Common wisdom has it that people will pay a premium for the green and the gorgeous-that those who can afford it are willing to spend more for sustainably-sourced, locally-made furniture. But what about those who can't? Designer Cameron Helvey of Helvey Design Studio has the answer: support your local craftsman.

Beautiful Collection in Oak or Walnut

Helvey's Kickstarter project suggests you purchase one of his amazing, hand-crafted oak or walnut pieces (sourced and made locally in San Diego, CA), but if you don't have the wherewithal for that, that you contribute what you can to the very important mission of bringing safe, sustainable, and locally-made goods to the masses.

Helvey is a master craftsman with a Japanese-influenced, minimalist aesthetic. With his first collection, he "designed with the principals of simplicity, minimalism and quality craftsmanship… by concentrating on the materials and function of each piece, we were able to strip out unnecessary features, ornamentation, or embellishments."

The resulting assortment of chairs, end tables, dining tables, benches, and desks each share a basic form and structure, as they all synthesize recycled steel and sustainably-sourced wood while simplifying the construction and assembly.

The unique form facilitates Helvey's objective of "standardized hand-craftsmanship," while deeding each piece an exacting duotone flair, as the powder-coated steel in white or black sets off the hardwood beautifully, giving each piece a distinctive look while simultaneously keeping prices down.

About the Designer: Cameron Helvey is a worker of wood and steel, a fashioner of sublime furnishings, a master craftsman interested in making sustainable, hand-built design more widely available. You can help him in this noble endeavor by finding out more about his Kickstarter initiative.