Jonathan Adler's Studio

• That's Adler's office on the left, where he does all of the desk-and-meetings part of his job (he also admits to spending plenty of time procrastinating on eBay there. Our kind of guy).
  
  
  

  Hans Neumann

• Is that ShelterPop Jonathan and Starrett are pointing enthusiastically at? Or maybe they're just psyched about a hilarious response on their brilliant Facebook or Twitter.
  
  
  

  Hans Neumann

• "The biggest problem with inspiration isn't looking for it, but editing it down. I find it in art and a lot of it actually comes in my sleep," Jonathan told us. Neat! He was even supportive when we told him about our own wacky decor dream: Furniture Spanx. "I love it! Sofas are so overstuffed these days...they do need Spanx!"
  
  
  

  Hans Neumann

• Surprised to see Jonathan in the pottery studio? Shouldn't be -- he's a potter, after all. And we love that he gets down with the wheel in the middle of the work day. "People don't always understand the level of craft that goes on here," he told us. "We actually make stuff! They don't realize that if they see a shoe butter dish on the shelves, it started here."
  
  
  

  Hans Neumann

• Why not throw clay for an audience? Boogie, who comes to work daily with his owner, watches as Jonathan turns the lump of clay into...
  
  
  

  Hans Neumann

• After years of admiring Adler's work in magazines, store windows and even our own homes, it's a dream to see the full process. "Someone once asked me if I was in this business for the money. I was like 'Yeah, you're right, when I got out of college I was like: Should I go to Wall St. or become a potter? Six of one, half a dozen of the other," he joked.
  
  
  

  Hans Neumann

• Jonathan made this beauty right in front of our eyes, in just a matter of minutes. Doesn't it look remarkably similar to the more finished pieces up on the shelves? Also worth noting: his guns. We didn't know throwing pots could be such a workout! "I also go to spinning class every day," he told us. "It's like I need to be at a rotating wheel at all times."
  
  
  

  Hans Neumann

• One of Jonathan's talented interns sketched the cheeky face on that balloon as an homage to the Utopia collection.
  
  
  

  Hans Neumann

• How do they maintain the laid back vibe in the studio? "There's dance music in the office but classic rock in here. We keep it real, we listen to pottery-ish music," he said, over the sounds of Squeeze. "But we won't go as far as Joni Mitchell," he promised.
  
  
  

  Hans Neumann

• Bellefangles -- another dog who comes in daily -- cuddles up with Starrett. "I am literally having an affair with her at work," Jonathan says (that's Bellefangles -- not Starrett). "There should be an Oprah show about how to navigate cheating on your dog with another dog, which is what I'm doing to my Norwich terrier Liberace."
  
  
  

  Hans Neumann