Where to Buy:

1. Emily Uchytil archival beetle print of an original oil painting on vintage wallpaper ($40) at Found Studio.
2. Vintage butterfly cup and saucer ($25) at Objects Found.
3. Bowerbox Press bee flag ($32) at Found Studio or bowerbox.com.
4. FuzzyMug hand-printed flour sack cicada tea towel ($18) at etsy.com/shop/FuzzyMug or Shop Taken.
5. Baby bees ($15.50 each) at In Watermelon Sugar.
6. Pineapple West Co. lightning bug coasters ($20 for four) at pineapplewestco.com.
7. Framed African death’s-head hawkmoth ($150) at Bazaar.
8. Pewter beehive candle snuffer ($32) at Curiosity.
9. Handcrafted Eco Paper dragonfly garland ($9) at In Watermelon Sugar.
10. Pinkkiss Pottery moth platter ($65) at pinkkisspottery.com.
11. Kate Rowe Creations ceramic bee mug ($30) at katerowecreations.com.
12. Dried flower and butterfly cloche ($48) at The Greenhouse.

As anyone who has lived in a college dorm or white-walled rental can attest, the right furnishings turn a house into a home. Not only do furnishings make a space more comfortable, they show off personality. Are you more into a bold, minimalist loft with clean lines and pops of color, or a bohemian rowhouse with exposed brick walls and layers of color and texture?

From stocking sofas that will squeeze into Canton’s notoriously narrow rowhomes to custom-designing a table that works for a vast, open-concept kitchen and living space, local business owners know their clients and their city, making furniture shopping (even more) fun for customers.

And when it comes to a significant investment that you’ll be using daily, there’s really no substitute for experiencing furniture in-person before you buy. That’s why we’ve compiled this ode to independent brick-and-mortar furniture stores, from high-end modern design studios to quirky antique shops, and everything in between.

Contemporary & Traditional

BECKET HITCH
After moving Becket Hitch into its new, larger spot in Greenspring Station this spring, owner Kohli Flick is finally able to stock more of the larger items she loves but that wouldn’t fit in the store’s prior home. That means more furniture—from upholstered cocktail tables and couches to supple leather side chairs. A MICA grad, Flick stocks the shop with the perfect finishing touches to infuse a room with your personality, from textured, woven throw pillows to nautical wall decor and rustic dishware. 2360 W. Joppa Rd., Lutherville-Timonium, 410-296-4818

DREAM HOUSE FURNITURE AND DESIGN
Whether you need help picking the color and style of a new couch or want a full home makeover, Dream House Furniture and Design can make your vision a reality with its combination of thoughtful design services and furnishings from Cassandra Senn Vaira, Wendy Flynn, and Mary Beutler. Nestled on downtown Frederick’s Patrick Street, home to vintage, clothing, and other boutiques, Dream House stocks furniture from American Leather (known for its decidedly chic recliners) and CR Laine (for those embracing color and texture in upholstered furniture) alongside everything else needed to outfit a room, from lights and art to wallpaper and rugs. 102 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 301-360-0680

MCLAIN WIESAND
Channeling the ethos of the great 18th-and 19th-century artisans and ateliers, custom furniture designers at McLain Wiesand craft ornate pieces that would look at home in the most decadent, historic buildings—and clients often commission them just for that purpose. Owner David Wiesand’s maximalist aesthetic has been on display at his Mount Vernon by-appointment showroom and personal apartment above for nearly two decades. Wiesand’s one-of-a-kind creations include gilded mirrors, hand-painted details, intricate metalwork, and ornate faux finishes. 1013 Cathedral St., 410-539- 4440

SHOFER’S FURNITURE
With more than 70,000 square feet of show- room over five floors, Shofer’s Furniture has one of the largest selections of furniture in Maryland, making it an easy first stop for any budget or style. From its original Federal Hill location (a former Hecht’s Department Store acquired by Harry Shofer in the 1930s), attractively styled living room and dining room scenes beckon shoppers inside, where third-generation owner Henry Shofer and his team steer loyal patrons through more than 200 brands to find the perfect fit. 930 S. Charles St., 410-752-4212

SU CASA
Su Casa hits that perfect balance between fun and sophisticated, stocking every- thing from quirky kitchenware to upholstered couches and one-of-a-kind furniture and decor from local makers. With two decades in the business, Nick Johnson knows his customers. Each shop (Fells Point, Ellicott City, Bethany Beach, and Ocean View, Delaware) takes inspiration from its location, and white-glove delivery from a crew that’s used to narrow doors, awkward stairwells, and tight spots means getting your new space together faster. 901 S. Bond St., and other locations, 410-522- 7010

