Our editorial team singled out the independent home décor retailers on the list below for their outstanding product assortments, merchandising creativity and all-around excellence. Read on to discover how they are masters at making consumers feel at home.
Naples, Fla.
“Refreshing. Extraordinary. Out of this world!” These are some of the adjectives customers use to express their delight with Alison Craig Home Furnishings. With its flagship location in Naples, Fla., this home furnishings retailer has been family-owned and operated since 2002, offering sought-after looks at everyday low prices. Alison Craig Home Furnishings carries all the top brand names in the home design industry — such as Hooker Furnishings, Gabby, Ambella Home, Howard Elliott and Made Goods, for starters — plus unique one-of-a-kind finds. The company’s online presence is designed to give potential customers an overview of its extensive selection. When visiting Allison Craig’s brick-and-mortar location, everything on the warehouse/showroom floor is available for immediate purchase. Store inventory changes daily, so customers are encouraged to visit often. Decorators are also on staff to assist clientele with curating the perfect look. A room planner on the retailer’s website helps customers get the process started before ordering. Alison Craig also has a robust online selection in addition to showroom inventory. — Diane Falvey
Tupelo, Miss.
Aqua + Oak Pool and Living traces its roots back to Green’s Pools & Spa, a longtime local pool company that began operating in the Tupelo area in the 1990s and built a reputation for residential pool construction and service. Over time, the business evolved and rebranded as Aqua + Oak, reflecting a shit from traditional pool installers to a more modern design-built firm. Today, the company positions itself as a higher-end provider that goes beyond pools and into a home and life retail concept that boasts a 7,000-square-foot showroom that includes home and garden décor, furniture and indoor furnishings. — Lauren Roses
Nantucket, Mass.
Birdie is a local boutique in Nantucket, Mass., inspired by founder and interior designer Nina Liddle. The name came about when Liddle shared her childhood nickname “Birdie” with some interior design colleagues. “Without missing a beat, a friend playfully suggested that would be the perfect name for a store,” Liddle said. The newly opened boutique reflects Liddle’s passion for design, travel and creating spaces that bring joy. Supported by a full-service interior design studio, the boutique is curated with an eye for beauty and quality. Liddle believes her store offers the perfect blend of furniture, accessories, clothing and gifts. It carries brands such as The Lacquer Company, Aronson Woodworks, Christopher Farr, Serena Dugan, Fermoie, Aesthetic Décor and Maison Venu. Highlights from this year’s new assortment include chic pillows and lampshades from Fermoie and Serena Dugan, along with new table linens by Maison Venu and Summerill & Bishop. Liddle said she can’t wait for the store’s second season after a banner opening year, where the store was nominated as a finalist for the Best Home Accents store in the East during the 36th Annual ARTS Awards held last January in Dallas. —Anne Flynn Wear
Easton, Md.
Founded by designer Jamie Merida, Bountiful Home in Easton, Md., is celebrating 25 years of helping customers create beautiful, comfortable spaces. The store features a thoughtfully curated collection of furniture, home accents, gifts and custom framing, “everything from $4 notecards to $10,000 sofas”, according to Merida, along with a full-service interior design studio. As the business has grown, the company has continued to expand to better serve its customers, including the recent purchase of a larger warehouse to support the growing inventory and operations. “For a quarter century, we’ve focused on quality, creativity and personalized service while also supporting local charities that strengthen our community,” Merida said. Bountiful Home remains a destination for inspiration, design and meaningful home décor. Earlier this year, Bountiful Home received the ARTS Award for Best Home Accents Store – East Region. “I think it’s always nice to be recognized by our peers in the industry,” Merida said. “It is actually the third time that we have won that award, which is a direct reflection of the quality of the team. There are 30 of us, including designers as well as carpet, tile and flooring professionals and experts in kitchens and baths. All these great people work hard every day and deserve this recognition.” Merida said his goal is to elevate the experience and offer unique shopping with great customer service, “That’s what we’ve done for a long time and we still enjoy it.” —AFW
Asheboro, N.C.
Burge Flower Shop is a long-standing, family-owned florist and home décor retailer with roots that date back to the early 1950s. It has continuously built a strong reputation in its community for providing high-quality floral arrangements, personalized services for a wide range of occasions, and home décor. Burge Flower Shop sets itself apart with overwhelming customer satisfaction and attention to detail. Today, the company continues to balance tradition with modern convenience, maintaining its small-town roots while offering online ordering and a wide range of floral and gift options. Its longevity and continued success highlight its role not just as a business, but as a meaningful part of Asheboro and the surrounding areas. —LR
Dallas, TX
Caitlin Wilson Dallas is a stylish home-goods boutique and flagship store for interior designer Caitlin Wilson, who is known for her colorful, pattern-rich aesthetic rooted in classic design with a modern twist. Wilson’s strong social media presence and engagement helped her brand gain national attention, leading to her first brick-and-mortar shop in San Francisco before she expanded to Dallas. The store carries rugs, pillows, wallpaper, lighting, furniture and accessories. Shoppers often mention thoughtful service and quality pieces, with some personalization services like monogramming available. The store appeals to those who love bold color, pattern and elevated style. Over time, the brand has introduced new lines, including children’s products and collaborations. Cailtin Wilson Dallas is shifting toward lifestyle experience and broader audience touchpoints in 2026 while maintaining its strong home-décor foundation. —LR
New Jersey, Florida
With a lighting retail journey that began more than 100 years ago (1924) in New Jersey, Capitol Lighting has seven retail locations — three in New Jersey, four in Southeast Florida and an online presence. This year, the lighting retail giant’s Boca Raton, Fla., location was named a finalist in the 2026 ARTS Awards in the Lighting Showroom/East category. This is the seventh time Capitol Lighting has been nominated for an ARTS Award in the past 22 years. Over its century-long tenure, this fourth-generation-owned lighting retailer has illuminated more than 1 million homes and businesses with its expansive world-class lighting selection. Capitol Lighting rounds out its extensive lighting assortment with decor items such as mirrors, artwork, bathroom vanities and hardware, and accent furniture to ensure it meets its customers’ needs. In the Boca Raton showroom, customers laud Capitol Lighting’s experienced and attentive sales staff, willingness to educate its customers, competitive pricing and broad selection. —DF
Asheboro, N.C.
