HELVE.HOUSE
Matt Kelly designs and fabricates small-run furniture editions, artwork and architectural details in Seattle, WA.
madebymattkelly@gmail.com
206 605 2560
entry way tray with hooks
Steel and maple. 2016.
This steel tray with hooks was designed for a home with a very narrow entry way. The family wanted to walk into the door and have a place to put down all their things. We decided to hang a shallow tray on the wall for keys and other small items, with have hooks for jackets and bags attached underneath. Wood ball ends were used to add some warmth and contrast to the otherwise dark tray. The piece was oiled and waxed for a natural steel finish.
jorgenston table
Steel and maple. 2016.
The Jorgenston table was collaboratively designed by Matt Kelly and the Jorgenston family. The table top was built using wide maple boards and hand-planed for a smooth, but imperfect finish. Trapezoid-shaped steel legs placed near the table corners allow for maximum leg space; a priority for the Jorgenston’s growing family. The leg angles were made using a heat bending process to create a fluid shape.
double low table/chair
Steel and burnt white oak. 2016.
Same as the low table/chair just twice as wide with an extra two legs. The center hand hold was formed by burning the wood away, leaving an organic shape that slightly differs with every replication. The burnt wood finish creates a distinctive textural surface in the quarter sawn white oak, as soft growth rings burn faster and hard growth rings rise up. This charred wood looks stunning and leaves the piece with a natural finish that wears well over time.
low table/chair
Steel and burnt white oak. 2016.
A low table that doubles as a place to sit or a high stepping block. Designed to be easily lifted with one hand, this diverse piece tends to travel throughout the home depending on your needs. The center hand hold was formed by burning the wood away, leaving an organic shape that slightly differs with every replication. The burnt wood finish creates a distinctive textural surface in the quarter sawn white oak, as soft growth rings burn faster and hard growth rings rise up. This charred wood looks stunning and leaves the piece with a natural finish that wears well over time.
FIRE SURROUND
Steel, blackened patina finish. 2016.
A hot-rolled, steel plate surround was designed and built to modernize the existing Southwest-inspired, glass mosaic wood-burning fireplace in a 1949 Seattle bungalow. A small, EPA-certified wood stove by Swedish company, Morso™, was then modified and inserted into the opening of the fireplace.
STRUT TABLE
Steel and white oak. 2014.
A three-legged side table built to accompany a vintage lounge chair. The 3/8 round bar struts were placed through a hole in the flat-bar, then torch heated and folded up for a strong, weld-free joint. The top was made from rift sawn white oak and blackened with a vinegar and rusty nail solution designed to react with the oak’s natural high-tannin content.
COUNTER-WEIGHT LAMP
Steel, blackened patina finish. 2015.
A hot-rolled steel floor lamp designed to fit perfectly over a work table or reading chair. A stack of half inch steel squares keeps this lamp perfectly balanced in any angle you place it. No springs, pistons or tension joints to fail over the years.
FORGED SHAKER PEGS
Steel, blackened patina finish. 2014.
This modern wall rack was influenced by wooden Shaker pegs. Every end of the 1/2 inch round pegs was hammered by hand and then welded into a hot-rolled flat bar. Available in custom lengths, peg frequencies and hole placements to match various wall sizes.
HALF CIRCLE LAMP
Steel, blackened patina finish. 2011.
This lamp was designed and built utilizing a structural 6" pipe cut in half, shielding the light emitted from the bulb. Three legs rise from the floor to meet the flat plane supporting the bulb and steel shade.
STEPPING BLOCK
Burnt douglas fir and steel. 2016.
This sculptural stepping block was built using rough sawn douglas fir, pinned together with 3/8 steel round bar and then burned with a torch. The wood was then scrubbed with a wire brush, leaving a well-defined wood grain pattern.
MAEVE BED
Steel and white oak. 2016.
A twin size, platform bed named for Matt's daughter, Maeve. This small bed was designed to fit perfectly into the corner of any room, maximizing space while maintaining design integrity. It includes a plain angle iron base with casters filled with cedar slats. The symmetrical headboard can be bolted to either end of the bed depending on placement. The quarter-sawn white oak was split with an axe to add an organic and interesting component to an otherwise simple, modern design.
LINCOLN PARK RAILING
Steel, blackened patina finish. 2016.
This custom architectural detail was built for a beautifully remodeled mid-century house in West Seattle to connect the main floor to the finished basement. The rail was constructed using solid flat-bar and 3/8 round-bar to give it a visually light, but solid appearance. All welds were sanded to a seamless finish.