URBAN THREADS
Like an interior-design Instagram feed come to life, this boutique carries bedding,
draperies, and throw pillows, along with select on-trend furniture—think a rattan
peacock chair, luxe velvet accent chair, and a rustic, live-edge coffee table highlighting the wood’s natural shape. Owner Jane O’Donoghue moved Urban Threads from Ellicott City to The Shops at Kenilworth earlier this year. You can even design your own custom pillows for the ultimate finishing touch. 800 Kenilworth Dr., #854, Towson, 410-769-8485

Modern

DESIGN DISTILLERY
The pieces at this chic storefront are hand-selected with Baltimore urban living in mind. Brought to life after owner Karen Graveline began a search for modern furnishings for her own digs, Design Distillery continues to stock furniture that feels at home where Baltimoreans live, whether that means a loft or narrow rowhome. From its origins as Home on the Harbor 15 years ago, Design Distillery has grown physically (it moved to new, 9,000-square-foot digs off Key Highway in 2016) and in scope. You’ll find modern pieces from brands including Gus Modern, Knoll, Masaya, and Blu Dot arranged into floor sets that make it easy to envision them in your space. Best of all, the team is happy to coach customers in their design choices to make furniture shopping fun. 1414 Key Hwy., 410-433-1616

INDOOR FURNITURE
Don’t let its big-box exterior scare you away—Indoor Furniture in Columbia has been sourcing contemporary, modern, and Scandinavian-inspired furnishings for the Baltimore and D.C. area for more than 30 years. Its 35,000-square-foot showroom brings together high-quality home and office furniture, from family-owned Danish brand Skovby, known for pioneering extension systems for tables, to its best-sell- ing, sculptural Estelle dining chair from Vermont-based Copeland Furniture. 8895A McGaw Rd., Columbia, 410-381-7577

MIY HOME
Michael Ryan Wright and Seth Barkman live by the motto, “What’s mine is yours.” It inspired the name of their modern furniture shop in Fells Point, MiY Home. The showroom—in a triple-wide rowhouse—spans four levels, plus a rooftop deck highlighting outdoor furniture. The cozy showroom stocks versatile, modern essentials for urban living, many of them sustainable and made in the U.S. Wright and Barkman’s recommendations are based their expertise, not product descriptions—many of the pieces they stock also furnish the couple’s home above the shop. 1605 Eastern Ave., 410-881- 0187

ANTIQUE, VINTAGE, & RECLAIMED

ANNAPOLIS MARITIME ANTIQUES
Nautical lovers, rejoice! This Eastport shop offers maritime-themed home decor, artisan jewelry, high-end antiques, and rare artifacts from around the world. Does it sell tote bags with anchor and nautical knot prints? Sure. But this shop, owned by Navy veteran Tony Kime, goes beyond the typical preppy coastal decor trend to stock authentic antiques such as an 1800s-era anchor used by watermen on the Chesapeake Bay, perfectly weathered ropes and pulleys, vintage sailing instruments, and an extensive collection of historic photographs from navies around the world. Kime also creates custom furniture that incorporates nautical elements. 128 Severn Ave., Annapolis, 410-268-7490

ANTIQUE EXCHANGE INTERIORS
From antique furniture to consignment and new items, Antique Exchange on Chestnut Street in Hampden has it all—and somehow makes old and new fit together effortlessly. The whitewashed brick rowhome stocks brands like Worlds Away, Jonathan Adler, and Dwell Studio alongside classic antiques sourced by co-owner Tom Finnerty, like a Dutch cabinet from the early 1800s and Victorian-era painted ceramics. With nearly 30 years in business, Finnerty’s shop has evolved from strictly antiques to an eclectic mix of classic and current pieces, including gifts and smaller home-decor items such as candles, coffee table books, and pillows and throws of all patterns and textures. 3545 Chestnut Ave., 410-532-7000

BAREFOOT DWELLING
Stroll in or by appointment, this treasure trove in downtown Annapolis is chock full of the elements interior designer and owner Lisa Quina favors when putting together a comfortable space that’s full of a client’s personality: mid-century modern furniture, industrial lighting, and vintage textiles. Like an elevated vintage shop, Barefoot Dwelling explodes with color and texture. Its walls are lined with quirky paintings in rustic wood frames, and pillows in vintage fabrics and patterns are stacked up on top of teak chairs. 65 Maryland Ave., Annapolis 443-603-4386

CEDAR & COTTON
The best furniture styles of the past half-century have found a new life at Cedar & Cotton, a vintage home-furnishings company in Southwest Baltimore. Friends and decor lovers Raina Smallwood and Nasira Latif lovingly source and refurbish vintage finds, from classic upholstered teak dining sets to bohemian bamboo and cane barstools—even retro sofas with funky fabrics. 208 S. Pulaski St., Ste. 2A, 443-990-1427

MARY KAY’S FURNITURE
Frequented by local interior designers looking for high-end estate pieces, Mary Kay’s Furniture brings together fine Danish, Art Deco, and mid-century furnishings acquired from across the country on Falls Road. With an encyclopedic knowledge of furniture, owner Mary Kay can tell you the designer, era, and often the history of the pieces she sells. Find statement lighting, like a five-tier spiral clear-glass chandelier by Venini or like-new teak scissor lounge chairs by Swedish designer Folke Ohlsson. 6245 Falls Rd., 410-852-4896

