Ideas In Wood – A Dream Fulfilled
Quality Craftmanship with a Hometown Flavor

Gary and Lynn Passavanti.

By Jim Evans

Gary and Lynn Passavanti had a dream when they arrived in Julian from Orange County in September 1979.

Gary, originally from Chicago, and Lynn, from Los Angeles, met in Orange County and started a family in Anaheim. “But we wanted a different up-bringing for our kids — a small town with a safe environment,” Lynn said.

At the same time, Gary had always wanted to own his own shop and make furniture.

Julian provided the first part of their dream: a small town and safe environment for their children. The second part took shape when Gary and Lynn opened a small wood shop specializing in custom furniture — soon focusing almost exclusively on kitchen cabinetry. It now has evolved to include the manufacture of specialty furniture pieces and accessories, with retail locations in both Julian, at 2111 Main St. between Jack’s Grocery and the Hardware Store, and Ramona, at 850 Main St. in the Day Promenade Building.

Ideas In Wood showroom in Ramona.

“Ideas in Wood” is the creative name that so aptly describes their thriving business.

“Our Julian location was successful in introducing our customers to our all-wood furniture and the quality of our work but did not have an actual showroom to display everything — especially our kitchen cabinets,” Lynn said.

However, the larger Ramona store — which recently celebrated its first anniversary — has allowed them more space to showcase their work and expand their selection of merchandise to include “dining room sets, office and entertainment pieces, wall art, home accessories, and gift items” from other quality manufacturers.

Located in the historic district, the new Ramona store is easily accessible from the rear of the building, adjacent to the expansive off-street parking for the convenience of its customers.

“Given the nature of Julian as a tourist destination, we have had the opportunity to meet people from all over,” Lynn said. “They appreciate the quality of our work, and the fact that our pieces can be made to order.”

“We work primarily in the hardwoods — oak, cherry, maple, mahogany, alder — but we will work with almost any wood specified by the customer. ”

“Last year’s Cedar Fire was stopped at the top of the hill overlooking their cabinet manufacturing shop, and the stores and home were not burned,” Lynn said.

“The Cedar Fire has been devastating for so many of our friends and neighbors, so we have made a special effort to work with fire victims in the community in the pricing of their cabinets and furniture, replacing lost pieces, helping with insurance company inventories, and most important, making their particular needs a priority so that they can return to their homes as quickly as possible.”

The Julian store is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; the Ramona store is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For further information, call (760) 765-2032 in Julian and (760) 788-1560 in Ramona, or visit the Ideas in Wood Website at www.ideasinwood.net.