Collective Interiors is a boutique interior design studio and home décor shop that reflets that growing trend of combining retail and personalized design services. Located in downtown Asheboro, the store positions itself as an elevated lifestyle and interiors destination, offering both curated products and full-service design expertise. The shop carries a mix of furniture, lighting, rugs, gifts and decorative accessories, blending vintage finds with modern pieces to create a layered, collected aesthetic. Owned and operated by Amy Barney, the store differentiates itself with its strong focus on interior design services, ranging from room style to full-home projects. The store itself grew from Barney’s personal interest in sourcing and styling unique pieces, which continues to shape the shop’s aesthetic today. —LR
Bellport, N.Y.
Copper Beech by the Sea is a curated general store and boutique located in the historic village of Bellport, N.Y. Founded by renowned interior designer Thomas O’Brien and his partner, Dan Fink, in 2016, the now 10-year-old shop is housed in a former supermarket and offers an eclectic mix of home goods, artisanal foods and vintage finds. “This is one of my favorite shops anywhere. That is a strong statement, but I have not come across a more tastefully curated store in all my years of shopping!” hotel heiress Nicky Hilton told the New York Post. “It is a chic general store… where every item has been selected individually from unique sources all over the world.” Bruce Pask, the senior editorial director for Nieman Marcus, told the Robb Report, “Copper Beech is a wonderful emporium of décor and culinary specialties curated… housed in a historic Vaudeville theater that they unearthed during a renovation. There’s a great selection of prepared foods perfect for a beach picnic, a great array of imported fare for the kitchen and lovely pieces to brighten the home.” —AFW
Pasadena, Calif.
De-Cor has been curating one-of-a-kind antique furniture and globally inspired home décor in Pasadena, Calif., for over 20 years. It was founded by Deepali Pareek, whose decades of expertise span hand-carved doors, bone inlay furniture, African artifacts, tribal textiles and architectural elements. According to Pareek, the store is more than a retail destination; it is a journey across continents and centuries. “Each piece tells a story, and our customers leave not just with a beautiful object, but with its provenance and history,” he said. Beyond curation, De-Cor also designs and crafts its own line of furniture from reclaimed wood, bringing a sustainable, artisan dimension to what is offered. The team at De-Cor also works extensively on custom projects for their interior design clients, collaborating closely to create pieces that are tailored to each space. Because of the store’s location, it serves a community of design-forward homeowners, interior designers and collectors throughout the Los Angeles area. De-Cor also carries a trade program for interior designers. Product designer Nancy Fire has said about the store, “Walking into De-Cor in Pasadena felt like stepping into ABC Carpet 25 years ago—that same magical energy of being surrounded by the most thoughtful, forward-thinking creations in design. It was like walking into a mood board brought to life.” The store has been featured in Architectural Digest, the Los Angeles Times and California Homes and the team at De-Cor collaborates each year with the Pasadena Showcase House. —AFW
Carle Place, N.Y.
Elements Lighting & Décor received the ARTS Award for Best Lighting Showroom in the Eastern Region this year (its five prior wins placed it in the ART Hall of Fame), an accomplishment President Brian Kleinberg and Media and Client Relations Director (and Brian’s daughter) Hailey Kleinberg attribute to a hardworking, dedicated staff and a willingness to evolve. Elements has been in business on Long Island since 1979, but Brian, who joined the family business 30 years ago, cautioned that it can be very easy to become stagnant. “You always have to reinvent yourself and navigate change in the business environment,” he said. Elements, whose product mix is 65% lighting and 35% décor and accent furniture, prides itself on its personalized service; the educational opportunities it provides for the trade, customers and the next generation; and its close ties to the local community. A year of tariff whiplash layered on top of increased competition created by vendors doing more direct business with designers has made business particularly hard for lighting showrooms lately and Elements is no exception. But Brian and Hailey Kleinberg are excited about opportunities in the hospitality and commercial sector, more custom work, and the number of innovative and exciting new products launched in January. Their goal is to help customers not only enhance their homes but also their lives. “We’re in the business of making people happy,” said Brian. —Allison Zisko
Fort Worth, Texas
As the name implies, Fort Worth Lighting lights up the area with two showrooms: in Forest Hill and Weatherford. This 2026 ARTS Award nominee (Lighting Showroom/West) is recognized for its expert staff, design advice and exceptional customer service. In addition to its wide range of lighting options that cover every room of the home as well as outdoors at competitive prices, Fort Worth Lighting also features a range of home décor pieces to help customers finish out their space designs and provide a one-stop shopping experience for those in need of more than light fixtures. The retailer noted that its goal is to support anyone looking for a better living environment. The professional staff can assist with such details as scale and coordinated finishes. Customer service is a key component of Fort Worth Lighting’s success, as the retailer services residential and commercial projects, often helping with installations as well as providing guidance for customers in the showrooms. Store merchandising is thoughtfully curated, which customers deem helpful to their purchasing journey. —DF
Phoenix
Global Home is a local furniture and home décor retailer in Phoenix specializing in old-world rustic furniture, unique international décor and hand-poured candles that are made on-site. Owner Steve Rogers said shoppers can expect the finest quality products at a fair price since all products are sourced ethically from around the world with a variety of modern, rustic, antique and new pieces that are unmatched. The store carries furnishings, including coffee and console tables, along with one-of-a-kind cabinets. The store also features unique visual treats like exotic gift items, bronze statues and one-of-a-kind wood carvings sourced from around the world. Visitors frequently describe the store as a “treasure hunt” or “diamond in the rough.” —AFW
Baltimore, Md.
