By Shelby Deering
It’s not often that you come across a place in Madison that feels as if it’s in the heart of Los Angeles’ Laurel Canyon neighborhood, but when you walk into Arbor House, you may half expect Joni Mitchell to suddenly appear around the corner.
Drenched in warm neutrals and showcasing vintage finds like pottery, books, macramé and clothing, Atwood Avenue’s Arbor House is a bohemian dream come true. Owned by Eleanor Boersma, the shop opened in fall 2024.
“There is an ode to the ’60s without being kitsch,” Boersma explains.
The name is drawn from the idea of “a treehouse for grown-ups, a special clubhouse for us to play and work in and share with our community,” she says.
Boersma stocks the shop with freshly found goods almost daily, adding, “I feel like a modern-day treasure hunter. I sift through a lot of junk to find the gems.”
Boersma is no stranger to purveying vintage wares. She’s been selling bygone treasures since she was 18, when she started selling vintage clothing to Chicago boutiques. Then she opened an Etsy shop, and two years ago, she began selling at Madison’s Atomic Antiques. Her shop is also stocked with fellow vintage sellers’ relics.
“I love having it be a collective … and supporting small businesses,” she notes. With 1960s acoustic tunes wafting in the background, shopping at Arbor House feels a bit like you’ve traveled back in time.
“Arbor House feels warm and inviting to me, and that’s my goal when decorating. No sterility of design — there should be a human touch involved,” says Boersma.
2334 Atwood Ave., @arborhouse_madison