OFF MAIN
Just off Main Street in Ellicott City, this appointment-only and online shop from Lyssa Balick and Kelric Goodman lovingly sources and restores mid-century, retro, and Americana furnishings. Follow them on Facebook for posts about each piece as it comes in, from Bassett dressers in rich wood tones to vibrant vinyl couches and lounge chairs in attention-grabbing colors. If you’re looking for something specific, let Balik know—she has a running list of clients looking for certain items and will email them when one comes in. 417 Oella Ave., Catonsville, 443-851-3221

PARADISO
Tucked between Voodoo Glass Company and The Food Market on The Avenue in Hampden, Paradiso’s ever-changing window in its chartreuse-green storefront shows off the mix of antique and modern furnishings and decor inside. From husband-and-wife team Sharona Gamliel and Ric Martinkus, the eclectic store offers everything from a rare 1950s bar cart by Cesare Lacca for Cassina to Art Deco posters and mid-century modern leather sofa and chairs by Brazilian designer Percival Lafer—all in pristine condition. 1015 W. 36th St., 410-243-1317

RYAN’S RELICS
If you enjoy the hunt, there’s no better place than Ryan’s Relics. With two locations on Belair Road in Nottingham, this store has been bringing affordable estate furniture to Baltimore since 2004. Wander through the tight aisles stacked high with furniture to find anything from a painted Japanese screen to an upholstered cedar chest and mid-century dining sets. Because Ryan Chandler and his team liquidate estates, there’s constantly new merchandise, including other interesting and sometimes bizarre items, such as vintage games and toys, jewelry, musical instruments, and even used vacuums. 7900 and 8100 Belair Rd., 410-870-6493

SECOND CHANCE
A nonprofit that salvages materials for repurposing by the public, Second Chance’s massive warehouse stocks everything from doors and windows in various sizes and colors to rows of vintage and retro appliances, furniture (everything from mahogany credenzas to ’90s-era sofas), and original architectural details saved from Baltimore-area buildings (think ornate fireplace mantles, reclaimed hardware, and brass door knockers). You never know what you’ll find at Second Chance, and that’s part of the fun. 1700 Ridgely St., 410-385-1700

URBAN INTERIORS
Kathleen Anguera has a knack for arranging furnishings to make a space feel like home. It’s a skill she perfected after living in five countries around the world and studying interior design in England, and one that she continues to perfect as owner of Urban Interiors. Anguera landed in Baltimore in 2015, opening her antique shop just off The Avenue in Hampden about a year later. Filled with mid-century pieces (from an arc floor lamp to a matching rattan couch, chair, and ottoman), the brick-walled shop offers statement pieces at affordable prices. If you’re not sure what your space needs, Anguera is happy to lend a hand rearranging the furniture you already have and adding new elements for a total refresh. 1200 W. 36th St., 434-907- 3168

VINTAGE MC
Step through this Frederick shop’s bright teal door and enter a world of mid-century finds, from Danish teak dining sets to an Eames-style chair and ottoman duo. Clearly, the “MC” in the shop’s name means mid-century, but it’s also the initials of owner Mindy Cawley, who opened her ode to home goods from the mid-20th century in 2017. After outfitting her Frederick 1950s rancher in era-appropriate furnishings, Cawley began selling furniture from booths in Cannon Hill Place Antiques before making the decision to open her own store, attracting fans of the Mad Men aesthetic from D.C., Baltimore, and beyond. 103 S. Carroll St., Frederick, 240-514-8623

WISHBONE RESERVE
On nice days, Wishbone Reserve’s roll-up garage door is open, beckoning passers-by with unobstructed views of its bohemian collection of Persian rugs, vintage furniture, and quirky, retro furnishings. From the wooden-boat-turned-planter outside to the salvaged movie-theater sign compelling shoppers to “Fall in love with Wishbone Reserve” and “Vote! Vote! Vote!,” this vintage, antique, and consignment shop man- ages to feel like a hip friend’s home that you want to hang out in for a while (and whose style you want to copy in your own home). Arriving in Hampden by way of Mt. Washington last year, design-obsessed friends Athena Hoffberger, Julie Lilienfeld, and Ryan Haase make the shop available to local artists as a gallery, too. 3811 Falls Rd., 443-961-3376

Consignment

THE CLEARING HOUSE
For more than 30 years, The Clearing House has been giving Towson-area residents’ furniture a second life. Its 7,000-square-foot showroom stocks both antiques and newer items, like Arhaus sectionals, Oriental rugs, and fine china sets. Sisters Lisa Hudson and Cara Derr are the second generation to run this beloved shop, which sees the same customers returning to sell and buy for years. 200 W. Padonia Rd., #5, Timonium, 410- 561-4546

