We're re-posting this because Ivan Home is closing so that the owner can concentrate on his work as an architect. The store's close-out sale starts today -- details are here.
It’s the huge pink brain hanging in the window that first catches your eye.
The owner of Ivan Home, Amornrit Pukdeedamrongrit, says that his store is like his hobby. Although he always wanted to open a shop, he had a comfortable 9-5 job until the dot-com bubble burst. When he lost his job, it seemed like the perfect time to make a store a reality.
There is fun and inspiration everywhere you look in the small space. Numbers and letters, flash cards, classroom charts, anatomical models, glove molds, posters, bus destination blinds, laboratory beakers. Danish modern/50s/60s lamps, tables, chairs, vases, dishes. Amornrit sells what he loves.
He first bought gas price numbers, and when people told him how cool they were, he sold them at flea markets and to shops, and then he kept buying what he liked. Although he says he buys where everyone else does -- Craigslist, eBay, flea markets, garage sales -- he has an eye for the quirky and cool, and a talent for display.
I LOVE this store! I'm headed there soon. I really like the idea of the letters strung on a wire to spell something lovely. Thanks!
I love, love, love Ivan Home. I really hope he's just moving!
I've wanted to go to this store and have been frustrated numerous times. He has no store hours posted in window, he never answers his phone, and the hours listed on the website are complete baloney. As far as I can tell, he is never there!
I have lived in Berkeley for two years now and I have NEVER NEVER EVER seen this store open... for a second I even thought it was abandoned because I've been trying to get in there numerous times and it's always been closed
Correct address is 1954!!
Don't pass it by! Good stuff there....
Thanks for the correction, jaybee. Clumsy fingers.
Hmmm, every time I've tried to go it's been open.
Last time we were there he stated that running the store was cutting into his ability to go on buying trips so he was going to close this fall. Hope he changed his mind, because its a good resource for that style accessory.
-Anxiously awaiting Leslie's update.
I love those vintage dish glove holders in photo 13 - and I REALLY LOVED this store tour - you did a great job - I want to travel there now. Boston needs more of their quirky cute places. I also loved all of those numbers...
Holly
Bought some big, beautiful metal letters at the sale today. The place is still brimming with goodies. Hit it up.