Shawn Chopra and his wife, Anne Morgan, opened Good Neighbor in 2019 on the concept of recreating the feeling of stepping into a loved one’s home. According to the owners, at Good Neighbor “every object, every stay, every sip and every bite exist to inspire and nurture curiosity about the wider world and its shared community.” The couple founded the store with the goal of creating a seamless, multi-touchpoint retail concept built around combining a shared love of design with their immigrant culture of abundant hospitality. The shop features items from brands like Finn Juhl, Frama and Hem along with furniture from both local makers and global brands. Good Neighbor now combines a boutique hotel and a design-forward coffee shop along with the original retail space. Guests at the hotel can interact with and eventually purchase nearly everything in their rooms, from the ceramics to the furniture. “It’s basically creating the effect of going to your neighbor’s house and sitting down for a nice, simple but fun meal that your neighbor prepared, talking about books and design,” Chopra told Baltimore Fishbowl Magazine. “We’re excited to be able to do what we wanted for many years.” —AFW
Tiverton, R.I.
Tucked into the Four Corners neighborhood of Tiverton, R.I., is a trio of shops from Groundswell Guild “where artfully curated fare, provisions and experiences converge to enrich your life, season to season”. The shops can tempt visitors to linger all day. Groundswell Garden + Home draws both gardening enthusiasts and novices to its cross-merchandised indoor-outdoor shop filled with tools, plants and outdoor décor. Halfway down the block, those with a passion for entertaining can visit Table + Provisions, a two-story, cedar-shingled home with room after room of enticingly merchandised tableware, cookware, gourmet food and cookbooks. Visitors can take a break in the Café + Bakery next door, which serves European-inspired dishes as well as those that showcase Rhode Island’s agricultural heritage. Groundswell Guild is owned by David Fierabend, who for the past 18 years has also led Groundswell Design Group, a team of designers, landscape architects and craftspeople whose design projects span hospitality, residential and public space designs. “We believe in the art of living,” the store proclaims on its website, and that motto is clear to anyone who steps in for a visit. —AZ
McKinney, Texas
While Holos House is new, having opened less than a year ago, owner Rachel Brasch said it has gotten the best response from the local community. Seated in a historic building in the heart of downtown McKinney, Texas, the goal of Holos House is to bring beauty, unique touches and inspiration to customers. The store hosts a mix of traditional and modern furniture and decor, and customers are intrigued by the European influences. “I wanted the store to feel like something fresh and new but also something that had always been here,” Brasch noted. Holos House carries an exclusive, customizable furniture collection and artwork from a local resident artist alongside a mix of new and vintage pieces. Brasch has had an interior design firm in McKinney since 2019, and the store has added a new layer to that business as well, allowing clients to see and feel pieces appropriate for their homes. Brasch said she is still learning the ropes of retail but hearing how much her customers appreciate her shop lets her know she’s on the right path. —DF
Cary, N.C.
The owners of Home for Entertaining, sisters-in-law Jackie Sereny and Megan Sereny, believe that retail should feel like walking into a welcoming friend’s home; comfortable, inspiring and full of gracious touches. From the moment guests step through the door, they are greeted not only with beautifully styled vignettes but also with the warmth of genuine hospitality. The shop is intentionally designed as a casually elegant home, with hardwood floors, natural light and soft seating areas. Upstairs, design company Southern Studio Interior Design, with designer Vicky Sereny, adds another layer of expertise. In the retail space, they curate heirloom-quality tabletop pieces and artisan-made goods sourced both locally and globally. Home for Entertaining also brings its collections to life through curated classes, workshops and private gatherings with professional chefs, florists and instructors. “We are equally passionate about giving back,” the owners said. “Community involvement is not a marketing tactic but a cornerstone of our mission. We host ‘sip and shop’ events and donate proceeds to organizations focused on housing stability and education.” Ultimately, Home for Entertaining is a family-run business that has reimagined the home accents store as a living, breathing celebration of connection, craftsmanship and joy. —AFW
Portland, Maine
Since 2010, Home Remedies furniture and home décor store has provided fabric, furniture, and home décor items to residents across Portland, Maine. Located in the historic Portland Star Match Building, this woman-owned boutique is equipped with an on-site custom sewing workroom and a design center. Store founder Rachel Ambrose is committed to demystifying design so her customers can furnish their homes joyfully. “A lot of our customers feel overwhelmed,” Ambrose said. “Most Home Remedies clients are decorating without a designer, and they may have a vision beyond their vocabulary.” The store’s seasoned team is adept at helping each customer find their focus and welcomes the opportunity to get to know their personalities and how that might translate to their aesthetics. Ambrose describes her entire team as “approachable, savvy and fun.” Skilled stitchers assemble custom pillows, upholstery and window treatments in the Home Remedies workroom, which is open to the retail area. —AFW
Greenwood Village, Colo.
This family-owned business in Greenwood Village, Colo., has been bringing artisan-made products to its Denver-area customers for 34 years. “We celebrate the increasing rarity of artisan crafts. If it’s hand-thrown, mouth-blown, hand-carved, or hand-woven, it’s what we seek out,” it said on its website. “We are not price-point focused. We believe that owning something that is handmade is truly a luxury and becoming a rare opportunity,” said Mike Di Paulo, who owns the store with his wife, Lindy Di Paulo. “We’re in a perfect neighborhood for that.” Its assortment ranges from home furnishings and decorative accessories to dinnerware, gifts, gourmet foods and floral designs. Some of its highlighted vendors include Simon Pearce, Match Pewter, Jan Barboglio, Michael Aram, Beatriz Ball, Vietri and Juliska. Its mix is constantly evolving, said Di Paulo. Lately it has been bringing in more fashion accessories. The store has also rethought its tabletop assortment as interest in high-end dinnerware has started to wane among its younger customers. It recently introduced a mercantile shop concept with a well-edited but massed out assortment of ceramic serveware and accessories, like $12 canapé plates. “That was new for us and received well in the first quarter, and we will build on that,” DiPaulo said. “People keep coming to us for that product; we just needed to find a new way to keep it relevant.” —AZ
Princeton, N.J.