GREAT FINDS & DESIGN
A consignment store with the feel of a boutique design studio, Great Finds & Design arranges its unique furniture, jewelry, and home-decor items into styled vignettes, so it’s easy to picture each piece in your own home. Sisters Camille Quillen and Dianne Doccolo bring in like-new items that fit the contemporary and transitional design aesthetic, from brand names like Restoration Hardware, Blu Dot, Crate and Barrel, Mitchell Gold, and more. Items are priced fairly and are reduced by the amount of time they remain for sale on clearly marked tags. 1924 Greenspring Dr., Timonium, 410-561-9413

OBJECTS FOUND
Drive down Egges Lane in Catonsville and a sea of statuary (from aliens and goblins to Buddha and St. Francis) catches your eye. Lawn art is a summertime best-seller for Objects Found, a consignment store overseen by veteran antiques dealer Reggie Laskauskas. From quality mid-century furniture to quirky knick-knacks from the past 50 years, Objects Found is filled to the brim with items worth a look and wading through the sea of treasures (think old-school video games, Baltimore Colts memorabilia, Shaker furniture, and vintage glass bottles) is half the fun. Call Laskauskas and her team before moving or redesigning—it’s likely she’ll find value in items you may have already thrown in the box marked “donate.” 11 Egges Ln., Catonsville, and other locations, 410-744- 9000

THE TURNOVER SHOP
A consignment store serving Baltimore since the 1940s, the family-run Turnover Shop sells high-quality furniture, home decor, art, and estate jewelry out of a tidy white rowhouse with blue trim on Roland Avenue. Mother- daughter team Alice Ann Finnerty and Alice Ann Martin hand-pick the best items from estates and downsizers to consign in their shop, from a DWR patio set to a set of turquoise wicker chairs and a 19th-century mahogany chest. 3855 Roland Ave., #1, 410- 235-9585

TWIG
After running a gift shop for many years, Olga French was looking for a more sustainable business model. In 2011, she opened Twig, a consignment and antiques shop in Columbia offering a second life to statement furniture (a pair of smoked Lucite, mid-century tulip chairs), tabletop wares (retro fondue pot, anyone?), and lighting (Tiffany- style to modern). Drop in during the week for consignment appraisals, or by appointment on Saturdays. French also sells local art out of Twig, like the colorful, textural paintings from Sandra Wexler. 9170 Old Annapolis Rd., Columbia, 410-740-221

RUSTIC & INDUSTRIAL

HOUSEWERKS
From the 1880s-era former headquarters of the Chesapeake Gas Company, Ben Riddleberger has been collecting and selling salvaged architectural, ornamental, and decorative antiques for nearly 15 years. Stained-glass windows, industrial ceiling lights, salvaged tile and ceramics, and vintage signage makes up just a fraction of the character-laden items at Housewerks. If you’ve already got a piece that needs a little TLC, Riddleberger can help restore it, too. This past June, Housewerks hosted the inaugural season of the Pigtown flea market. 1415 Bayard St., 410-685-8047

INDUSTRIAL HOME
Veteran designer Christopher Ritchie honed his skills with clients including Starbucks, Bryan Voltaggio, Neiman Marcus, and Restoration Hardware before pouring his passion into Industrial Home. Since opening in 2013, the Frederick business has outfitted industrial-chic homes and businesses with its own line of custom furniture and rustic home decor, from buttery leather sofas to live-edge tables and adjustable metal barstools that look like they were pulled from an old-school science lab. While the aesthetic is decidedly rugged, Ritchie’s designs look just as at home in a log cabin as a light-washed modern loft. 154-A N. Market St., Frederick, 301-360-0600

CUSTOM

CRUMP & KWASH
Combining sculptural and architectural elements, the pieces from design-build studio Crump & Kwash are functional works of art. Founded by business partners Justin Kwash and Paul Crump in 2015, the duo’s modern-retro aesthetic has landed its furniture in numerous interior design publications (from Domino to Architectural Digest), and even in the bedroom of actress Ashley Tisdale (custom-finished Phillip nightstands). After moving into a new workshop in Hampden earlier this year, Crump & Kwash will open a showroom to the public this fall. 1525 W. 41st St., 410- 537-5184

OLIVR STUDIO
Master craftsman Tony Oliver arrived in Baltimore by way of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, where he was a lead carpenter. After meeting his wife during the filming of an episode in Baltimore, he relocated to Charm City and launched Dylan Design Company in 2012. Last year he paired the move to a new workshop space with a new name: Olivr Studio. His minimalistic designs let the materials sing, from the English bridle leather-wrapped Cale Settee to the stone-topped Maeve console with geometric, stained-wood legs and bronze hardware.

