FilzFelt expands the Kelly Harris Smith Collection with the addition four new designs for Block acoustic wall tiles. Smith joins other invited designers, including Eva Zeisel, who have created new designs for existing product categories.
Kelly Harris Smith’s inspiration for the new acoustic wall tiles is from patterns familiar in fashion but she has shifted the scale and adapted the idea for a new interpretation. The sound-softening, modular tiles nest together to create dynamic and compelling patterning on vertical wall surfaces.
The application of the wall tiles on the entire wall or just a specific area customizes the pattern even further. The tiles may be installed wall-to-wall or as floating installations that are easily configured with FilzFelt’s Design Tool available at filzfelt.com.
Made from 100% Wool Design Felt mounted to a lightweight and thin virgin PET acoustic substrate, 63 color options allow for varied configurations and one-of-a-kind acoustic solutions for workplace, hospitality, or residential.
The four designs for the Block acoustic wall tiles are:
Dart Block – inspired by traditional houndstooth
Chevron Block – a sophisticated adaptation on the zig-zag
Picket Block – influenced by floor tiling
Plus Block – an iconic shape
As Kelly explains, bringing a higher-level of design to the functionality of acoustic wall tiles is about recognizing that we can introduce pattern and color into all surface treatments. “Creating a dynamic design moment for the utilitarian need of cushioning sound had me thinking about how a coat can keep you warm but also excite the eyes.”
About Kelly Harris Smith
Kelly Harris Smith is an independent designer and creative director specializing in natural and sustainable materials in commercial and residential interior design. By balancing intricacy and simplicity, Kelly’s designs are distinctive for their pattern, color, and innovative functionality. Whether she’s creating small accessories or large interior architecture installations, Kelly begins her design process with a thoughtful analysis of how people will interact with the product or the environment.
Named one of The Boston Globe’s “25 Most Stylish Bostonians”, Kelly is also a recipient of New England Home’s “5 Under 40 Award”. Under her direction, FilzFelt received Interior Design magazine’s “HIP Award” and Spinneybeck’s Beller Collection received Metropolis magazine’s “Metropolis Likes Award” and Interior Design magazine’s “Best of Year Award”.
She is a founding member and board organizer of Boston Design Salon, a women’s design business leadership organization, and sits on the advisory council of the Design Industry Group of Massachusetts (DIGMA), an organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship of design to business, education, and leadership.
A co-founder of FilzFelt, she was Creative Director and VP of Design for Spinneybeck | FilzFelt, a Knoll, Inc. Prior to founding FilzFelt, Kelly was the founder of Etcetera Media, a product design company that focused on textile decor and home accessories. From 2007 to 2011, she curated an annual gallery exhibition and sale for Boston’s pinkcomma gallery called Design Nearby, focusing on local designers. She has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Northeastern University and spent several years working for Machado & Silvetti Associates, an award-winning architecture and urban design firm. She also gained experience in interior architectural details while working on educational and museum projects at Utile and graphic design and branding skills at over,under. She has been crafting beautiful things out of unexpected materials since she was growing up in Northern Virginia. She lives in Boston with her husband, two children, and an adorable vizsla.
About FilzFelt
FilzFelt carries German-milled 100% Wool Design Felt in 63 colors and five thicknesses. The product line includes 100% Wool Design Felt by the yard and felt products including acoustic products, drapery, floor coverings, hanging panels, and tabletop. Since felt is a nonwoven fabric and does not require a loom for its production, ancient people were able to produce it quite easily. To produce felt, raw wool undergoes a wet felting process, which involves matting, condensing, and pressing the fibers. Wool Design Felt is high quality, eco-friendly, comes in highly saturated colors, and is perfect for demanding design applications.
FilzFelt was founded in 2008 by two felt-loving designers, Kelly Smith and Traci Roloff. In 2011, the company was acquired by Knoll, Inc. and continues to bring this natural, ancient textile into the 21st century where it balances beauty, utility, and sustainability while meeting the challenging needs of modern spaces.