Step Inside America’s Best Independent Design Shops
Independent design shops are hubs for creative communities. Here, we celebrate some of our favorites across the United States.
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Northeast
Betsu | Philadelphia, PA
At this former carpet mill in the Kensington neighborhood, owner Laura Weiszer curates a lively mix of vintage and contemporary furnishings.
Bi-Rite Studio | Brooklyn, NY
Self-taught collector Cat Snodgrass sources playful postmodern furniture, art, lighting, and decor for this funky Brooklyn design shop.
Good Neighbor | Baltimore, MD
In May 2020, Shawn Chopra (left) and Anne Morgan opened Good Neighbor, a design shop-cum-cafe in Baltimore’s lively Hampden neighborhood.
Photo by Michael A. McCoy
Lichen | Brooklyn, NY
Lichen cofounders Jared Blake (left) and Ed Be stock their Brooklyn storefront with vintage and contemporary designs.
Photo by Brian W. Ferry
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Nalata Nalata | New York, NY
This minimalist, gallery-style storefront in Manhattan’s East Village specializes in handcrafted home goods sourced primarily from Japan.
Pieces Home | Kennebunk, ME
This shoppable B&B is styled with colorful and geometric rugs, tables, and lounges from the brand’s namesake line, as well as iconic furnishings from major names like Artek and Vitra.
Yowie | Philadelphia, PA
Shannon Maldonado launched Yowie online in 2016 and opened the Queen Village storefront one year later.
Photo by Angela Hau
Midwest
Forage | Minneapolis, MN
This boutique focuses on practical but playful furniture, decor, kitchenware, and other accessories made in the Midwest.
Hugh | Detroit, MI
Hugh’s selection of new and vintage furniture, lighting, barware, decor, and accessories puts a midcentury spin on bachelor-pad style.
Nora | Detroit, MI
This celebrated design shop focuses on Japanese- and Scandinavian-inspired wares.
Humboldt House | Chicago, IL
Founder Claire Tibbs stocks this "Chicago-made goods community shop" with furniture, ceramics, jewelry, and other items by local designers.
Sojourn | New Buffalo, MI
Designer Stacia Garriott Kass thoughtfully curates a treasure trove of ceramics, textiles, furniture, art, housewares, and independent magazines.
Stranger & Co. | Edina, MN
Stranger & Co. founder Maura Doyle purposely scouts brands helmed by women and people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ people—ideally ones that can’t be bought elsewhere in the Twin Cities.
Photo: Cameron Wittig
Southeast
Glottman | Miami, FL
This impressive Wynwood Art District venue is something between a design shop, international showroom, and studio for the company’s in-house interior designers and architects.
Merchant House | New Orleans, LA
This antiques shop sources midcentury and postmodern furnishings, as well as vintage art and clothing.
Relic Home | Nashville, TN
Owner Alyssa Spyridon sources hand-knotted antique rugs from around the world for her boutique. She learned the ropes working at her mother’s imported furniture shop during her childhood.
Wilder | Nashville, TN
This Nashville showroom features a constantly rotating selection of works from leading and emerging contemporary designers in categories ranging from furniture and lighting to apparel.
Trig Modern | Raleigh, NC
Classic midcentury furniture sits next to modern lighting fixtures, textiles, and other home items at this shop owned by Raleigh native Bob Drake.
West
Fruitsuper | Seattle, WA
Part design shop, part wine tasting room, and part event venue, this Pioneer Square boutique brings together new products from independent U.S. designers—including Fruitsuper’s in-house studio.
March | San Francisco, CA
Founded by Sam Hamilton in 2003, this longstanding storefront offers a curated and collaborative collection of items for the home, pantry, and table.
Mōno | Honolulu, HI
Mōno, which means "objects" or "things" in Japanese, sells housewares, office products, and personal accessories with a keen eye for design.
Spartan Shop | Portland, OR
Currie Person established Spartan Shop’s Portland outpost in 2016 after launching the brick and mortar in Texas in 2008.
Photo by Arthur Hitchcock
Sunny’s | Tacoma, WA
The tabletops at this cozy corner shop owned by a husband-and-wife duo display ceramics and other small home goods from over 20 independent artists and makers.
Vertigo Home | Laguna Beach, CA
Owners Chris Oswalt and Martin Ulrich shape a unique selection of furniture, lighting, wallpaper, and decor by combining Chris’s passion for bright textiles with Martin’s minimalist Danish sensibilities.
Woodland Mod | Seattle, WA
This outlet offers a collection of pared-back home furnishings and decor inspired by the clean lines and neutral palette of Nordic design.
Southwest
Aloe | Albuquerque, NM
This New Mexico design shop sells handpicked midcentury furniture and curated goods through its dedicated Instagram account.
For the People | Phoenix, AZ
With two Arizona locations, including the flagship store in Uptown Phoenix, For the People offers midcentury modern–inspired pieces. The shop is also the exclusive Arizona retailer of major brands like Blu Dot.
Local Nomad | Phoenix, AZ
The focus at this store is handcrafted goods from independent designers and makers. Think wood-arch cutting boards, colorful throw blankets, and marbled latte mugs.
Wrong | Marfa, TX
Local artists Buck Johnston and Camp Bosworth run this eccentric design shop–meets–art gallery in the artsy mecca of Marfa.
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