About Ideal

While we opened our shop in 2008, the Ideal story began long before that. We met while working in the museum field and recognized in each other a shared love for good design and the artistic process. Casual comments about designs we each loved led to more serious discussions and planning over the course of several years.  

We are passionate about the objects we carry in our shop and it’s our pleasure to share the stories behind their making. Think of the favorite gifts you have received in your life – chances are, you have a personal understanding of and respect for the object. Some knowledge about the maker, materials, or process gives it meaning.

Our mission is to gather together unique, authentic pieces and present them in a way that honors the object and respects the viewer. We believe in providing visitors to Ideal a memorable experience that transcends the typical.

Perhaps a bit idealistic... but we are Ideal.

-Kathleen & Lisa


Below are some of the designers and collectives we carry:

  • Alchemy Goods
  • Amac
  • Ameico
  • American Bird Products
  • Areaware
  • Bauer Pottery
  • Braun
  • Cate & Levi
  • Chilewich
  • Chocolate Editions by Mary & Matt
  • Dale Gottlieb
  • Design House Stockholm
  • Eames Studio
  • Fatboy
  • Field Notes
  • Fleet Objects
  • Flip & Tumble
  • Fruitsuper Design
  • Goods
  • The Good Flock
  • Grain
  • Iacoli & Mcallister
  • IDEA International
  • k studio
  • klt:works
  • Ladies & Gentlemen Studio
  • Leather Works Minnesota
  • Loll Designs
  • Marimekko
  • Massimo Vignelli


  • Kiel Mead
  • Menu
  • Miller Goodman
  • Modern Twist
  • Molly M. Designs
  • MoMA
  • Mon Bijou
  • Neo-Utility
  • normann copenhagen
  • Not Neutral
  • noted*
  • Nuance
  • Pablo
  • Phaidon Press
  • Pineapple Seed
  • Portland General Store
  • Saikai Trading Company
  • Schmitt Design
  • Sugahara Glassworks
  • Sweet Bella
  • Tegu
  • Teroforma
  • Tivoli Audio
  • Tokyo Bay
  • verre la
  • Vital Industries
  • Vitra
  • YedOmi Jewelry
  • Zid Zid Kids