Princeton, N.J., is home to Homestead, the only New Jersey retailer honored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2025 as one of their Top 100 Small Businesses in America. Customers call Homestead a “go-to destination,” touting the store as warm and the staff — including the delivery people — as friendly and accommodating. Homestead was founded by Ron and Kristin Menapace in 2012. Kristin had a love for design and Ron loved to build things. Merging their passions allowed them to offer unique home decor and furniture made from reclaimed materials. In its 14-year tenure, Homestead has become established as New Jersey’s premier independent gift, furniture and home furnishings destination. The store offers a personal gathering place to find uniquely curated pieces for home and gift-giving. The Menapaces, along with their store, are deeply rooted in the Princeton Community, where they live with their four children and work on their unique retail concept of delivering affordable, small-batch and unique pieces that can’t be found in large chain stores. The focus for Homestead is working with customers and designing a creative space that just “feels like home.” —DF
Greenville, S.C.
In Greenville, S.C., House of Ford brings more than just merchandise to its retail establishment. It’s a “cornerstone of connection,” according to owner and interior designer Kelly Ford. Complete with a cafe that serves coffee and pastries to its clients, House of Ford delivers inspired home furnishings, vintage finds and unique gifts. It’s designed as a peaceful and intentional space to “stay awhile.” “We believe that beauty is best experienced through connection and that the most meaningful moments are the ones we linger in,” Ford continued. House of Ford has been featured in several local publications, touting its unique focus on connection. Opened in October 2025, House of Ford was previously Kelly Ford’s interior design studio and offices, but as a retail establishment, she had different ideas of how to delight customers. With a philosophy that everyday objects should be thoughtful, beautiful and rooted in heritage, Ford sees House of Ford as more than a store. “It’s a space to savor, connect and live beautifully.” —DF
Houston, Texas
When Will Hunt Lewis moved to Houston in 2020, he took up a hobby: buying and selling estate finds. Lewis knows what to look for, having worked with such design giants as Jonathan Adler, One Kings Lane and Kravet. Having gotten his start online, Lewis tired of shipping from home, so he moved his business to a 450-square-foot showroom, shoppable by appointment. He also brought in new items to connect past and present. “I’ve always lived with a mix of old and new,” he said. As Hunt & Bloom began to grow, Lewis moved into the larger space next door and ditched the appointment-only model. A banner holiday season in 2024 prompted the next move to a larger space. There, he had his biggest sales day ever, the day after Christmas 2025. Customers were drawn to his design aesthetic. “Pieces in the store are collected and considered,” he said, and customers are thrilled with the assortment. Hunt & Bloom won the 2026 ARTS Award for Home Accents Store/West in January. In February 2026, Hunt & Bloom moved again to a 5,000-square-foot space with main street frontage, allowing for more merchandise, display windows, events and new ways to delight customers. With his impeccable design eye and focus on customer service, Hunt’s “hobby” has exceeded even his expectations. —DF
Chicago
Often described as “Disneyland for grown-ups,” Chicago’s Jayson Home is known for an expertly curated mix of furniture, décor, antiques and vintage finds. For more than two decades, the converted 100-year-old warehouse has been the go-to source for design lovers seeking pieces with character, quality and a sense of history. The boutique hand-selects its vintage pieces from flea markets throughout Europe, so entering the store feels like a hidden furniture market in France. In 1978, Jay Goltz started Artist Frame Service. Over time, he noticed customers waiting for custom framing and, in 1994, decided to offer home accessories and furniture to keep them occupied. The store prides itself on its ever-evolving collection of vintage and modern pieces, including furniture, tableware, lighting, candles, books, pillows, textiles, and more, that has made it both a resource for designers and a destination for design enthusiasts. Over time, the iconic Chicago shop added what is now a thriving online hub. Despite the growth, Jayson Home considers itself a small business at heart. This spring, Jayson Home will launch a new collection of home textiles, made in collaboration with celebrated textile house Tensira. Inspired by the timeless appeal and subtle versatility of stripes, the collaborators dreamt up five simple, classic designs in neutral ivory and beige or soft gray hues, which Tensira expertly brought to life. Jayson Home also offers a trade program that is used by designers, decorators, architects, landscape designers, commercial developers and the hospitality industry. —AFW
Billings, Mont.
Last summer, interior designer and retailer Jeremiah Young purchased a turn-of-the-century commercial building in downtown Billings, Mont., and brought it back to life as the site of a new 10,000-square-foot retail space, Kibler & Kirch. Young completely overhauled the 1904 building, bringing in natural light through dozens of oversized double-hung windows and adding thousands of feet of custom historical reproduction moldings, shelving and light fixtures. Young wanted the new building to be a place where potential design clients could get a sense of what the design firm stood for — the breadth of its capability and attention to detail, thoughtfulness and quality. In addition, “a store needs to reward customers for coming back again and again and again,” Young said. “We want people to come in, sit in a chair, feel the texture of the fabrics and see the craftsmanship that goes into every piece. It’s about creating a personal connection with the items you bring into your home.” With its authentic Western spin, the store showcases hundreds of vendors in “all the categories you need to make a complete home,” including furniture, décor, artisanal treasures, found objects and art. Vendors include Hickory Chair, Wesley Hall, Lee Industries and Artitalia. “Having a large store means we can show more of what we love.” — Andrea Lillo
East Naples, Fla.
Lighting First opened its doors 42 years ago to sell table lamps in an East Naples, Fla., warehouse that wasn’t even air-conditioned. This retailer has come a long way. Today, Lighting First has retail showrooms in Naples, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers, where the lighting selection has grown exponentially along with the retailer. That growth and Lighting First’s attention to delivering an exceptional customer experience earned it a 2026 ARTS Award nomination for Lighting Showroom/East. Of keen importance to Lighting First is providing everything its customers need. The retailer offers a price match guarantee and a 30-day return policy, along with a one-year service warranty on any installation, for example. Lighting First hosts an expansive selection of lighting for all applications, alongside a wide variety of home decor pieces, such as mirrors, candles, florals, storage, platters and bowls. Customers have been complimentary of Lighting First’s passion for making them happy, sharing that the knowledgeable staff offers exemplary customer service and an attainable selection of lighting and home accessories. —DF
Roswell, Ga.
