Last week a gigantic new CB2 opened on Fourth Street in Berkeley, at the tail end of a stretch of shopping that includes some other great design stores (DWR, Crate and Barrel Outlet, and Builders Booksource, to name a few). We stopped by to check it out this weekend; photos after the jump.

The new CB2 has the feel of a showroom, with well-designed vignettes laid out in an airy warehouse. Because it’s so huge, they’ve got a lot of the larger furniture in stock. If you’ve been eying a sofa or chair on the CB2 web site, chances are you can take the real thing for a spin at the Berkeley store.

Browsing CB2 online, it’s sometimes difficult to get a sense of the scale of the items, like the Bauhaus and Big Dipper lamps pictured here. But the Berkeley location carries both styles, and in several colors. We love the green metal version as well as the linen and chrome, but the former, when you’re standing right beside it, makes a much more forceful statement.

Initially the sheer quantity of goods might seem overwhelming, but the place is swarming with staff to help you navigate.

For your pre-party shopping: inexpensive dishes in large quantities.

The bicycle pillow is a fun accent on this simple bed.

Chain-link used to tie a rolled-up quilt is a cute nod to the store's industrial setting.

CB2 is located at 1730 4th Street, Berkeley. It is open from 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm on Sunday.