Photo by flickr user eversion.

So it’s not likely that your new house, no matter how perfect it is, is going to be perfect in every way. Don’t fret, this is normal; it’s part of making a house into your home.  And what helps you do that most of all – after, you know, family and stuff – is furniture and decoration.  Sure, there’s a new Pottery Barn catalog in your mailbox today, but, c’mon, shop local and shop unique.  Get stuff that you’ll never see on an episode of Friends.

One of our favorite places in town is Red Tree in Hampden (921 W. 36th Street). We always find stuff there we don’t find anywhere else.  And, truth be told, we’re pretentious enough that that’s all we’re ever looking for. (Check out our interview with Red Tree for a closer look at the shop.)

That said, we can still appreciate the comfort sitting on an overstuffed couch and tossing our feet up on a soft leather ottoman.  And for that, there’s no better place than Shofer’s in Federal Hill (930 S. Charles Street).  Shofer’s is one of those family-run furniture stores that’s been around forever and knows the business inside and out.  They’ve got a huge selection; as their website puts it, “Shofer’s shows traditional, contemporary and transitional designs from over 200 manufacturers.”  We’re not sure what “transitional” designs are, but we bet they’re cool.

So when our little projects start taking on a life of their own, when we’re knee-deep in plaster dust, when we’re when we’re standing around thinking about antique lamps, when we’re wondering just how, exactly, the previous owners could have picked such ugly doorknobs, we head out to an architectural salvage store.  They’re treasure chests of stores, chock-full of stuff we never really knew existed.  We’re partial to a few; Housewerks in Federal Hill (1415 Bayard Street), and Second Chance in South Baltimore (1645 Warner Street) are both great places.  Housewerks’ inventory focuses mainly on pre-WWII decorative building features; they’ve currently got a needle shower that we’re drooling over.  Second Chance is not only a great salvage store, they’re also a fully licensed 501(c)(3) corporation; in addition to salvaging old buildings to create less waste, they provide job training in carpentry and craftsmanship to low-income residents in Baltimore.  We dig it; we like our furniture like we like our ice cream: guilt-free.

Where’s your favorite place to buy furniture in Baltimore?  Any secret places to buy a chest-of-drawers you’d like to share?

Locust Point
1423 Beason Street, 21230

Could anyone have imagined this dining area in 1892?

Look around in this fully restored 1892 row house, and you’ll find a lot to see: 3 bedrooms, wood floors, built-in bookcases, stainless steel kitchen appliances, whirlpool jets in the bathroom, and on and on. It’s 871 square feet but feels more spacious because of the 9 to 10 foot ceilings and — ta da — a private rooftop deck from which to enjoy the city.

Original listing in mid-March: $349,900. Now: $299,900. Reduction: $50,000.

Federal Hill
1211 Light Street, Unit T-1, 21230

Another dazzling renovation in an old (1900) building, which now has an elevator. It’s an 859 square foot condo with built-ins throughout and wall-to-wall carpeting. And guess what? The very nice furniture conveys.

Original listing: $339,000, dropped to $324,900 at the end of March. Now: $274,900. Reduction: $50,000.

Everything is in place -- let's get cooking.

Yes, you get the bed, too.

South Baltimore
1402 Woodall Street, 21230

If you’re willing to put glamour aside in favor of a roomy (1,158 square feet) row house, with wood floors and a finished basement, a 2-car garage — you know, the basics — this place has a wonderful surprise. The roof deck affords spectacular views of the city and the harbor.

Listed in mid-March: $349,900. Now: $299,900. Reduction: $50,000.

A respectable Woodall Street facade.

The phenomenal view from the roof deck.

For a closer look at these houses (or ones like them), visit Urban Discoveries Living.