Vintage-furnishings shop Collective reopens with two Ballard locations

Earlier this year, I walked by the space that was once Collective, one of my favorite vintage/home furnishings shops. A couple stood and stared at the papered storefront windows on historic Ballard Avenue. "Oh no," lamented the woman. "Where did they go?" My sentiments exactly.

Fortunately, Collective was only out of commission for a few months and has reopened in not one, but two, Ballard locations, one on Ballard Avenue and the other on Northwest 50th Street.

Owner Gail Miller and her partner Gary Pratt remain dedicated to the concept of affordable vintage and recycled furnishings, and are adamant about stocking sustainable goods, whether it's a found object, a vintage piece of furniture or a consciously made new item.

Miller is selective about what goes into her stores, requiring that every item is well designed and makes a statement, though she can't quite put her finger on what she looks for. "I can't describe it," she says. "I just know when I see it."

Many of the products are made with eco-conscious materials such as reclaimed wood and metals, organic fibers and low-impact dyes. "I want people to be more thoughtful about what they're buying and bringing into their space," says Miller, who believes in replacing or adding furnishings a piece at a time, rather than buying a room full of poorly made furniture.

Collective showroom
On a recent visit to the shop on Ballard Avenue, I found all kinds of irresistible items for home and body. Miller makes a point of offering "small footprint" furnishings in the Showroom, which work especially well for apartment and condo dwellers.

The eclectic mix runs from a recovered split-style sofa for $2,800 to Dreamsacks bamboo-fiber loungewear in an array of contemporary colors (just $13 for shorts to $88 for a set of PJs). Mid-century chrome barstools covered in turquoise faux fur ($85 each) caught my attention -- and I'm not alone. "Those fly out the door when we find them," Miller says.

For bed and bath, there are Portuguese-made Abyss Habedicore turquoise and chocolate-colored towels ($49 for a bath towel), robes and rugs, and organic Area bedding ($50 for a set of pillowcases to $375 for a duvet). Locally made Stacy Lewars cylinder-shaped lamps for kids (starting at $105) are adorable -- Curious George cavorts on one.

You don't even have to splurge on jewelry here -- choose one of the pretty semi-precious stone necklaces or earrings by local designer Mutsuko. Most baubles are well under $100. Don't see what you're looking for? Many items can be special ordered in specific colors, fabrics and sizes, from towels to rugs to loungewear.

Collective warehouse
Everyone from apartment dwellers to new homeowners and empty nesters can go crazy here furnishing their homes. The massive space, a former machine shop just off Leary Avenue, is filled with everything from turn-of-the century dressers to retro lamps and mid-century modern dining sets.

Miller has a keen eye and carries many pristine pieces, but doesn't shy away from well-used furnishings. "Things aren't perfect when they're old," she says. What's more, the character of a piece shines through when the wood is worn, fabric is soft with age, or metals are nicely patinaed.

The warehouse is chock full of sofas, chairs, desks, funky art and more. You can find a vinyl-covered kitchen stool for $60 or a monkey pod wood table from the Philippines for $450. The prices on many items are fantastic -- where can you get a well-made chair from the 1950s for $75?

Miller has a knack for staging and mixing items so they look perfect together. Clients often wax nostalgic about the vintage furnishings that look just like the ones they grew up with. "They often say, 'It never looked that good back then,'" says Miller.

Love the couch but not the fabric? Collective offer sustainable fabrics from Design Tex and Soliloquy by the yard, or they can offer a list of trusted upholsterers and refinishers.

If you're looking for big bargains, visit the last Sunday of each month when furnishings that have been on the floor more than two months are reduced 20 to 40 percent. You can also sign up for e-mails that announce sales and newly acquired stock.

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