The Blue House

You would think that being right next door to Starbucks at the intersection of Norfolk and Woodmont would make The Blue House unavoidable, but I managed to avoid it for a good five months. Something about the storefront is daunting. There's just so much there.

Walk inside and it's no different. The Blue House carries jewelry, children's books, cook books, blankets, soap and lotion, clothing, dishes and flatware, rugs, pottery, sandals, lamps, sewing kits, note cards, furniture, and a feast of magnets, note pads, key chains, luggage tags, etc. that can't really be categorized. What does it have it all have in common? It's all creative, beautiful, quirky and/or capricious. It's your one-stop shop for Adorable. But as delightful as it all is, there's nothing frivolous about it; there's nothing there you couldn't actually use. It's Whimsy meets Function.

It takes a good twenty minutes to make your way through the store. Take a look at some of their merchandise: Anne Taintor (above), Bonjour Fleurette (sandals), Charn & Company (lighting), Claire Sanchez (purses), Maine Cottage (furniture), Amy Jo Gladstone (shoes and slippers), Art To Wear (clothing), Silver Spoon (vintage jewelry). Delightful, right?

It's not that's it's all precious, though most of it is. It's more that it's all feel-good. (Remember warm fuzzies?) Walking through the store is like reading a poem, or eating an ice cream cone, or doing a backbend—it gives you a little nudge from left brain to right. It makes you want to paint, or bake, or skip. It makes you feel good. Hell, some of the merchandise will actually make you smile. And all of it will make you think of someone who should have it. If you need a gift for a friend, or mother-to-be, or mother, or cousin, or yourself, start here. If you feel like just window shopping, start here too. They've got a table by the door to hold your cappuccino while you browse.

The Blue House, 7770 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, 301.656.6088 (No website to be found.)