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Modern Living

HOMESCAPES

ARKITEKTURA IN-SITU
474 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham
248-646-0097

They have been on the modern and European furniture and lighting tip for a long, long time. One of the first places to reissue the modern home classics; because great design never really can go out of style.

BRIGHT IDEAS
220 S. Main St., Royal Oak
248-541-9940

22110 Telegraph Rd., Southfield
248-352-5811

Come to browse among the eclectic collection of ultra-contemporary and often downright fun furnishings and accessories. Don’t come looking for reproductions of Grandma’s old bureau; the style here is purely modern.

DESIGN WITHIN REACH
168 W. Maple Rd., Birmingham
248-593-9640

This 6,000-square-foot “studio” that spans two levels is one of the upscale chain’s largest. The store’s goal is to bring modern furniture designs to the retail level where they’re accessible to everyone (everyone, that is, who can afford them).

DUMOUCHELLE ART GALLERIES
409 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit
313-963-6255

The retail salon is gone, apparently they must have auctioned it off. However, if you’re looking for fine art and furniture, you could do worse than attending an auction here. Since 1927, DuMouchelle has been selling off the finer folks’ finer things with class and expertise.

FUSE
By appointment only
248-506-1399
www.fusemuraldesign.com

Fuse specializes in murals. Whether you own a nightclub, hair salon, church, restaurant, or maybe you need a baby room done, Fuse can reproduce any image onto any surface. Jeremy Harvey and Mike Williams have over 15 years of experience and the strong diversity of their past work has ranged from Renaissance emulations to cartoon heroes.

HOME ACCESSORY WAREHOUSE
1017 E. W. Maple Rd., Walled Lake
248-624-6700

Some 17,000 square feet are filled with everything for the home—furniture, lighting, artwork, mirrors, glass, pottery and pillows. They’ll even craft you a fake tree to fit that inconvenient alcove nothing looks right in. Check out the in-home consultation service, where, for $150, a designer visits your home and takes pictures of the rooms you want to transform. Meet back at the showroom, and they’ll walk you through their suggestions.

ITAL MODA
32968 Woodward, Royal Oak
248-549-1221

Not your ordinary home furnishings boutique, Ital Moda specializes in marvelous modern masterpieces—all from Italy. The store carries dozens and dozens of lines, so even the pickiest is sure to find something to please.

JIMMIE’S RUSTICS
888-560-JIMS

Entertain, relax and enjoy is their motto, and at Jimmie’s they’ll supply just about everything you need to do so—except food and drink. These upscale showrooms offer up patio and outdoor pieces, furniture for sunrooms, high-end barbecue grills and unique accessories—where else can you find a hand-crafted, five-foot-tall leather giraffe? Four locations in Birmingham, Novi/Wixom, Livonia and Shelby Township are open year-round.

LARSEN AT HOME
501 S. Washington, Royal Oak
248-399-3660
www.larsenathome.com

“Classic with a twist” is how owner Joelle Larsen Aittama describes her new shop in downtown Royal Oak. The 3,500-square-foot showroom with a decided Manhattan sophistication offers up classic furniture and fun artwork, lighting, draperies and even dinnerware artfully blended together, not segregated as in many other stores. Aittama opened the place in May 2005 after several years as the owner of All About Leather in the Michigan Design Center, so you know she knows her stuff.

LIGNE ROSET
275 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham
248-723-2500

This shop, which has its corporate headquarters in France, offers furniture, lighting, rugs, tabletop and textiles by designers such as Didier Gomez, Eric Jourdan, Pascal Mourgue, Arik Levy and Peter Maly. It’s trés chic, dahling, with prices to match.

MAISON
820 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham
248-723-1254

Traditional, old-world pieces adorn this shop that, despite the name, offers much more than just items for Francophiles. Hand-matted Persian rugs, original oil paintings, mirrors, silk florals and products from Maitland-Smith and Labarge are all on hand, as well as a designer for consultations.

MIA MAHALO
407 S. Washington, Royal Oak
248-546-1900

You can pamper yourself with fine products and feel good about helping Mother Earth at the same time at this stylish downtown Royal Oak store. There’s a little bit of everything here—luxurious organic bedding, paints made of naturally derived raw materials, vegan-friendly edibles—as well as a full line of beauty products deemed ecologically correct. At Mia Mahalo, it’s easy being green.

MICHIGAN DESIGN CENTER
1700 Stutz Dr., Troy
248-649-4772

A remarkable facility most consumers don’t realize exists, the MDC sprawls over 215,000 square feet, with more than 40 showrooms offering only the most exclusive (i.e., expensive) lines of furniture, fabrics, flooring, artwork and the like. It’s open only to designers and their clients, but you can get in twice a year during special sample sales, or via their Designer On Call promotion. This nifty program gives you a free, one-hour consult with a professional interior designer. You can review floor plans, ask for advice on a specific room or shop among the showrooms. To take advantage of this obligation-free service, call 888-DIAL-MDC.

