GoodWood Washington DC

Twenty years ago, when I first moved to DC, GoodWood was one of the places you could count on for funky bohemian furniture and home accessories finds. Dan and Anna Kahoe, the husband-wife team behind GoodWood, have an eye for vintage household goods which they and their team give new life to, making them over both aesthetically and functionally before selling off to loving new homes.

Last summer, when I moved back to the neighborhood, I found GoodWood better than ever. The shop itself looks like an old general store, with a massive wood sales desk, racks of unique clothes sourced from small designers, and a perfume counter with bespoke scents. A path through the store leads through vignettes of refurbished furniture, art and small housewares, stylishly arranged throughout the high-ceilinged space. It's tempting to sit and relax, but there's much to discover. An oil portrait of someone's severe old uncle sits beside art deco posters advertising French champagne. Tables of gifts, candles, and stationery are dotted throughout. Classic, with a twist: it's like a grown-up flea market, things are cool and not too expensive, already fixed and functional. An antiques store that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Nothing lasts long here, and a trip is often filled with despair as one heads to the perfect piece only to find a 'sold' tag hanging by a string. Designers, architects and patrons come weekly, for the stock is ever-changing. GoodWood is like a gift that keeps on giving.