A Seattle Original.
A Pacific Northwest native, Matt Neill was born and raised in Seattle, WA. He grew up making pinewood derby cars and enjoying shop classes but never considered a career in woodworking until 2000 when he got a summer job in a small Ballard wood shop. One lop-sided bookcase later Matt was hooked and knew exactly what he wanted to be doing full time.
Bookcases led to an apprenticeship making custom staircases, then on to fabricating commercial and retail fixtures, as well as designing and building residential cabinets and furniture. From small shops using 100% reclaimed lumber to facilities equipped with state-of-the-art CNC routers, Matt has spent his career building for homes and businesses throughout the Seattle area.
As a local woodworker Matt feels a unique responsibility to deliver practical design and attention to detail in every project he takes on in this city we call home.
Leaving a Mark.
“As someone who works with my hands I’ve always been fascinated by objects made by past generations. Historic buildings with worn steps, old hardware polished from use, creaky furniture that’s still kicking; everything old has a story. My wife would call it an obsession, but I love the idea of creating something functional that will outlast me.
Here in the Northwest I’ve grown up surrounded by trees. One of my favorite parts of hiking in our forests is spotting old-growth stumps with springboard notches still visible in them: loggers would stand on planks notched into the tree being harvested. You can find these remnants scattered throughout the forests of the PNW, some even within Seattle city limits.
These worn bits of history are the inspiration for Springboard Woodworks, my way of acknowledging the past while creating something practical and lasting.”
-Matt N.
Let’s build something!
We’d love to hear about your project.