Are you in the market for one-of-a-kind antique pieces that enhance the space that you call home? Look no further because Black woman-lead brand The Porter House Co. offers a variety of carefully-selected vintage ranging from vases, rugs, pillows, kitchenware, and more.
To learn more, Tim Fujio of Setting Mind interviews Tahwii Spicer, shop owner and curator of The Porter House Co.
Fujio: What sets The Porter House Co. apart from other vintage shops?
Spicer: Well, we specialize in curating pieces that are remarkable in their timeless appeal and marry that passion by sourcing newly crafted goods that complement this belief. Building upon this theme we also bring in housewares suited for everyday functional use that embody a truly aesthetic and sustainable design.
Our desire to is to inspire sustainable design in all areas of the home beginning with our foundational, hand-selected vintage and antique pieces. One could easily find an antique kilim pillow cover as well as a beautifully designed coffeemaker that mimics a barista pour-over.
How do you decide which and what kind of vintage pieces are selected and sold on your website?
As shop curator, I personally source all of our pieces using a sixth sense if you will. First and foremost, I must be moved by it, it should be beautiful, and hold my interest. We all have those pieces in our home that we just can’t live without, we often stop and gaze at them, subconsciously expressing gratitude for the joy it brings into our lives.
This is the feeling I go with when sourcing. I consider all of the goods in our shop to be a form of art, art inspires, it provides a mood, and it tells a story. I’m happy to say I think we accomplish that with our sustainable home finds.
How do you find your vintage pieces?
I often source my pieces in person at vintage and antique shops, industry-only dealers, secondary markets and via personal relationships I’ve come to develop. It takes a lot of work not only to find pieces but developing relationships. Sources are very secretive and it is certainly a who-you-know business at times.
Nonetheless, I love getting caught up in the thrill of the hunt, because you truly never know what you’ll find. The reward comes when my eye for design is validated by clients and customers who gush over the beauty and quality of my found pieces. They return as repeat customers and reach out for their personal curation needs.
Who is the target market demographic for The Porter House Co.?
Our customer avatar is an individual who appreciates the craftsmanship of pieces and desire for even everyday objects to be a work of art. This is someone who finds beauty in the everyday, the lines in a concrete sidewalk or the pattern of chipped vintage tiles. They seek pieces that have a history, cherishing a rich patina on a pot that only time can impart.
They are firm in their desire to create a look that is collected and thoughtful, thus willing to invest in pieces that they will keep for a lifetime. Our customers want to achieve their desired design aesthetic with pieces that aren’t mass-produced, preferring unique one-of-a-kind treasures that reflect their individuality.
They appreciate authenticity, living sustainably and choosing quality objects that no doubt will be beloved heirloom pieces. Lastly, our demographic loves a showstopper piece which is why going back to our coffeemakers they choose everyday objects they want to proudly display.
The branding of The Porter House Co. is very minimalist and aesthetically pleasing. What was your approach when designing the brand image for The Porter House Co.?
My approach was all about creating a minimalist design to allow our sustainable home decor and housewares to be the center of attention. I knew that we would eventually expand into a brick & mortar shop so I wanted to ensure that the branding would seamlessly work both online and in-store.
Without question, a potential customer should immediately be able to recognize us through our branding online, on social media, and eventually in person. As a result, I desired a simple logo that would look good on a building, the brand colours would translate into a colour palette I would use for the shop and so forth.
I’m a very intentional individual and want our brand to tell a story and our belief that our spaces should evoke the feeling of being collected over time, that a layer of vintage adds a richness that only history can provide, and our everyday housewares can be a harmonious balance of sustainability, function and aesthetics.
So you’re a mother of 2 little ones. How has it been dabbling motherhood and running a business at the same time?
Thankfully, I’ve had previous experience running businesses of my own. My previous business, The Eco Baby Co. was a natural baby & motherhood shop that I owned when my children were much younger.
Now that they are older there are aspects that are easier such as being able to take them with me when sourcing, which they happen to enjoy a lot. Now that they no longer take naps I miss out on a bit of quiet time during the day to focus on more intricate tasks, but I’m thankful that I can spend so much of my day with them. I have the ability to tailor each day around our needs and jump into working on the business around that.
My husband is amazing, he shares my vision and always provides me with the time I need to accomplish my goals for the week. We really are a team and I’m so thankful for our ability to successfully navigate challenges together.
We rely on caregivers when needed, but even then I’m usually here, taking breaks to enjoy lunch, provide comfort, or even see what they’ve painted. As homeschooling parents who are scaling a business, it feels as though you are being pulled in two different directions at times which is why we have decided to enroll them in school soon.
The kids are eager for this new chapter and we truly know it’s what’s best for all of us to thrive and live in a manner that honours our needs. I’ll be so much more productive during the day and can dedicate my time to them completely when the school day is over.
What is the future of The Porter House Co.?
Our future is one where we become a leader in the niche space we’ve created, fusing the idea of sustainable vintage/antique finds with newly crafted goods that embody our core values of aesthetics and function.
We’re looking to expand our housewares selection, specifically in the kitchen space. As well as source larger pieces of furniture and provide white glove delivery service for our region of the country.
What’s also exciting is we have plans to create our own line of products under The Porter House Co. brand that supports makers who create quality small-batch goods. A brick & mortar shop is certainly on the horizon and what I feel will really solidify and tie our vision together.
Visit The Porter House Co.’s website to learn more.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
All images in this article are courtesy of The Porter House Co..
