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Inside Shelton Studios, Where Gabrielle Shelton Creates High-End Metalwork

From House Beautiful

On any given day in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Gabrielle Shelton is hard at work making nearly anything the human mind can dream up out of metal. Surrounding Shelton Studios is a vibrant neighborhood of bars, restaurants, vintage clothing shops, and Polish bakeries. But for Shelton, the magic of the neighborhood is on her block, where she and her metalworking business live alongside other trade studios, creating a community of artisans.

Shelton knew from a young age that she wanted to work with metal. Thanks to an uncle of hers who owned a metalworking shop, she was exposed to the magic of the craft as a child, and the interest never quite wore off. She recalls paying childhood visits to her uncle’s studio where she was fascinated by the various tools of the trade. Still, it's a tough skill to crack: "When I first started metalworking it was pretty rough," Shelton admits. "Then over the years I’ve just gotten more into the finessing of metal.”

Photo credit: House Beautiful
Photo credit: House Beautiful

And finesse she has. Stairs, railings, doors, windows, and library ladders are but a handful of options for anyone who would like to see Shelton’s work in their own home. Over her decades in the business, Shelton has created pieces for individual homes as well as bars, restaurants, and more.

One need look no further than her Instagram account, where she frequently posts finished projects, to see evidence of a job well done—and get a sense of the breadth of her output. For one Los Angeles restaurant, Shelton created custom lighting, back bars, shelves, mirrors, hardware, and counters. Their glittering new home seems worlds away from the gritty studio where each piece begins.

Shelton’s process differs depending on the project. While some clients come to her with very specific ideas of what they want and only ask that she realize their vision, others give her much more creative leeway, allowing her to both design and create for them. But no matter what, Shelton seems to learn from each piece. Her love for her craft keeps her coming back every day, while the surprises that await with each project consistently keep her on her toes. New clients, spaces, styles, and functional needs mean that no two pieces are exactly alike.

Plus, it means she is constantly problem solving: “Once we get to just make the work, it’s pretty seamless, and any problem that we have in the shop is solvable," Shelton says. "It could be really difficult, but there’s always a solution.”

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