Designer interview: Perch!

One designer whose work has always inspired me is Amy Adams of Perch!. I've been stocking her beautiful designs since Mr Sparrow opened and have been excited to see lots of new products emerge since then. The most recent additions to the Perch! range stocked at Mr Sparrow are the cute Henrietta the Bird ornament, fun and functional Stacking Cups, delicious Scented Candles and the brilliant Basket Bowl. 

If you'd like to find out a bit more about the processes and inspiration behind this Brooklyn designer have a read of my interview below!

This interview will also appear in the Sparrowmail newsletter out today (look out for your 20% off code if you're a subscriber...and if not, make sure you sign up before next month so you don't miss out!).

How did Perch! come about?

Perch! came about because I needed to make things! Right out of graduate school I had A LOT of ideas and not much time or money to have a studio. So I started making small things literally in my kitchen and backyard. It just ended up being a perfect medium for my designs. Perch! the word actually refers to perching on a stool because I always thought I'd be doing furniture.

Where do you create your designs?

Where doesn't matter - it's all just swooshing around in my head. Right now I set up a separate desk in my studio to draw at but that is rare. I sketch a lot in my notebook so I could be anywhere for that. I guess I don't design at a computer. As far making everything, the studio is a well oiled machine of 1000 square feet on the waterfront of Brooklyn.

What inspires you?

Water, sun, wood, white, black, squares, stools, house shaped things, cement, hanging things.

What is your favourite material/medium to work with?

Favorite medium would be clay - earthenware - and glaze. And I love designs MADE of wood, but I am not much of a woodworker, it's too precise for me. I am hoping to learn to weave sometime because I'd like to work with something soft.

What's next for Perch!?

Next for Perch! is getting bigger while staying small. Our little studio has an open to the public store and that is the small side. People can come and see where it's made and buy it directly from us. At the same time, I've designed some products that won't be manufactured here and will be sold worldwide - so I am hoping to do more of that!

Thanks so much, Amy!

I'm still working on getting the new Perch! items up online but in the mean time you can find the Stacking Cups, Scented Candles, Henrietta the Bird ornaments and Basket Bowls in the store and the Tiny Basket, Tray Tray, Early Bird Pendant Light, A Container for One Thing, Shake-a-Leg Salt + Pepper Shakers, Birdfeeder, Spot Bowl and Plant Pod both in the store and online.

*Images courtesy of Amy Adams

P.S. If you missed last month's interview with Chris Plumridge of Claystone Pottery, you can check it out here.