When interior designer Chaz Easterly decided to open a retail showroom in Roswell, Ga., in 2015, she said Linen & Flax Co. was born from the passion she felt for her two greatest loves: home and family. Linen & Flax started as a full-service design, renovation and new home construction company. At the launch party, however, guests wanted to know where they could buy the furnishings and accessories on display. Two months later, Easterly opened Linen & Flax Home, which offered home furnishings and decor. Fast forward three years, and Linen & Flax Home moved to a larger space and the original location became Linen & Flax Apparel. Today, Linen & Flax has evolved yet again into more than a series of stores and a design studio. The team is committed to building “a lifestyle brand that reflects who we are and all we hold dear.” Linen & Flax’s mission is to provide its customer base with the pieces that set the stage for real life to be lived and memories to be made. —DF
Queens, N.Y.
Lockwood Shops, which has five locations across Queens and Brooklyn, is a quintessential neighborhood store — most of its 50 employees live and work nearby; it collaborates with local artists and makes donations to the community. Its merchandise assortment is also very tongue-in-cheek New York — oversized pigeon stuffies and Mamdani puzzles fill the shelves alongside Brooklyn tote bags and I Heart N.Y.-branded coffee. “It’s stuff you want yourself that says you’re proud to be a New Yorker,” said owner Mackenzi Farquer. She opened the first store in 2007, but a lot has changed in 19 years. In the beginning, she carried a lot of coffee table books, mid-century furniture and candles. Over the years, it has become more of a traditional gift store and now carries twice as many candles as anything else. “Home décor for us as a gift store is tricky,” said Farquer. “You must always have a good selection of picture frames. There’s always a wedding or a baby or someone who needs to be commemorated. For us, it’s less about pillows and linens and more about that charming accent rug. We do well with trinket trays. We’re always thinking apartment-sized, funny, irreverent, a really unique item.” In April, it combined three of its Queens locations into one 6,500-square-foot space that serves as the flagship. Farquer is planning fun activations, like a print machine, an embossing station and a claw machine with grown-up treasures to grab. “On a general level, I try to make sure we have something in store for anyone. Lockwood is a place of delight and discovery. We want people who walk in to feel a bit of that retail magic.” —AZ
Nashville, Tenn.
Margi’s Furniture & Design is a boutique furniture and home décor retailer located in the Green Hills area of Nashville. The store blends retail showroom offerings with interior design services, positioning itself as a one-stop shop for home styling rather than just a traditional furniture store. Margi’s offers a curated, eclectic mix of sofas, chairs, tables, beds, lighting, mirrors, art, accessories and gifts. Over 20-plus years of design experience sets Margi’s apart with services that include redesigns, custom furniture selections, fabric, color and finish consultations, and more. Margi’s Furniture and Design is often described as a “hidden gem” as it’s frequently seen as a local insider spot for unique home pieces. —LR
Woods Hole, Mass.
Visitors to Woods Hole, Mass., a town of roughly 830 people situated on the southwestern corner of Cape Cod, are often directed to Masterson Made, which is less of a souvenir shop and more of a destination for unique, handmade goods. Co-owner Patrick Masterson displays his handcrafted woodwork as well as Cape Cod-inspired soy candles that are made in his Woods Hole studio. “We believe in sustainable products that look great and last forever,” the shop proclaims on its website. Masterson Made also carries American-made and imported goods from Morocco, Mexico and Spain, such as charcuterie boards and other kitchen items and tableware. Not surprisingly, most of the merchandise celebrates all that is wonderful about being situated by the sea. —AZ
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mexico in My Pocket, a tiny shop in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn, is a love letter to the culture, tradition and people of Mexico. It started as a blog filled with beautiful pictures, recipes, stories and travel-related content meant to counter negative stereotypes and spread awareness of the beauty of Mexican culture, said founder Luisa Navarro. During the pandemic, it grew into a small Shopify store promoting the work of Mexican artisans who were struggling due to a lack of tourism. In May 2021, the location opened as an approximately 800-square-foot brick-and-mortar store. Its home décor assortment includes festive coconut masks, tree ornaments, Otomi table runners, handmade recycled glassware made by disabled artisans, multicolor paper flowers in a range of sizes, clay sculptures and sculptural floral beeswax candles. The store also carries cookbooks, greeting cards, jewelry and other giftware. “There are so many stores like mine, but if I’m being honest, they’re not like mine. I think what we do differently is that I really build relationships with the makers. We also develop our own product,” said Navarro. “We sell these incredible floral candles from Oaxaca. We sell in-store and get special orders for them for weddings. Our paper flowers are probably the biggest hit in the neighborhood and for events.” She added, “I don’t consider myself a store owner. I consider myself a storyteller. I have been able to change a lot of opinions. A beautiful candle turned into a bigger conversation. That is truly why I do what I do. It really is this little pocket of Mexico that is filled with so much love.” —AZ
New York, N.Y.
New York’s MoMA Design Store underwent a four-month redesign last year to emphasize product storytelling, capture more foot traffic and leverage the store’s downtown location to highlight the uptown museum’s mission. Since then, “our productivity per SKU is through the roof,” said Jesse Goldstine, chief retail officer. The redesign has changed the way customers shop, view products and interact with the MoMA brand. “We wanted to create a space where visitors don’t just shop, but also engage with the stories, ideas and creative thinking behind the objects surrounding them,” he said. “For some, SoHo is their first encounter with the institution, and we’ve created a space to make that moment feel meaningful, memorable and unmistakably MoMA.” A wall mural by artist Nina Channel Abney spans the store’s north wall and is visible from the street. “Everybody who walks by has a chance to connect with this mural. It’s a real win for us,” Goldstine said. Upon entering, there is a pop-up space on the left and a full design story on the right. Open floor space and clear pathways and signage explain each category. “There’s a whole new set of fixtures to spotlight moments to let key products shine,” Goldstine said. Every item the store sells is vetted by MoMA curators, and the museum is investing more in exclusive products, including home décor, designed by an in-house team. As a museum store in a crowded major market, the MoMA Design Store is unique with an assortment that is very item-driven and tied to important moments, collections or ideas, said Goldstine. It is also focused on retail as a point of entry to the museum experience, rather than the other way around, with a gift shop situated at a museum exit. “We’re much more of a design store than a museum store,” he said. —AZ
McMinnville, Ore.
