Procrastination and supply chain issues got you down? Don’t even know where to begin your Christmas shopping?
Don’t fret! Below is a list of five of my favorite homeware and sundry boutiques in Seattle to shop in person and immediately buy the perfect gift. No shipping required!
1.) Watson Kennedy Fine Home
1022 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Watson Kennedy has been a must-shop destination in Seattle for over 20 years, and it’s easy to see why! They carry a wide variety of house- and gift-wares displayed in the most delightful ways. Every trip leads to a new discovery.
Plus, they carry Diptyque candles which make wonderful gifts. The French scented candles have excellent throw and burn well.
2.) Modele’s Home Furnishings
3220 W McGraw St., Seattle, WA 98199
Need an excuse to head over to downtown Magnolia? Well, go visit Modele’s!
This little consignment shop is a go-to resource for those “in the know” to get great curated and designer furniture and accessories at AH-MAZE-ING prices! But be quick, as inventory moves fast!
They also carry a small selection of retail accessories lines like Kiss That Frog, which makes super cute glass creamer jugs and sugar pots.
3.) Northwest Art & Frame
4733 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
No trip to the West Seattle Junction is complete without a stop at Northwest Art and Frame.
Not only do they provide top-notch framing services, but they also sell art supplies and a broad assortment of stylish gifts and cards for any occasion.
Northwest Art and Frame also carries JellyCat plush toys, which apparently have quite a following. For my cat, I bought this adorable JellyCat plush mussel, which is small enough to fit into a tiny stocking!
4.) Eighth Generation
93 Pike St #103, Seattle, WA 98101
Seattle is one of the few (if not the only) major American cities where indigenous cultures still have strong influence. The city got its name from the Suquamish and Duwamish chief Si’ahl (siʔaɫ), after all!
To celebrate and center this rich heritage and promote local and regional indigenous artists, Nooksack member Louie Gong founded the Snoqualmie-Tribe-Owned, Seattle-based art and lifestyle brand “Eighth Generation.” It is the first Native-owned company to produce wool blankets featuring indigenous motifs (as opposed to other, non-indigenous-owned companies who produce only “native-inspired” blankets).
I have always appreciated that Seattle has a strong identity and a sense of place rooted in its pre-settler past. I try to incorporate genuine indigenous elements into my Seattle interior design schemes whenever possible!
A perfect way to do so is with an Eighth Generation piece, like the Coast Salish blanket below. Not only will it provide warmth during the long, dark Seattle winters, but it will also bring a graphic punch to your interiors.
5.) The Handmade Showroom
600 Pine St #330, Seattle, WA 98101
A shopping mall is not what typically comes to mind when one thinks of “local” and “artisan.” Yet the Pacific Place mall in downtown Seattle has recalibrated its retail leases of late to allow a number of local, small businesses to occupy space and operate within what might have previously been described as a “dying mall.”
Among these businesses is The Handmade Showroom, which has been at Pacific Place for a number of years and offers a quirky array of products all made by local artisans. It’s a fun place to shop and be introduced to the work of local artists and companies.
I have discovered a lot of great Seattle artists and artisans over the years (whom I still follow and support) just by shopping here. In fact, it was here that I purchased gifts for my wedding party way back in 2016!
I highly encourage you to shop this great little boutique so they can continue to promote artists like Sarah Bak, who made the beautiful little Hydrangea-inspired planter below.
I hope you are inspired to visit your local Seattle shops to discover the unique and amazing things that are available to buy for those last-minute Christmas gifts. After all, don’t your friends and family members deserve something special that was made with heart?
Merry Christmas!
—Charles
