Schoolhouse Cool

Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. has been on my radar for a while, but a few months had gone by since I'd last seen their catalog or visited their website. Well I recently found my way back to them and I'm loving their updated branding and website. The Schoolhouse product line is all about "vintage modern" and whoever led the rebranding charge totally nailed that aesthetic. Here's the latest catalog cover, and it sums up the new vibe...

Besides re-articulating their brand, Schoolhouse has also broadened their horizons and added new things to their product mix. The company has been known as a resource for high quality period lighting for about a decade and it's great to see that they now offer furniture, textiles, and an array of other accents for the home and office. Teaming up with artisans and local craftspeople, Schoolhouse designs, produces, and sources everything you might need to bring a bit of hip/nostalgic/authentic personality to your abode.

Here are some examples of the period light fixtures and shades that Schoolhouse has become known for. Many of the shades are made with antique cast iron molds...

And here are some examples of their new crop, including the manly-chic Equestrian Loveseat...

Here are some picks from the furniture collection. I am obsessed with the Morgan Bed...it's just beautiful, isn't it? The Carlson Chair Slipcover, shown bottom right, features fabric designed at the Egg Press studio in Portland, which is then hand-silkscreened in San Francisco. Schoolhouse enlisted designer Adam Arnold to tailor each slipcover to ensure a neat fit.

More textiles by Egg Press...

This clock is pretty awesome and it's built in Portland, not China!

Like this Ion lamp, most (if not all) of the Schoolhouse lamps are finished off with a twisted cloth cord and a vintage-style wall plug...

The Mulberry Tripod lamp has a fab mid-century look...

Their bedding is really cozy looking and I'm especially drawn to the blankets. Two of my favorites, the Camp Blanket and the Llama Check Throw, are shown in this photo,

Another good one - the Llama Stripe Throw...

True to form, even the Schoolhouse headquarters building has loads of style and character...

What are your thoughts on Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.? Do you like their style? See anything you'd like to buy?

Besides loving their merchandise, I think it's a really cool company. I appreciate that they've created their own unique aesthetic that has a strong sense of history but also a modern influence. Plus, Schoolhouse designs and manufactures their goods in the US, mostly at their fabulous factory in Portland. Owner Brian Faherty has tested and succeeded with a micro manufacturing model and I applaud him for his efforts. We need more business people like this in America, and really, we need more consumers that are willing to spend a bit more to get higher quality. I won't get on that soapbox right now, but if you have some time, check out the Schoolhouse Journal to learn more about the business and its history. It's very inspiring!