Nash & Nichol is a modern, mercantile-style home and lifestyle boutique located in downtown McMinnville, Ore., on historic 3rd Street. The retailer combines home décor, furniture, gifts and locally inspired goods in a highly curated setting. Owned by Anne Nash, interior designer, and Chelsey Nichol, who together have mixed classic design and vintage character, which defines Nash & Nichol’s identity. The store is known for its mix of old-fashioned general store vibe and modern design shop, and customers often describe it as “beautifully curated” and “a place you can spend time exploring.” Nash & Nichol frequents seasonal resets and in-store refreshes while also hosting sales events. —LR
Utah
Nova Lighting emerged in 2025 as a compilation of six Utah lighting retailers dating back to the 1950s. Drawing from this wealth of experience has given Nova Lighting a legacy of craftsmanship, service and community connection. The retailer said it is built on a philosophy of honesty, expertise and a genuine love for helping people make their homes feel like home, attributes it inherited from its predecessors. With six lighting showrooms across Utah, Nova Lighting has been busy in its inaugural year. In addition to wowing its customers, Nova won the 2026 ARTS Award for Lighting Showroom/West. Nova Lighting also collaborated with HGTV’s Rock the Block 2025 season, set in Utah, where lighting fixtures sourced at Nova helped define the character of the competing homes. This retailer prides itself on engaging with its customers with the warmth and personal attention of a boutique showroom across its locations. The showrooms are carefully curated with lighting and home décor and are supported by teams that really understand the nuances of lighting and how it can impact an environment. —DF
Great Barrington, Mass.
One Mercantile + Sett are two closely connected retail shops located in downtown Great Barrington, Mass., in the heart of the Berkshires. One Mercantile was founded in 2013 and is a small, curated home goods and gift shop that emphasizes small-batch, fair-trade and vintage-inspired items sourced from artisans and makers. Sister store Sett launched in 2019, specializing in tabletop, and the two shops operate side-by-side on Main Street, offering a complementary shopping experience. The two stores differentiate themselves — One Mercantile covers broader home and gift goods, while Sett focuses on styling and outfitting the dining table. Together, they function as a cohesive boutique retail concept centered on well-made, thoughtfully curated home products. —LR
Grapevine, Texas
With a 9,000-square-foot showroom in Grapevine, Texas, Passion Lighting has plenty of room to showcase thousands of lights and hundreds of unique items, including furniture and home decor. In addition, this lighting retailer ups the ante with landscape lighting services, a kitchen lighting lab and a WAC design center, where customers can see and touch the latest in LED. In addition to having the means to showcase lighting in an optimal way, Passion Lighting, founded by Bruce and Gloria Paul in 2006, prides itself on hiring exceptional, knowledgeable staff to guide customers to the best choices. They have one of three Certified Lighting Consultants in the state of Texas, as designated by the American Lighting Association. The retailer’s attention to providing its customers with an extensive selection and education has paid off for this lighting retailer, as it garnered a nomination for the 2026 Lighting Showroom/West ARTS Award. Customers are equally impressed with Passion Lighting, with accolades such as “top-notch service,” “superb selection,” and “professional and helpful.” Customers know they are in good hands at Passion Lighting. —DF
Ripon, Wis.
Patina Vie founder Sarah Willet was selling her antique and vintage finds on Etsy when she caught the attention of Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer, who put her business on the map. Over the last 12 years, Patina Vie has had dozens of licensed partnerships with companies like Anthropologie, ABC Home and Selfridge’s in the U.K. Eight years ago, the local community leaders in Ripon, Wis., approached her and asked her to consider opening a brick-and-mortar store. Although she had no experience in retail, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. “And here we are. It’s the favorite thing I do.” She described her store as “well-traveled, collected over time, we break some rules, we find areas of comfort, there are highs and lows. It’s a mix of all my favorite things.” One of its biggest product categories is tabletop, which is designed in collaboration with The Zrike Company. “It’s what put us on the map; it’s what we’ve been known for the longest. Tabletop is such a natural — porcelain plates and bowls, serving pieces. But we also have nice business with soft home — sheets, quilts, comforters, rugs, accent rugs, curtains, shower curtains. That’s been a nice complement to the hard home and décor.” Operating the store is not about getting people in the door to make a transaction, Willet said. “We truly know customers by name. We ship hundreds of packages a day to end consumers, most of them gift wrapped with a handwritten note.” The store has a small cocktail lounge called The Sipping Room where visitors can order a drink and sip while they shop or simply linger and talk. “We are the little shop around the corner,” Willet said. “I think people crave that. We are this beautiful little safe haven where they know they’re not expected to make a purchase. So many people tell us we’re their happy place.” —AZ
New York, N.Y.
This New York City outpost of the famed Parisian luxury department store has been creating buzz in the mainstream media since it opened in March 2025. Located in a historic landmark building at One Wall Street, the store is more of a travel destination than a place to shop. A “plan your visit” feature on its website outlines a store itinerary to explore if you have one hour, a few hours, or all day to explore. And there’s a lot to see here, with five dining concepts, an apothecary where you can design your own scent, a sneaker room with a ceiling-spanning LED screen and “long-awaited footwear drops,” and the Red Room, a landmarked Art Deco space with 33-foot ceilings and walls lined with original mosaics in deep red and gold glass. Fifteen-foot-tall resin floral sculptures transform the space into a whimsical “shoe forest”. Its online home section is populated with $100 candles, fruit-shaped ceramic jugs and other ceramic accessories, glassware and decorative pillows, most of them French. A release from the Schimenti Construction Company, which built out the store under the direction of architect Laura Gonzalez, heralds the space this way: “The destination store blends heritage and innovation, pairing Parisian romance with New York boldness. The result is not simply a store but a sequence of captivating environments that blur the lines between retail and hospitality and usher in a new era of shopping.” —AZ
Plymouth, Minn.
