While many Italian furniture manufacturers have been producing primarily modernistic pieces lately, the absolute defining factor of Italian style is quality craftsmanship and eye-catching design. While Los Angeles has no shortage of good looking home décor, massive stores just can't match the skill and artistry of Italian pieces, which can be much harder to locate in a slew of Pottery Barns and Crate & Barrels.
To find that level of technique, finding smaller, unknown boutique shops may be necessary, but luckily, there are two unique neighborhoods that have a number of stores filled with these Italian-built furnishings.
With more than 150 shops, Santa Monica's Montana Avenue is a great place to go shopping no matter what you might be looking for. For furniture, there are two locations you're going to want to visit: The Blue House and Hemisphere. The Blue House is an antique shop with a ton of interesting and eclectic pieces that could quickly become the cornerstone for an entire room. In a similar vein, Hemisphere deals primarily in antique furnishings and also carries some exquisite arts and rugs. Any piece purchased from either of these locations will be great conversation starters.
If antiques just aren't your thing, Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice should be a far better fit for you and your home, as the numerous décor and shops offer high-quality, stylistically interesting furnishings. But for some truly intriguing, we recommend visiting some (or all) of the handmade furniture stores. If you can, make a full day out of visiting Abbot Kinney Blvd., as shopping and dining in this neighborhood is a blast. To find Italian-style pieces head to Colcha, Ilan Dei, Maurice Gadson Interiors and Altered Space Gallery.