BLISS WOODWORKS
A class on woodworking taken at the Station North Tool Library set Kate Christian on a path that culminated in the launching of Bliss Woodworks. Christian’s custom-furniture company offers a variety of luxe furniture combining meticulous details (brass inlays, rounded corners, and a variety of finishes) with reclaimed materials. Find her work for sale at retailers that support local makers, like Trohv in Hampden and the Made in Baltimore store in Station North.

CAMPOS IRON WORKS
This workshop crafts industrial, metal, and reclaimed wood creations from a studio in the Crown Industrial Park between Brewer’s Hill and Greektown, but sends its custom pieces to corporate and residential clients across the country, thanks to a healthy online following on Etsy and Amazon Handmade. Founded in 2012 by designer and engineer Marcus Comfort, Campos Iron Works’ pieces expertly com- bine form and function. Most, like the popular adjustable drill-press stool or stand-up, sit-down office desk and stool combo, feature welded steel and moving parts in a French industrial style. 4401 Eastern Ave.

SANDTOWN FURNITURE COMPANY
Since 2010, the skilled craftspeople at Sandtown Furniture Company have been saving old-growth pine lumber from demolished buildings in Baltimore and repurposing it as high-end furniture. Each piece, from the modern, square-beam Ellwood coffee table to the classic, trestled farmhouse-style Hamilton dining table, takes on a unique quality from the wood’s character. Baltimore pride flows through Sandtown, from furniture named after neighborhoods to the signature pewter emblem on each finished piece, declaring it “built with pride from wood with character in Baltimore.” You’ll find Sandtown’s work in local businesses as well, like the communal tables at the new Broadway Market in Fells Point. 1830 Belt St., 410-299-9833

The year 1967 looked to be a good one for Robert Long. Several years earlier, the custom lighting maker had packed his family into a VW bus and driven cross-country from Savannah, Georgia, to Sausalito, California, to be at the center of progressive design. His firm, Robert Long Lighting, was taking off, and he had recently published his first catalog. Then,later that same year, Long, his wife, one of their sons, and the child’s maternal grandmother were all killed in a car accident.

Two sons survived, and one, Robert M. Long, now continues his father’s lighting legacy in an eccentric workshop in Hampstead.

After the accident, Long and his older brother were sent to live with an aunt in Pennsylvania. When she died of a stroke, they went to Savannah to be raised by another aunt. Long, who was only 2 years old when his parents died, says he was about 7 when he started to put together the pieces of his father’s work.

“It helped that we grew up with desk and floor lamps in the house that had been made by my dad,” says Long, “or we would drive by my parents’ friends’ houses and there would be his fixtures on their houses.”

The business tried to carry on without his father but went bankrupt in 1989. “After college, I looked up the company and took a rental car to see it,” Long recalls. “Shortly thereafter, it went under.”

Upon graduation, Long entered the insurance business with his uncle, but after more than a decade in that line of work and with a failed marriage behind him, he quit and moved to California, ostensibly to go to graduate school for counseling psychology.

“I was pretty aware that my whole move to California was a reconnection with my parents,” says Long. “I had spent years working with my uncle trying to get something from him he couldn’t give—he wasn’t my father.”

When he was in his 20s (he’s now 53), a cousin sent Long his dad’s catalogs, and, for the first time, he thought about resurrecting the brand. Living in California, doing graduate work in psychology, and learning about himself in the process, the idea galvanized.

“I needed to make this stuff to bring this all full circle,” he recalls. “There was a spiritual element to it.”

Long digitized his father’s catalogs and went looking for buyers among interior designers and architects. One designer placed an order for her hotel project in 2011 and Robert Long Lighting was back in business.

Initially, Long found people to make prototype lights for him, but the results were disappointing. “I’m a little particular when it comes to design-related things, so it suited me to make the lights myself.”

He opened a studio across the street from his father’s old location and reconnected with some of his father’s former employees and vendors. And he taught himself much of the art and science of both electricity and metal design.

While the business was in California, Long’s life had moved east. Through a cousin, he had met his interior-designer girlfriend, who lived in Baltimore County, but the bicoastal element of the romance was wearing. A conversation with a business coach helped him realize he had done what he needed to do in California and he could run the business from anywhere.

In August of last year, Long packed his inventory in a truck and moved cross-country to a charmingly shabby office space in Hampstead that had once been a water-treatment plant. His office, which looks like an old-fashioned high-school science lab, is full of prototype lights and bins for the washes he uses for hand finishes. In a separate shop, he and one other worker make each light to order.

The line of elegant, mid-century designs are created today as they were by Long’s father—by hand in solid brass and copper. All glass is hand-blown by the same company that Long’s father used. Each piece has a “living finish,” which means its patina will evolve over time.

The business is now international, driven primarily by designers, architects, and high-end homeowners who seek out the lights for their quality and simplicity, as well as for Long’s attentive customer service.

These days, Long is working on a redesign of his father’s oil lanterns. The updated version will feature a spring-loaded candle. Though he may tweak things, Long is committed to using only his father’s proven, 1960s designs.

