Lola

It was the screen door on the shop that caught my attention about Lola. A beautiful door, I can just look at the door and be happy. But once past the door, I suggest resting your eyes on each piece of merchandise, there is space between the objects while the shop itself is a composition.
The shop is a retreat into relaxation and inspiration (to motivation). And if the price tag is out of reach, I let my mind take me to France, Japan or wherever the piece was made and imagine my world getting beautifully wider.
A quick note: There staff has only been genuine and kind, making the experience of being at Lola accessible to everyone. I

Lola’s offers exquisitely designed contemporary objects for the home and personal use, in a welcoming and low-​keyed manner. Each object seems chosen from multiple perspectives of thoughtful attention to design, craftsmanship, and utility; and the variety – from soaps and books to furniture – permits those with small as well as large wallets to take pleasure in the discovery. The staff demonstrate the same care for their customers, creating a quiet space for deliberation, and graciously responding to requests. Shopping becomes a rare delight! I have been visiting Lola’s for several years now, even though I live in San Francisco – it is well worth the trip. Visit and enjoy.

Lola is beautiful as it is creative. Lots of round, textural things abound such as mossy balls, woolen pillows in the shape of rocks. There are also one of a kind ceramic cups — made to resemble paper cups.
Items here are very carefully chosen to reflect the minimalist, yet woodsy feel to the place.
I came away with a made-​in-​Vermont, maple wood cutting board. In the shape of a slice of bread, they come in three sizes, the smallest being $ 8 and the medium was $ 14. I don’t remember what the large cost.
Other items were oh so unique and lovely, but came with their respective prices. A bit too pricey for me at this stage in my life. I still long for the day when I can buy something without looking at the price tag (sigh). I could afford the cutting board and I’m so glad that I have a very cute, yet functional made in the good ol’ USA object.
Right next door to Ici, the two kind of complement each other: one having good tastes and the other exhibiting good taste.

Lola is my absolute favorite store for artsy inspiration.
Every element in this store is unique, thoughtful, & will delight your fancy. The owner has soothing but creative displays which are reinvented every few weeks. New products like pencil sketch drawings, Japanese tea sets, handblown glass vases, handspun wool pebbles from Africa, coffee table books on décor, Bay Area teahouses, Californian cuisine, or Phaidon architecture, etc., phase in and out, so you’ll have something new to see every time you walk through the door. Note the lovely integration of logo & address in the storefront.
Great for browsing and gift shopping for the that hard-​to-​please friend who already has everything you can buy at a department store. (And it’s right next door to Ici.)

Here we have a cute store with offerings geared more towards women. Since I’m male, some of the products didn’t appeal to me as much as they did to my girlfriend. Regardless, the staff was friendly, the items in the store were tasteful and playful, and prices were pretty good.

Lovely, lovely, lovely. If I could afford it, I would buy oodles of lovely things from this store. I happened to walk in on the afternoon of Inauguration day. There was lightness in the air, strangers smiling and talking to each other on the street. The Lola women offered champagne for the occasion as soon as customers walked in. That alone garners a Unilocalstar. The store is a feast for the eyes, like being a really cool museum, only you can touch many of the objects and yes, those felt stone pillows are the coolest.

Absolutely fantastic place to get something unusual, but cool and chic. Definitely something of a «girl’s» store, but could also appeal to men with a modernist affinity.
I especially liked the felt stones and the furniture. For some reason, I was particularly taken with the lights, and thought I’d ask about them, just for fun, and found out they were for sale! Who’d have known?
Like the other reviewers have said, sales staff are incredibly friendly and down the earth. The purchaser has impeccable taste — great place to come for unusual gifts for others and for yourself. Be prepared to part with an arm and a leg… but you’ll probably be so happy with your purchase that you won’t miss it.

This is such a lovely shop and I only wish my life were structured in such a way as to have my home décor resemble the owner’s sensibilities! Alas! I have an inherited & very messy parrot, a rambunctious Jack Russell Terrier, 3 ever-​growing & not-​too-​careful boys, a husband who is all about function vs. pretty design… I made my bed, now I must lie in it, so to speak, but I can’t help fantasizing about a clean, spare home filled with delights from Lola!
In all fairness, I have purchased some wonderful small items here which I have been delighted with. The owner carries the line of cards from Linnea Carta which are always lovely. The table top items are beautiful & inspirational to gaze upon. I am still in the phase with the family of vintage restaurant-​grade Buffalo China (which is indestrctable). Someday I will have the fancy stuff… There is a line of amazingly well priced hand knit creatures which I could not pass up. They are done by a woman in Scotland. Although I am a knitter, and I try to buy local, these are too cool to not pay attention to! Hares, foxes, a weiner dog (it’s just so damn much fun to say that word: WEINER!!!)…anyway, you get the idea. While these creatures could hold their own with an appreciative older kid, they do seem more like a cool art piece to put on a desk or shelf to get a chuckle from when work gets too tedious. Whimsical… that’s the word. The owner has a great eye for spare and esthetically pleasing items without a trace of kitsch. This is such a great addition to the neighborhood, and I look forward to seeing what will be on display next. If you are not in the market for purchasing something, come in anyway. The space is filled with inspiration and has a quiet sense about it which is a nice contrast to the busy-​ness of College Avenue. Very worthwhile & highly recommended!

I was getting my hair cut this moring at LaTour Salon on College Avenue (which I love0 and happened upon this wonderful store. The owner has a great sense of style, and I think it’s the perfect place to buy unique and special gifts — for yourself or others. I mentioned that my one «complaint» is that it was a bit hard to tell that the shop was open from the street. When you have great stuff to sell — you should shout it from the rooftops! As I type this message wearing my new, adorable ring from Lola, I am so glad I stopped in :)

There are some really interesting items in here… rocks made out of felt or wool, furniture made of folded paper, paper mache using old chinese newspapers, and wall art made from the bent pages of old books. Cockamamie design sh*t to be sure, in the Dubuffet absurdist sense.
We also like the fact that the lady who was managing the store was very friendly and took the time to show us some of these items even though we were dressed like paupers in oliver twist.
Or at least I felt like a pauper because some of the items were only within my means at the expense of a colonoscopy