Behold: well-made, usable gifts for everyone—that even the most design-forward on your list are unlikely to have.
When it comes to classic hardware and lighting, we look to Schoolhouse, the Portland, Oregon-founded purveyors of new American heirlooms. But their wares extend well beyond light fixtures and fittings. Out of a more than century-old brick factory in Portland, they design original, one-of-a-kind housewares and essentials for the home with a timeless, durable, subtly old-school vibe that fit with every sort and style of decor.
Here are a few Schoolhouse icons we’re gifting this year.
Above: The newly released Amber Glass Mug ($24 each) is made of heat-resistant glass in an of-the-moment burnt umber hue, perfect for the coffee or tea connoisseur (and inspired by the mugs used in the cafe at Schoolhouse’s Pittsburgh shop). Above: The Brass Incense Set ($38), made in Japan and the US and exclusive to Schoolhouse, is designed to patinate with time and use. Above: Schoolhouse’s Winter + Summer Cotton Coverlet ($149) is the gift that keeps giving year-round: Inspired by a vintage weaving from the early 1800s and made in Portugal, it’s lightweight enough for summer and layers atop the bed for extra warmth in winter. Above: For the cook who has everything: a Spanish Oil Pitcher ($44), made in Spain of stainless steel. Package with a bottle of olive oil for an elegant but functional host gift. Above: The timeless, neutral Ivory Wool Lumbar Pillow ($128) is filled with down and hand-sewn in Schoolhouse’s Portland factory. Above: The Ion Lamp, Workshop Edition ($129) is a twist on a Schoolhouse icon, with an old-school Bakelite plug, plywood base, and a spun-steel body available in persimmon, navy, clear-coated steel, and sargeant green (shown). Made in the Portland factory, it would make a charming addition to a side table or desk. Above: Schoolhouse’s Flip Clock ($99)—made by a flip clock manufacturer in business since the ’50s and fitted with German movements—looks better on the bedside than a phone. Above: At last, a useful and design-forward gift for your boss: a Stendig Calendar ($40), designed by Massimo Vignelli in 1966, still graphically good-looking today.
For more household wares and gifts for everyone on your list, head to Schoolhouse.
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