PHOTO BY EVE MCCAULEY
SMITH & VALLEE
Tucked inside a century-old schoolhouse, Smith & Vallee Gallery is just one arm of Wesley Smith and Andrew Vallee’s creative output. The pair first collaborated in 1997 on a fine woodworking company, which they still operate out of the gallery’s neighboring woodshop. Recently they acquired a third property—a collection of buildings the duo has transformed into short-term rental properties called Smith & Vallee Guest House. “The guest house was an opportunity to bring everything together,” says Vallee. “We restored the spaces, curated them with art and built custom furniture and cabinetry. Visitors can experience Edison and what we create on a deeper level.”
PHOTO BY CHRISTY ERICKSON
HEDGEROW
Outside a low-slung brick building, an unassuming sign announces this charming boutique—the name “Hedgerow” a nod to purveyor Christy Erickson’s background in landscape design. Inside, a veritable treasure trove of home goods, jewelry, clothing and stationery awaits. Known for her discerning eye, Erickson curates bespoke goods from her favorite international brands, alongside one-of-a-kind pieces from local designers. “Growing up in a family of collectors and travelers, I was always surrounded by interesting and beautiful things,” says Erickson. “Hedgerow started as a vintage shop, but it’s evolved into a mix of old and new. There isn’t a straight line to what finds its way into my shop—I’m always looking.”
PHOTO BY MARGY LAVELLE
I.E. GALLERY
Housed in a bright storefront that has showcased Northwest art for 45 years, i.e. gallery is the latest incarnation of what was formerly the Edison Eye Gallery. Today, i.e. gallerist Margy Lavelle presents an idiosyncratic mix of artists working across media and style. Lavelle is a painter herself, and walking into her gallery often feels like entering the otherworldly space of an artist’s studio. “Half my artists are local to the Skagit Valley, and the other half are from farther afield,” says Lavelle. “It’s a nice mix of giving people something familiar, but also pushing them into the unfamiliar.”
