Monday, July 30, 2007

Custom Sectional

Media Talk: From the Archives: The Boston Globe

I found this 1989 copy of YOUR HOME, which was a special supplement to the BOSTON GLOBE. This front cover image showcased interior designer Veronique Louvet at home. Walter Heller provided the upholstery work. Photo by Eric Roth.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Upholstered Headboards


There are many different styles of upholstered headboards, sure to fit into any decor. This scene above is from a project I did for Boston television station WHDH's Room for Improvement segment. The limited project budget didn't allow for a lot of extras and this custom headboard was the single most expensive item in the space. But I do think it made the room and gave the homeowners a one-of-a-kind item that's both luxurious and comfortable.

The headboard above is a fairly simple shape, but as you'll see below, any shape or size can be created.



Click on the images above for more detailed specifications.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Vincent Reardon - Slot Sofa Prototype

In May 2007, furniture and product designers Matt Pauk and Rob Tang of Vincent Reardon showcased their Slot Sofa design at the ICFF in New York. They turned to Walter Heller to build the prototype for this unique sofa system.

Says Matt and Rob "Slot is a dynamic furniture piece which finds new value by the blending of a sofa and coffee table. The system makes use of the traditional gaps found between sofa cushions by converting them into tracks for the table to slide into".

Learn more about the design process, including sketches and 3-d renderings here.

ETA 7/25/07 - here is a YouTube video of the sofa "in motion"

Friday, July 20, 2007

In the Showroom: Petit Comfort Club Chair

This sweet chair was built as the prototype for a large custom furniture project for a library in a private girls school.

This piece can be sold as is, or could be reupholstered to match any decor. Please call for pricing.

In the Showroom: Regan Chair

This Regan Chair was recently custom built in our workroom.


Well scaled, traditional classic lines - it comes in a variety of dimensions and options. This style also comes with loose back cushions. Click here for more information.


This floor sample is available for sale. Call for pricing.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Glossary: Cushion Style Options

Here are some examples of the different styles of cushions available - for use on pillows, sofa and chair cushions, bench seats, etc.

Glossary: Skirt Styles and Options

Here is a handy chart of the different chair, sofa and bedding options available.

Glossary: Arm Styles and Tailoring Options

Ever been confused by the difference between an English Arm or Tuxedo Arm? Here is a handy reference of different styles available to you on a sofa or chair.


Saturday, July 14, 2007

Natural Comfort and Green Design

Natural Comfort
The Benefits of Using Natural Fibers in Upholstered Furniture

by Lora Sharpe

The relaxing chair, the comfortable sofa, even the pillow you fluff up at night is more likely now than in decades before to be made of natural fibers.

Like the trend to more natural foods and more natural clothing, the desire for natural fibers and fillings in furniture stems from concerns for both the environment and our own comfort.

Furniture designer and builder Walter Heller, owner of Heller Furniture in the Boston Design Center, for example, touts the old-fashioned comfort of sofas stuffed with horsehair or down, covered with the softness of cotton or the richness of silk.

Silk bespeaks luxury, he says, and a sofa made the old-fashioned way just has more loft, making it more comfortable. But he’s also concerned about the environmental aspects of synthetics.

“I believe strongly in using natural materials, especially in mattress pads,” says Heller. Common sense and more than four decades of experience, he says, have convinced him that natural fibers and fillings are better for the human animal, a creature subject to allergies and sensitive to harsh materials. In a world where even the electric wires overhead are being anxiously reappraised, Heller questions whether we literally should surround ourselves every day with chemicals. Foam, for instance, which is used to shape much furniture today, is a mixture of chemicals that expand when heated.

Today’s consumer shares this environmental concern.

Read more...

(This article was originally published in The Boston Globe, 9/26/93)

Media Talk - Heller Furniture in South Shore Magazine


Click on images to read the article about Walter Heller and Heller Furniture.

Source: South Shore Magazine

Friday, July 13, 2007