‘Man cave furniture’: St. George artist creates home decor and furniture from vintage cars

Written by Jessi Bang
February 6, 2023

ST. GEORGE —One man is giving old cars a second chance by turning them into home decor and seating you won’t find anywhere else.

Aaron Mathews stands next to his custom furniture design at the Tuacahn Saturday Market in Ivins, Utah, Feb. 4, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Aaron Mathews stands next to his custom furniture design at the Tuacahn Saturday Market in Ivins, Utah, Feb. 4, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

Aaron Mathews, the owner of Aaron Mathews Designs, said he’s always loved building things and working with his hands. It was only natural that his passions led him to be the maker, designer and artist behind his own brand.

“Whatever comes to my mind, I just build it to create it,” Mathews said.

In 2004, he studied interior design at the Art Institute of Las Vegas where he learned AutoCAD – a software that creates 2D and 3D models and blueprints. He quickly realized that being behind a computer wasn’t where he was meant to be.

Instead of furniture shopping for home decor clients in stores, he wanted to build and create everything with his own two hands.

“I’ve always been into the modern, industrial, rustic look,” Matthews said. “And I always dreamed of doing furniture, especially.”

Custom furniture made from old car parts is designed and created by Aaron Mathews, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Aaron Mathews, St. George News
Custom furniture made from old car parts is designed and created by Aaron Mathews, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Aaron Mathews, St. George News

Mathews, who has a love for old cars and trucks, owns a 1952 Ford Crestline that is currently for sale. He is also building a 1941 Plymouth Deluxe rat rod, which was his grandmother’s first car.

“I took the cab from my family’s ranch several years ago,” he said about the rat rod. “It was in the ground for 70-plus years and I always looked at it as a kid, dreaming of building it into something one day.”

Working for the Bureau of Land Management as a Wildland Firefighter for many years allowed him to fund the building of his own welding and design shop in Enterprise, Utah. He combined his love for old cars and creativity by first making lamps out of old car parts. As he continued to build unique items, his hobby turned into a business. 

“I’m essentially building what’s usually called ‘man cave furniture,’” he said. “It’s interesting because it’s mostly women that point it out to their men.”

Mathews now creates a wide variety of furniture and home decor, including tailgate patio benches and minibars that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Truck bed sofas are made by removing the entire back end of a truck and rewiring taillights to turn on as part of the display. He also makes a variety of decorative sculptures.

Custom furniture by Aaron Mathews Designs is pictured on display in Ivins, Utah, Feb. 4, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Custom furniture by Aaron Mathews Designs is pictured on display in Ivins, Utah, Feb. 4, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

But things haven’t always been easy.

After losing his first house along with his shop, Mathews said his life changed. Instead, he began leasing a shop to create his art. When the mother of his children passed away two years ago, he chose to end his Wildland Firefighting career to focus on raising his four kids, ages 16, 13, 12 and 9.

“All the different trials have pushed me more and more toward my passion,” he said. “I’m not worried about how I’m going to pay for things, just focus on knowing this is what I’m supposed to do and just doing it. That’s how I’ve gotten where I’m at.”

Matthews said pursuing his art has inspired his children to create their own metal art, which can be seen for sale alongside his items at local markets.

“I’ve done booths where I don’t sell one thing, but my kids sell their stuff, and that’s just as rewarding,” he said.

Custom furniture by Aaron Mathews Designs are made from repurposed car parts, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Aaron Mathews, St. George News
Custom furniture by Aaron Mathews Designs is made from repurposed car parts, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Aaron Mathews, St. George News

While many assume he retrieves car parts from junk yards, Mathews said the cars aren’t vintage enough for the art he creates. He instead finds items in creative ways, such as spotting old cars on properties and knocking directly on the homeowner’s door. He also purchases tailgates and other car parts on Facebook Marketplace.

“I’m always looking for things that inspire me,” he said. “Anywhere I can go to find cool, old, rusty stuff and bring it back here to keep building and creating.”

Mathews’ primary goal is to showcase his unique furniture, home decor and art inside furniture or home decor stores. He also plans to offer large landscape sculptures this summer. 

For more information on Aaron Mathews Designs, including past work and current items for sale, follow @aaronmathewsdesigns on Instagram. To see car sofas for sale in person, visit the lounge inside the St. George Tint Shop at 316 E. 1400 S. in St. George.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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