Shopping in Ann Arbor

Armed with an army of innovative and certified shutterbugs, Olan Mills Portrait Studio provides families with high-quality portraits, continuing a mission that was established more than 75 years ago by founder Olan Mills Sr. Skilled in the art of capturing infants, children, families, and bunny-ears-giving ghost orbs on film, Olan Mills’s experienced smile snappers will take a series of poses amid a variety of backgrounds and lighting options. The studio is equipped with a selection of props—including numbers for birthdays, toys, and boxes—and patrons may bring their own photo-enlivening items from home. The resulting photos find their way to prints in natural color, black and white, or sepia tones; they can also be immortalized in the studio's signature Old Masters style, a canvas brushed with highlights to recreate look of an oil painting. Like the gentlemanly mariners of ages past with their full schedule of sea-battles, the photographers welcome appointments, but do not require them.

The sunny yellow clapboards of a 135-year-old farmhouse announce the bright wares of the Village Lamp Shop, a family enterprise that has sold and repaired lighting elements since the days of the oil lamp. The Beuthien family sparked their business in the dawn of the 20th century, lighting candles and lamps for the observation of religious rituals. Now in its third generation, the lampsmiths specialize in filling homes with mid-century, retro, and antique fixtures restored to their original brilliance, as well as custom fabrication of everything from base to wavelength. Their handiness manifests in a line of cylinder lamps made on-site with '50s-inspired prints. The family's appreciation for kitsch and wry sense of humor comes to light through the store's mascot, Lou, a stereotypical 1950's partier who displays his spirit by crowning himself in a lampshade and singing Buddy Holly tunes off-key.

Cases of diamond rings, amethyst earrings, and two-tone gold pendants sparkle and gleam in Azzi Jewelers’ display cases. All of the upscale pieces in the store are available through its well-organized online shop, including 14-karat gold or white-gold pieces, independently graded diamonds, and stunning gemstones. Premium brands design some of the finery, including hand-engraved wedding rings by Armani and stylish diamond adornments by Symphony. Customers can unleash their creative forces using the design-your-own jewelry feature, which customizes anything from an engagement ring to gemstone-encrusted shoelaces.

To become a finished Motawi Tileworks tile, slabs of raw clay must run the gauntlet of an elaborate production line, where they'll be crushed under a 60-ton press, dipped or drizzled in colorful glaze, and fired in a kiln at 2,000 degrees. Though the handmade process lends itself to variations in colors, it creates uniformly durable tiles built to withstand the heat of a fireplace, the splashing of a kitchen sink, or the futility of existence atop a shelf.

The company's artisans have handmade their tiles in Ann Arbor for two decades. They draw on this experience while creating three types of tiles: flat field, polychrome, and molded. Each catches eyes on its own, or transforms into an artful mosaic when mixed and matched. During the design process, the craftsmen draw inspiration from a huge range of American influences, from Native American artists to Frank Lloyd Wright.

The merchants at BT Watches and Jewelry don’t just peddle watches. Rather, they sell pragmatic pieces of art, equipping each customer with finely made digital and analog timepieces in styles ranging from graceful and elegant to outdoorsy and rugged. Men's and women's watches from ESQ by Movado flaunt a cosmopolitan, streamlined aesthetic, whereas reliable Swiss Army pieces continue to tick away when confronted with the pressure of 330 feet of water or 30 pushy EU diplomats.

When the shop’s experienced technicians aren’t busy bringing clockwork into perfect precision with their skillful repair services, they can also help customers navigate their glittering stock with battery and band repair, overhauls, and crystal replacement.

When Adorn Me made its debut in 2004, it was designed to showcase stylish accessories and the handmade jewelry of parent company and downstairs neighbor The Bead Gallery. But today the boutique’s inventory includes everything from vegan purses and Vera Bradley bags to a white cutout dress by Skunkfunk, perfect for a summer party or hiding from pursuers in front of a picket fence. Grace hats, Espe wallets, and ensembles from Scrapbook Originals still balance beautifully with beaded baubles from The Bead Gallery’s in-house artists.