Store

It's just like the name suggests: Urbane, stylish furniture and storage systems with the added attractions of comfort and quality, making that smallish Belltown condo that much more livable. Most of the items here are American-made, with lines from Knoll, Herman Miller and ICF representing such designers as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Alvar Aalto. There's also a fair amount of Vancouver, B.C.-born designs and an Italian kitchen line from Poliform that boasts sleek countertops in wood and stainless steel, and elegant cooking solutions. It's rare to find a store this hip that lets go of its ego enough to offer options - a simple platform bed, for example, comes in walnut, cherry, oak or mahogany; designers offer custom closets for every hang-up.

Accessories such as a cowhide-covered beanbag chair and the Saarinen-designed Womb Chair in celadon not only round out this largely modular, square-shouldered collection, but they add a spark of fun.

Tip: Owner Paul Nadolny suggests customers do their homework about the finishes they want and the amount they want to spend - the choices can be staggering. Patience, in this case, is also a virtue, as most pieces take one to four months for delivery.

By Vanessa McGrady
Special to NWsource