“I will hit roadblocks with certain fixtures and I’ll think, ‘What would my dad do?’ There’s always that conversation in everything I do,” he says. “I’m constantly in that space of feeling connected and that I’m carrying forward my father’s legacy with this work.”

Contemporary abstract artist Liza Hathaway Matthews needn’t look any further than her own backyard for inspiration. Large windows lining the back wall of her home in Woodbrook not only provide the natural light that artists live for, but also overlook a picturesque expanse of Lake Roland. The ever-changing hues of water and sky work their way into her landscapes, seascapes, and abstract floral paintings.

“Do you see that line of blue just above the horizon, under the clouds?” she asks, pointing toward a day-blue swatch just above a pine tree line. She stands in her living room, surrounded by her work—which is not just framed pieces on the walls but throw pillows, linens, and a fabric lampshade. “It’s in my work. I’m influenced every day by what I see outside. And the moon. I literally have the best spot for it. All week, I’ve been watching it.”

Her vibrant, nature-inspired paintings—some of which have been transformed into textiles by Cotton & Quill and Anthropologie—often reflect the loose, organic shapes she sees outside. Her most recent series of paintings was done on leather, but she also works with paper, canvas, and mylar and incorporates oil and acrylic paints, alcohol ink, gold leaf, oils, and other materials to achieve layered effects.

“I don’t like everything to be so predictable. That’s probably why I also love working with so many different mediums,” she says. “I literally put everything and the kitchen sink onto my paintings. One day, I didn’t have any Wesson oil for a piece, and I came running downstairs and grabbed the olive oil, and my husband was like, ‘Oh my God—now you’re using olive oil?!’ And I was like, ‘I need it, and I need it now.’”

Hathaway Matthews was born and raised in Baltimore and, as she puts it, “lived in the woods as a kid,” always exploring the natural world around her.

She grew up in a creative family, with a mother and cousins who dabbled in art and were supportive of her pursuits. “I always loved my art classes in elementary and high school,” she says. “All of that was just so in my wheelhouse.”

She majored in painting and minored in interior design at Maryland Institute College of Art, earning a BFA before joining the workforce at a commercial interior-design company. But that gig was relatively short-lived. She found it too limiting, wanting to focus solely on making her artwork. She then went in a totally different direction and began fundraising for United Way, wanting a reliable salary as she and her husband raised their three children.

As the kids got older and her schedule became more flexible, she found herself painting again. It was mostly just for herself, until a friend, a residential interior designer, began selling some of her work to clients. This morphed into Hathaway Matthews working with other local interior designers and later hiring someone to build her website, getting plugged into social media (Instagram and Pinterest remain her favorite platforms), and launching a business that now draws clients from across the country and Canada.

“I think the social media piece has really opened my world,” she says. It’s often how clients find her, but also how she finds new ideas. “I’m inspired by landscapes I see on social media, but I’m also inspired by home interiors. I love bohemian-looking interiors. I like a mix of things. I like texture and things that are built upon other layers.”

Cotton & Quill, a hand-illustrated textile company, found her work online about five years ago and began collaborating with her to create fabrics and wallpaper based on her work.

Anthropologie was among the companies that found her through Instagram (@lizahathawaymatthews), and she has loved working with them. “They’re very hands-on, but they also want me very involved,” she says. “They’re not taking my design and totally changing it; they’re still keeping my vision of how I painted it.”

They were interested in her floral work, so, after talking with them, she painted a large abstract floral piece in acrylic, oil, and charcoal with a silver background and mailed it to them. Anthropologie was determined to retain a bit of the metallic aspect, which she uses in many of her pieces, when they created a line of her designs titled “Rites of Spring” (released in the fall of 2018), including a lampshade and digitally printed wall mural.

“They’d send me the prototypes to see if I liked it or had any thoughts,” she says. “Everything they’ve done so far, I’ve really loved.”

The finished lampshade almost appears to have been hand-painted by Hathaway Matthews, and it changes drastically depending on whether the light is turned on or off—another detail she appreciates.

A typical day for Hathaway Matthews starts early in the morning in her second-floor studio, as she does some of her best work during those hours and finds it to be her most productive time of day. She might put in a four-hour day, or it might be a 10-hour day, but suffice it to say, she’s constantly working on her craft—whether that means keeping up with commissions, collaborating with clients, or, yes, gazing out her window, taking in the view, and jotting down ideas.

About two years ago, she met Jenny Benscher, founder of Lema J Design, at a holiday gift show at the Baltimore Country Club. Benscher, who grew up in Baltimore and now lives in Florida, makes one-of-a-kind exotic leather cuffs and donates all proceeds to Karma for Cara Foundation, a nonprofit that formed when Benscher’s niece was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 21 and passed away shortly thereafter. Hathaway Matthews loved the cuffs, Benscher loved Hathaway Matthews’ work, and so it was a no-brainer for them to collaborate.