Robinson Lighting has been a family-owned staple in the Minneapolis area for more than 85 years, located in nearby Plymouth, Minn. This premier lighting store offers a vast selection of lighting for all areas of the home, as well as decor items and accent furniture to complement its selection. That and the retailer’s well-informed lighting team, who work closely with all customers, from builders and designers to electricians and consumers, earned Robinson a 2026 ARTS Award nomination for Lighting Showroom/West in January. Robinson Lighting takes pride in partnering with its customers as a trusted lighting supplier delivering quality products, helpful service and long-term results. They take a collaborative approach that blends technical expertise and design insight, taking the time to understand each project’s unique needs and delivering lighting solutions that are functional and visually impactful. Customers find Robinson Lighting an excellent retailer to work with, citing the retailer’s inspiring selection and attentive staff for providing an exceptional experience. —DF
Scenic. The Storied Home.
Boise, Idaho
Three interior designers with a passion for creating beautiful spaces that tell a story are the women behind the 2023 founding of Scenic. The Storied Home, in Boise, Idaho. The designers collaborate, but each has their own design firm. Maren Swank, Kate Loftus and Kasey Fitzgerald say they created the store to offer a blend of unique, “storied” pieces for the home. The inventory includes a mix of custom upholstery, vintage furniture, new high-end furniture, which is primarily made at small workrooms and companies across the country, along with designer lighting and premium wallpaper. Beyond retail, the designers provide in-home styling and furnishing services and a dedicated Trade Program for fellow interior designers. The store is known for its curated, layered aesthetic, often featuring vibrant colors and eclectic accessories like Dusen Dusen throw pillows. Scenic. The Storied Home. also frequently hosts community workshops and events, such as color analysis classes, calligraphy workshops and floral arrangement sessions. —AFW
Scout Design Studio
Dallas
Scout Design Studio is a furnishings retailer and design studio located in the Dallas Design District, known for its bold, eclectic aesthetic and mix of vintage and custom-made pieces. The brand identity emphasizes individuality that favors unique, statement-making pieces over mainstream trends. The store carries a wide range of furniture, lighting, artwork, rugs and home accessories sourced globally and often produced in limited runs. They also offer their own in-house “Scout Label” line, which reinterprets vintage styles with a contemporary twist. The showroom boasts around 15,000 square feet and functions as both a retail space and design hub, attracting interior designers, collectors and consumers looking for one-of-a-kind items. Scout Design Studio has a strong e-commerce presence and offers nationwide shipping, as well as design services for residential and hospitality projects. —LR
Seldens
Bellevue, Wash.
Seldens Designer Home Furnishings is a fourth-generation Puget Sound retailer known for its Northwest take on traditional and transitional styles. Its brands include Stickley, Lexington and American Leather. The retailer also carries decorative accessories, wall art, lighting and top-of-bed. The Seldens team is made up of interior designers who serve as guides for customers and go on house calls. Founded in 1940 in Tacoma, Seldens has evolved from a small flooring shop to a full-service home furnishings destination with multiple showrooms. In 2025, Seldens acquired Shoenfeld Interiors, which carried brands such as American Leather, Cattelan Italia, Lee, Gamma and Copeland, and relocated to Bellevue last September. “There’s a strong overlap in our design philosophy, product lines, and above all, in how we serve clients,” said General Manager Jake Cross, a fourth-generation Seldens family member. The acquisition of Schoenfeld enables it to expand into more contemporary home accents, particularly in lighting, Cross said. “Home accents have always been important to us – the frosting on the design that really brings it to life.” —LR
South Loop Loft
Chicago
Beth Burke founded Chicago’s South Loop Loft in 2014 when she made a significant transition from her previous career as a social worker and adoption counselor. Growing up, Burke spent hours in the woodworking studios of her German grandfather and father where she learned to build, repair and refinish vintage furniture. With her career change, she realized her eye for the decorative, unique and evocative combined with her passion for travel and culture resulted in a truly eclectic collection that has become one of the design community’s most trusted resources in Chicago. South Loop Loft worked its way from a warehouse to a loft showroom and then into the current showroom which spans two stories and 6,000 square feet. Despite its name, this renowned design destination is in the River West neighborhood and features a constantly evolving collection of furniture, decorative arts, rugs, textiles, lighting, accessories and local artwork. —AFW
Suite Pieces
Huntington Station, N.Y.
Suite Pieces started as a decorative paint boutique founded in 2012 by Amanda Peppard, and has grown into a 10,000 square-foot, three-story showroom and full-service interior design resource. It features “the largest wallpaper library on Long Island,” according to its website, and a selection of upholstery fabrics, window treatment textiles, custom rugs and carpets, Hunter Douglas shades and blinds, and high-end American-made furniture, much of which is customizable. Among the brands it carries are Thibaut, Schumacher, Phillip Jeffries, York, Wallquest, Sanderson, A Street Prints, Scalamandré and Fabricut. Suite Pieces hosts The Shops at Suite Pieces, a marketplace of more than a dozen local vendors and artisans offering original art, vintage finds, handmade jewelry, home accessories and other one-of-a-kind finds. It also offers rentable studio spaces on its upper level for local creatives to build their own brands. On her website, Peppard said she created Suite Pieces “to challenge the idea that interior design had to be intimidating, unaffordable, or unoriginal. We’ve flipped that script — offering a warm, welcoming, judgment-free space where everyone is invited to create something beautiful.” —AZ
Talulah & Hess
Dallas
A highly curated store and independent lifestyle boutique, Talulah & Hess blends gift retail, home décor and design services in a single, community-oriented shopping experience. The retailer is best understood as a modern neighborhood department store and combines multiple categories – gifts, home furnishings, fashion accessories and design, with an emphasis on approachable luxury and thoughtful curation. Found by Elizabeth Mast in 2002, the store expanded over time into two adjacent stores – Talulas (gifts) and Hess (home furnishings and design). In 2017, the stores merged into one and in 2023, expanded with a dedicated design resource center. The products are selected based on personal connection and storytelling. —LR
The Tiny Finch
San Antonio, Texas
The Tiny Finch is a small but highly distinctive retail concept that reflects a broader shift in modern independent retail toward curation, storytelling and experiential shopping. Located in San Antonio’s Pearl District, the store functions not simply as a place to buy goods, but as a carefully composed environment where objects, aesthetics and atmosphere work together to create a sense of discovery. The Tiny Finch operates as a lifestyle boutique blending categories such as home décor, tabletop, apparel, gifts and apothecary into a cohesive assortment. Ultimately, the retailer represents a model of retail that prioritizes curation over scale, experience over convenience and individuality over standardization. Its offerings resonate with consumers seeking meaningful, well-designed objects and a more engaging, human-centered shopping experience. —LR
Saybrook, Conn.
