Local Picks for Wabi-Sabi Wares

Phyllis Van Doren shares her go-to local shops for natural objects, minimalistic furnishings and handmade ceramics:

Architectural Salvage (architecturalsalvagesd.com)
The Little Italy shop carries fabulous antique doors from Europe and Asia. 2401 Kettner Blvd., 619-696-1313

Boomerang  for Modern (boomerangformodern.com)
Phyllis bought plain walnut trays that are as beautiful as they are functional—very wabi-sabi—from this Little Italy store known for its mid-century natural wood Danish and American furniture. 2475 Kettner Blvd., 619-239-2040

David Allen Collection (thedavidalancollection.com)
The Solana Beach showroom is filled with natural materials including slices of old trees large enough for a table top, tree branches ready as room dividers, wooden bowls and ceramics that the owner sources from Asia. 241 S. Cedros Ave., 858-481-8044

Oriental Treasure Box (orientaltreasurebox.com)
This shop, also in Little Italy, has wonderful old tansu—the Japanese word for chest, chest of drawers or cupboard—and other vintage Asian items. 2310 Kettner Blvd., #A, 619-221-9071

Solo (solocedros.com)
Phyllis recommends two vendors in particular in this co-op mall in Solana Beach: One that sells some beautiful vintage indigo-dyed textiles from Mali and another booth that carries objects, “full of the patina of age.” 309 S. Cedros Ave., 858-794-9016

Vitreum (vitreum-us.com)
A go-to downtown shop that stocks natural Noguchi rice paper lamps and bamboo hanging shades from Japan. 619 W. Fir St., 619-237-9810