MOSS ROSE
124 E. Main St., Northville
248-374-5586
www.mossroseshop.com

Karen and Colin pay tribute to their love of American history at the Moss Rose in downtown Northville. Featuring American antiques and Americana décor with a focus on 1770–1870, as well as primitives such as cloth dolls and prints and reproductions like Williamsburg candles, food items and brass, antique jewelry and quilts. Support quality American craftsmanship with most items made right here in the U.S. of A. Moss Rose Books publishes reprints of works from 1850–1865.

THE PRINT GALLERY
29173 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield
248-356-5454

Looking for some wall art? Choose from the thousands of posters and prints on display; then get them custom-framed right on-site. They also offer conservation-grade framing to preserve vintage photos. If you can’t find just the right piece in stock, you’re welcome to flip through an extensive library of catalogs.

RICHARD BENNETT & ASSOCIATES
470 Brainard St., Detroit
313-831-4262

Richard Bennett is a master craftsman, wielding a welding torch like a paintbrush to create incredible contemporary works of furniture, sculpture, and custom fabrications like stainless steel staircases, cabinetry, backsplashes and countertops. You’ll see his sculpture around town, like “Atom” on Belle Isle and “N’Tomo” at the Museum of African-American History.

ROCHE BOBOIS
43221 W. 12 Mile Rd., Novi
248-347-6889

This French store has a giant showroom in Novi where there’s a lot of room to really showcase this fine designer furniture. Lines are split between modern and old world, and it appears modern is winning because the cooler stuff is out front.

SHERWOOD STUDIOS
6644 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield
248-855-1600

This 23,000-square-foot showroom features contemporary fine furniture, artwork, area rugs, lighting, window and wall treatments and accessories. There’s also an on-site “store within a store” for gifts from babies to brides. The studio also offers extensive interior design services. Too rich for your blood? Check out their Clearance Center at 24760 Crestview Court in Farmington Hills (248-476-3760), where great deals can be had on floor samples.

SHINE
621 S. Washington, Royal Oak
248-414-5277

So many of us go to NY and LA for hip looks when it’s often right in our own backyard. Shine is like that cute little shop you found on Melrose, well, the next street over, since nobody shops on Melrose anymore. Shine has a little bit of everything that’s whole a lot of cool—it’s a lifestyle store and the very best place to stop on your way to the party if you didn’t buy a gift. You’ll discover home décor by Jonathan Addler and French Bull that create conversation pits in any room of your home; likewise the boldly colored Salvor/Fauna graphic T-shirts and pillows. And the jewelry by SurfaceToAir and Gabriella Artigas are going to be your heirlooms. While you might not get to brag that you went to NY or LA, you can tell them about Shine, which will make you look even cooler.

SJ HOME DESIGNS
29791 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield
248-354-8490
www.sjhomedesigns.com

Stephanie can help you create a perfect abode with everything from home accessories to full interior design services. Her store in Applegate Plaza is a testimonial to her exquisite taste in décor, with unique art glass from Romania, hand selected tapestries, furniture, lamps and accessory pieces to brighten every corner of your home. From window treatments to a full home makeover, she’s got what it takes to turn your house into a showcase.

TORTUE
4301 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield
248-538-7522

New owner Zena Naimi travels the world to find unique home accessories for her workroom/showroom. Designers come to check out the latest for their clients (and one is on staff), but the general public is welcome as well. A great place for gifts.

VERTU
514 S. Washington, Royal Oak
248-545-6050

One of the more ancient stores for modernism, and they really know their stuff. Specifically dealing with mid-century design for over 20 years, they’re been retailing longer than some of their customers have been living. Even though you never know where or when you’ll come across what you’ve been longing for, this is the most likely spot to find it. Lots of super fun crazy pop stuff, paintings, sculpture, lamps, fabrics, clocks, rugs, bar ware, amazing art pottery and fabulous period jewelry, but the core of the Vertu collection are the brilliant mid-century designs of Eames, Saarinen, Panton, Nelson and Dunbar. (They like to buy such pieces too, if you’ve found yourself stuck with an unwanted inheritance.)

WOVEN TREASURES
750 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham
248-723-8888

Owners Kamran and Kristi Karimpour travel the world, particularly the Far East, in search of unique rugs to showcase in their gallery-like store. New and antique Persian and Oriental rugs, as well as custom-made Tibetan carpets, are the results of their journeys. Having trouble finding the perfect piece? They’ll come to your home to consult. The Karimpours are also certified appraisers, so you can get the dirt (so to speak) about that antique rug you’ve always wondered about.