Since Tidewater Lighting & Design opened its first lighting showroom in Madison, Conn., in 2021, owner Carla Snowdon has been on a mission to provide her coastal community with the most effective lighting for her community. The first store was so successful, she opened a second location in Saybrook, Conn., which ended up doubling the revenue of the original store. As a result, Snowdon shuttered the first location in 2025 to focus attention on the growing community in Saybrook. In both locations, Tidewater Lighting has racked up awards, earning several Lighting Showroom of the Year Awards and garnering a nomination at the 2026 ARTS Awards for Lighting Showroom/East. Snowdon attributes her success to her 40 years in the lighting industry, working with residential and trade customers. Snowdon does it all, from curating the small shop’s selection to working with customers to installing lighting in housing projects. She handholds those customers to ensure they are making the best choices for their environment. Snowdon said she’d rather spend the time up front to deliver the best options for her customers than deal with unhappy customers later. “We make sure customers are sure about their purchases and that they understand the process,” she said. “We’re serious and we want them to be serious about their purchases too.” Selection is carefully curated at the 2,100-square-foot showroom, including complementary home decor products and of course, candy at the register. Customers relay their “fantastic” experiences at this lighting retailer, noting the staff’s knowledge, creativity and warmth. —DF
Village Design Studio
Bronxville, N.Y.
Sisters Erin Hackett Marschall and Meghan Hackett Cassidy grew up in Bronxville, N.Y. Fast forward to 2016 and they returned to start a business — Village Design Studios. They started with an interior design firm and added the retail showroom four years ago. The shop, Marschall said, has allowed the sisters to really become embedded in the community. Filled primarily with home decor and gift items, the shop is highly curated in a way that speaks to the sisters’ design aesthetic. “Anything in the shop is something we’d put into our own homes,” Marschall said. Being a staple in the community drives the success of the shop. The sisters host events each season, often pop-up collaborations with other independent retailers. “We want to give people somewhere to go to have a fun evening or afternoon,” Marschall said. Most recently, the store has been hosting Mahjong events. The goal isn’t shopping. It’s a way to connect to the community. The store supports the interior design business as well. It brings in potential clients, and the sisters shop the store for finishing touches on design projects. It’s a win-win for the Hackett sisters and for Bronxville. —DF
Wanderlust
Elmhurst, Ill.
A dark and dismal Christian Science Reading Room in the Chicago suburbs may not have warranted a second glance by most passers-by, but for interior designers Kurt Miller and Luke Mack, it was a diamond in the rough and the perfect place for the retail store they had long dreamed of. Miller said the Elmhurst, Ill., space ticked all the boxes: it was on the first floor, had a good storefront window and good bones, and was centrally located in a square radius of nonstop monied foot traffic all day long and late into the evening. It stands about 100 feet from a Metro stop, catching the eye of scores of professionals who catch the commuter train into the city every day. The store, which opened last May, carries home décor and grab-and-go gifts, like candles and cloth napkins, as well as antiques and brand-new upholstered pieces from brands like Hooker, Lexington Home and Caracole. “We kill it in the accessories department,” said Miller. Most of the assortment is one-of-a-kind pieces, many of them made specifically for Wanderlust. The store is so inviting and captivating that it opens a dialogue about the pair’s full-service design capabilities and has boosted that side of the business, Miller said. He described the store as “edgy, fun and constantly changing.” Customer service is a top priority. It hosts events and impromptu parties and everyone who comes in is a friend. Celebrating its one-year anniversary, Wanderlust “has far exceeded our expectations,” said Miller. “And it’s been so much freakin’ fun.” —AZ
Wentworth
Charleston, S.C.
Wentworth was founded by award-winning event designer Gregory Blake Sams and translates his background in event styling into a physical retail environment centered on home, hospitality and entertaining. The shop offers an edited mix of new, vintage and antique goods, including furniture, art, tabletop items, linens and decorative accessories sourced from around the world. Each piece is selected for its craftsmanship, patina and uniqueness, creating an assortment that feels collected rather than mass-produced. Wentworth is located in a historic Charleston building and is designed to feel like a warm, lived-in home. It operates as both a retail store and a design expression, offering not just products, but a distinct point of view on elevated, layered living and the art of entertaining. —LR
Yowie
Philadelphia
Yowie is a design-forward boutique hotel and shop founded in 2016 by former fashion designer Shannon Maldonado. The store is located in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia and features a highly curated, eclectic selection of design pieces, including modern home goods, art objects, small-batch ceramics and apparel like the popular “Philadelphia Dad Cap”. Over the past decade, Yowie has expanded from a small shop into a multi-use “hospitality-meets-design” hub that includes a hotel, a retail shop and a cafe. Design-lovers and knick-knack hunters might already be well acquainted with Yowie since it is renowned for its collection of independent labels, artists and emerging designers. Some of the names stocked on its shelves include Dusen Dusen, Hay and Fredericks & Mae, spanning homewares, jewelry, furniture and more. A recent review in Philadelphia Magazine stated, “Picture an of-the-moment art gallery: minimalist white walls, colorful sculptures, a painfully cool curator. Now, imagine everything is for sale. That’s Yowie—except the sculptures are eclectic homewares including Felt + Fat ceramics and Dusen Dusen throw pillows.” —AFW
**Retailers are listed in alphabetical order. This is not a ranking and there was no cost to be included. Home Accents Today editors compiled this list with some input from industry obs
