grown artists and creatives.
Image courtesy of Alchemy Works.
2. DETROIT ARTIFACTRY: We can't get enough of Detroit's Corktown neighborhood—especially now that the Detroit Artifactry's come to town. Operating out of a renovated 2,000-square-foot garage, the design store reps its Motor City identity hard. You're as likely to find Michigan-centric vintage treasures (think: retro maps, neon signs, and all manner of automobile-themed miscellany) as you are homewares made from upcycled, industrial materials. The diverse collection is courtesy of the shop's sharp-eyed owner, Gail Kaye, who's got a knack for sourcing memorable pieces.
Image courtesy of Detroit Artifactry.
3. JINXED, PHILADELPHIA: Concept and design stores have a reputation for being on the spendy (and sometimes exclusive) side. But our favorites are the ones that make stylish home decorating accessible to all. Like Jinxed. With five separate locations—and wares ranging from Victorian-era furniture and oriental rugs to old turntables and handmade ceramics—there's no shortage of browsing to be done. Psst: Don't forget to keep up with its prolific Instagram, where vintage pieces are also featured.
Image courtesy of Jinxed.
4. BEAM, BROOKLYN: For many, Brooklyn isn't just one of New York's boroughs: It's a byword for cutting-edge cool. If you want to lend a little of that Kings County je ne sais quoi to your apartment, then BEAM is your place. One of the best design stores around, thanks to its bright interior, yen for the colorful, and irreverent sense of humor, it's perfect for when you want to scoop up unconventional accent pieces. We're talking marble wall clocks, trompe l'oeil mirrors, and playful kokeshi dolls decorated to resemble Frida Kahlo.
Image courtesy of BEAM.
5. STUFF, SAN FRANCISCO: Seeking variety? San Francisco's Stuff boasts 17,000 square feet full of, well...stuff. Kooky, eclectic, and perfect for treasure-hunters who aren't afraid to dig, the emporium houses more than 60 individual businesses and sellers, and stocks everything from records and lava lamps to Eames chairs and modern arts and crafts. When we said eclectic, we meant it.
Image courtesy of Stuff.
6. GLASSWING, SEATTLE: Glasswing in Seattle doesn't just sell all kinds of covetable goods: It even teaches you how to make them. With its own dedicated workshop space, the shop hosts classes that range from terrarium construction to fabric dyeing. But even if you don't have time to go the homemade route, Glasswing's selection of furniture, clothes, plants, and other accessories makes it your one-stop-shop for Pacific Northwest chic.
Image courtesy of Glasswing.
1. ALCHEMY WORKS, LA: For all those times when you wished the beach was closer to your pad, it's worth hitting up Alchemy Works. This design store is all about that distinctly SoCal brand of cool, whether you visit its original location in Los Angeles's Arts District or head down to the nautical Harbor House at Lido Marina Village in nearby Newport Beach. Grab an artsy seaweed print for your wall, peep at whatever vintage car (or, on occasion, sail boat) is parked in the showroom, and feel good about supporting California's home-grown artists and creatives.
Image courtesy of Alchemy Works.
2. DETROIT ARTIFACTRY: We can't get enough of Detroit's Corktown neighborhood—especially now that the Detroit Artifactry's come to town. Operating out of a renovated 2,000-square-foot garage, the design store reps its Motor City identity hard. You're as likely to find Michigan-centric vintage treasures (think: retro maps, neon signs, and all manner of automobile-themed miscellany) as you are homewares made from upcycled, industrial materials. The diverse collection is courtesy of the shop's sharp-eyed owner, Gail Kaye, who's got a knack for sourcing memorable pieces.
Image courtesy of Detroit Artifactry.
3. JINXED, PHILADELPHIA: Concept and design stores have a reputation for being on the spendy (and sometimes exclusive) side. But our favorites are the ones that make stylish home decorating accessible to all. Like Jinxed. With five separate locations—and wares ranging from Victorian-era furniture and oriental rugs to old turntables and handmade ceramics—there's no shortage of browsing to be done. Psst: Don't forget to keep up with its prolific Instagram, where vintage pieces are also featured.
Image courtesy of Jinxed.
4. BEAM, BROOKLYN: For many, Brooklyn isn't just one of New York's boroughs: It's a byword for cutting-edge cool. If you want to lend a little of that Kings County je ne sais quoi to your apartment, then BEAM is your place. One of the best design stores around, thanks to its bright interior, yen for the colorful, and irreverent sense of humor, it's perfect for when you want to scoop up unconventional accent pieces. We're talking marble wall clocks, trompe l'oeil mirrors, and playful kokeshi dolls decorated to resemble Frida Kahlo.
Image courtesy of BEAM.
5. STUFF, SAN FRANCISCO: Seeking variety? San Francisco's Stuff boasts 17,000 square feet full of, well...stuff. Kooky, eclectic, and perfect for treasure-hunters who aren't afraid to dig, the emporium houses more than 60 individual businesses and sellers, and stocks everything from records and lava lamps to Eames chairs and modern arts and crafts. When we said eclectic, we meant it.
Image courtesy of Stuff.
6. GLASSWING, SEATTLE: Glasswing in Seattle doesn't just sell all kinds of covetable goods: It even teaches you how to make them. With its own dedicated workshop space, the shop hosts classes that range from terrarium construction to fabric dyeing. But even if you don't have time to go the homemade route, Glasswing's selection of furniture, clothes, plants, and other accessories makes it your one-stop-shop for Pacific Northwest chic.
Image courtesy of Glasswing.