“I just loved her loose strokes and the florals and the colors, and I thought it would translate really well into these cuffs,” Benscher says. “I didn’t want it to look like a pretty little flower on a cuff; I wanted it to look like pieces from an abstract painting. And they do. To me, they look like little paintings.”

They began working together in the spring of 2018, Benscher mailing assorted leather strips up to Baltimore, Hathaway Matthews hand-painting them with acrylic and using a sealant, then mailing them back to Florida, where Benscher crops and cuts them and affixes them to the metal cuffs.

“She sends me the coolest leathers: stingray, python, or a silver or a matte leather,” Hathaway Matthews says. “It’s really fun to come up with ideas for them, and I also just wanted to be involved.”

This collaboration launched Hathaway Matthews’ appreciation of leather as a medium. She was drawn to the added texture it provided, as well as the metallic leathers that give off a reflective glimmer.

She’s created so many paintings on leather over the past year, in fact, that she’s exhibiting them in a solo show, Radiating Nature, that begins this month. Her series of leatherette pieces in various sizes will be shown at Bozzuto Greene Art’s gallery space, Gatehouse at Green Spring Station in Lutherville, with an opening reception on April 3.

Lexie Greene, who co-owns Bozzuto Greene Art with Robin Bozzuto, had been talking with Hathaway Matthews, whom they represent, about an exhibit. They knew a springtime show would be ideal for her work. After all, what better time of year to put these pieces on display than the magical season when the Earth wakes up again and begins showing all its colors?

Says Greene, “Liza’s work is feminine, glamorous, and inspired by nature’s beauty.”

If you’ve ever spent 15 minutes browsing on Pinterest, you’ve seen at least one image of an airy, aspirational room with a perfectly designed gallery wall. You know the type—the “Oh, I just threw some things up there that I liked, and it all worked out,” gallery wall.

If only it were so easy.

The “effortless” gallery wall may be the biggest lie in home décor.

In reality, the gallery wall is where those of us who are interior design beginners encounter the perfect storm of frustration—where spatial reasoning (or lack thereof) meets precise measurements.

But we weren’t about to let that stop us. We went to the experts at Framin’ Place in Mt. Washington for insights on how to pull off hanging a gallery wall that has it all—beauty, style, and longevity.

Mark Thompson has been managing Framin’ Place for nearly 25 years—almost the entire time the business has been serving Baltimore’s art lovers. The shop’s pros specialize in helping Baltimoreans bring more beauty into their homes via their custom framing services.

Here, along with Thompson’s insights, we share some of the most useful tips and tricks for anyone looking to spruce up their space with their very own gallery wall.

Gather your artwork

The first, and most important step, is deciding what pieces to include in your gallery wall. Whether you want to stick to family photos or create a mishmash of artwork, photos, sculpture, and more, the beauty of the gallery wall is that there are no hard and fast rules about what can be included.

Select your frames

As with the artworks themselves, there are no strict rules about what types of frames to include in a gallery wall. The most important thing to take into consideration is how the grouping will look as a whole. “To mix it up can be really sharp, but you wouldn’t want to insert something that’s going to draw attention away from everything else on the wall,” says Thompson. “Using neutral mattes is important for a unified look. As far as frames go, you want to be sure they relate to each other style-wise. Staying within a color family, like all black finishes for a black and white photo wall, looks really great.”

If you’re looking to create a gallery wall with a modern feel, but with staying power, Thompson recommends sticking with something classic. “Throughout the years, we’ve seen trends come and go, but there are some timeless options, like natural hardwoods, or an all-black or all-white minimalist look.”

Protect your pieces
Chances are, you care about the artwork and photographs in your gallery wall. To guard against the damage UV light and acidic materials can cause over time, make sure your pieces are protected. At Framin’ Place, every project uses UV blocking glass and all acid-free materials. “Everything we do is to extend the life of the artwork,” says Thompson. “Often, people don’t realize how faded their artworks have become, since it happens over time.”

Choose a focal point
The eye will naturally go first to the largest piece on the wall, so make sure it’s something you really love. Whether it’s a wedding photo or a print of your favorite Matisse from the BMA’s Cone Collection, this will be the piece that you build the rest of your arrangement around. If you’re looking to make that piece stand out even more, consider using a special frame as an added highlight. “There are certainly ways to elevate a focal point piece. A more ornate frame than the rest of the wall, or a hand applied finish can really let people know that that’s a special piece,” says Thompson. “Look for something you can’t just find anywhere.”

Use stencils to create a layout
Rather than trying to decide on your final arrangement by holding your pieces directly up on the wall, you can make it easier on yourself with stencils. Thompson recommends laying out all your pieces on newspaper or brown craft paper, tracing each one, then cutting them out to create stencils. With a bit of patience and painters’ tape, you can shuffle your stencils around in the space where you want your gallery wall. Keep adjusting until the layout feels right and the spacing between elements is correct. You know what they say, measure twice, hammer once—especially if you rent!

