About Us

A place for discovery, beautiful things, and great design from around the world.

Vertigo Home was founded in Laguna Beach, California in 2009 by Chris Oswalt and Martin Ulrich, whose shared passions for travel, art and design shaped the store into a destination for distinctive modern design. Their eclectic point of view brought together iconic pieces, international brands and unexpected discoveries, creating a place where customers could encounter things they might not find anywhere else.

In 2026, Vertigo Home entered a new chapter under the ownership of Carol Gonzalez and Ben Rubin, longtime Laguna Beach residents with backgrounds in art and design. Carol had been part of Vertigo Home for years before becoming its owner, with Ben joining her as a partner in the business. Together, they are committed to preserving the spirit of discovery that has always defined Vertigo Home while continuing to evolve its point of view for the future.

At its heart, Vertigo Home is a place to discover beautiful, thoughtful and inspiring things from around the world.

We believe in bringing together the new and the enduring: important design classics, established international brands, independent makers, emerging designers and unexpected objects that simply capture our attention. Some pieces have been celebrated for generations; others may be something you are encountering for the first time.

We are not defined by a single style, period or trend. We are interested in the quality of an idea — in beauty, originality, craftsmanship, usefulness, humor and the ability of a well-designed object to bring pleasure to everyday life.

Our collection is constantly evolving as we discover new designers, revisit great design from the past and find objects from around the world that we believe are worth knowing about and living with. That sense of curiosity is central to Vertigo Home, and we want there always to be something new to discover.

Laguna Beach is an important part of our story. We live here, work here and value the creative community around us. As Vertigo Home grows, we hope to continue the design legacy Chris and Martin began while contributing our own perspective to a town with a long history of art, creativity and independent thinking.

Vertigo Home's online shop launched in 2010, extending that point of view beyond Laguna Beach and allowing us to share our collection with customers across the country.

Over the years, Vertigo Home has been recognized by leading design publications, including being named one of America's Best Independent Design Shops by Dwell in 2021, and has been mentioned in Architectural Digest, ELLE Decor, The New York Times, and other leading design publications.

More than fifteen years after Vertigo Home first opened its doors, one belief continues to guide us:

The things we choose to live with matter. Great design can transform, delight and inspire everyday life.