F. Can you tell us about Schoolhouse?
S. Founded by local design visionary Brian Faherty, Schoolhouse is dedicated to the preservation of American manufacturing, thoughtful living and purposeful design. Our mission is to provide a new generation of heirlooms that inspire people to create their own unique, meaningful spaces. From handcrafted lighting to clocks, furniture, soft goods and homewares, many of Schoolhouse's products are designed, prototyped, assembled, sewn, hand-painted and hand-finished within the walls of our brick warehouse in Portland, Oregon. There aren’t many companies who are willing or able to keep virtually every process of its business in-house, but inside Schoolhouse we embrace those challenges every day.
F. What made you decide to open your own shop?
S. Schoolhouse started in 2003 following Brian’s discovery of a long-lost collection of cast-iron glass shade molds inside an old storage warehouse in Port Jervis, New York. After carefully restoring them back into production, the hard-working team at Schoolhouse has continued to grow every year since. While lighting will always be our bread our butter, we’ve since expanded our assortment to other home goods such as hardware, fans, and domestic utility.
Alongside our Portland headquarters, we also recently opened up a retail space in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In an economic context in which many companies are closing stores and reinvesting in e-commerce, the decision to invest in a second physical location was thoughtfully considered. The value is rooted in creating a worthwhile store experience within the context of a larger story that is greater than any big box retailer or e-commerce giant can provide. We hope it gives people an opportunity to interact and engage with our products in a tangible way.