Use the right hardware
If you’re a beginner, do some research into what the proper hanging hardware is for your wall. Brick, plaster, and drywall require different hardware, and the weight of the pieces you’re hanging is a factor as well. (For example, an expansion type screw with a plastic sleeve is best for hanging on brick walls, but drywall calls for a drywall screw.) “You want stability, and to make sure you’re not constantly moving your pictures to straighten them,” says Thompson. “Whether the proper hanging mechanism for the piece is wire or something else, we always put the appropriate hanging mechanism on each piece to make it a little easier for people once they bring the artwork home.”

Let your iPhone do some work
The compass app on your iPhone is hiding a super useful secret—a level! Open the compass, swipe right, and the screen of your phone will become a level. Hold that bad boy up on the top of each frame as you’re hanging, and it’ll show you if you need to scooch the piece a bit this way or that for it to hang straight.

Don’t be afraid to keep adding
You’ve hung the final piece and taken a step back to gaze upon the fruits of your labors, but that doesn’t have to mean your brand-new gallery wall is finished finished. A gallery wall’s organic, irregular borders lend themselves to future additions, or even swapping out artworks and frames as you wish. When you take that next perfect picture, simply grab a frame and add it on.

I grew up basically in one house. My four kids have lived in five houses, all in Baltimore, and the oldest is only 11. Some were upgrades due to space; others were due to money/school/life. It’s because of all these moves that I’ve been thinking a lot about what a home means. As a writer my first instinct is to always put thought to paper.

But as much as I’ve written about my family before, I haven’t really written about our houses. I think because for me, mostly, our house has brought me joy by what I’ve filled it with. Not the location (we’ve had some really great locations) and not by it’s size (we tend to be on top of each other regardless of how many bedrooms we have) but the other stuff. Obviously, there are a million “first” memories: first garden, first laundry room on the top floor (man I miss that), first birds nest, first mouse, first rat, first parking spot, first neighbor to entrust with a key, first car broken into, first baby brought home, first snowstorm, and on and on.

For me, it’s also about the other stuff. The family photos that literally infest our home, the plants I’ve kept alive for more than a year, all my books, and my husband’s cookbooks, the dishes that belonged to my great-grandma, the pieces of art we’ve collected in Israel, Ireland, Jamaica, and Greece. And I’m not talking expensive pieces, but the ones that take us back to an exact moment of a memory. The piece of pottery we found on our honeymoon 14 years ago that (luckily) fit into the “seat trunk” of our Vespa as we zipped around Santorini. We have tons of local art pieces that line our walls, bought at farmers’ markets and local craft shows. People think I’m crazy, but I usually have all my art up on my walls within the first week of a move. Only then does our house feel like a home.

Here are some of my favorite places in my house:

Now, as the new features editor for Baltimore Home—tasked with expanding our digital presence, creating a social media buzz, and rethinking our Home quarterly, I intend to define what home really means. To me it’s not just about the zip code, but the actual neighborhood and neighbors. That a house can be an itty-bitty row house (been there!) or a sprawling estate. We want our editorial content to be relevant, innovative, useful, and enjoyable. We want to cover everything that it means to live in a house, from renovations to raising families in small spaces, to interviews with local creative designers, to trends our city is embracing, and what it means to be a neighbor.

Everyone defines home differently and our goal is to convey that. We’ll be introducing some Home bloggers over the next few weeks, from a recovering architect turned photographer (who, along with her husband, has used her skills to renovate two of their own homes) to someone taking the steps of co-habitation, to easy DIY projects (and for real we mean easy) to folks living through their own home renovations to my occasional blog “Kid vs. House.” We’d love to hear from you. What stuff do you have in our house that makes you happy? What makes your neighborhood amazing? What topics would you like to see our Home section cover?

I’m writing this on my (well-loved Crate & Barrel) couch, the sunlight streaming through my windows, a new piece of art ready to be hung, my kids playing upstairs (ohh, summer) and really, wherever that is, I’m home.

Janelle Diamond is the managing editor of Baltimore Weddings and new features editor of Baltimore Home. Email her with your ideas and pitches about your favorite local spaces, places, and faces that make the city home.

Crab season is here and nothing says summer in Charm City like these fun crab-themed items. They’re not just for feasts—you can impress your guests with these home goods any time. Mix in other accent pieces to give your space a makeover the Maryland way.

Clockwise, from top: 

Bowl ($42) at Pamella & Rose.
Crab box ($17.50) at Simply Noted.
Ceramic trivet ($20/each) at The Store Ltd. 
Handmade painting by Kacey Stafford ($65) at Becket Hitch. 
Key chain ($28.50) at Becket Hitch. 
Picture frame ($56) at The Pleasure of Your Company.
Bottle opener ($34) at Pamella & Rose.
Green-striped crab pillow ($45) at Su Casa.
Chesapeake Bay towel ($20) at Curiosity.