Sustainability, old school quality and a self-taught furniture-maker named Chris

Chris Gautier is a modern engineer, with the sensibilities of a craftsperson. A Baldivis local, he’s been making custom-built furniture for over twenty years and has his own passion-driven business: T-M-S Industrial Steel Furniture.

I discovered Chris whilst seeking a local to build me two Montessori-style beds; these are colloquially known as ‘floor-beds’ because they sit very close to the floor, providing safety and ease of use for toddlers and children. During our conversations, he told me that the first such bed he’d made was for his granddaughter, so I knew his work came from the heart.

However, don’t let the family connection fool you into thinking that this is an amateur hobby for Chris. By day he works as an engineering manager. And T-M-S’ projects include showroom fit outs, statement pieces for corporate venues, and custom restaurant furniture. Actually, all of T-M-S’ furniture is custom, and Chris is as committed to providing the same quality of service and product to his individual clientele as his professional ones.

The unique selling point of what I do is based around designing and making something that fits your space, is custom (everything I build is always different is some way) and has some longevity.

Using the 3d design software takes away a lot of the uncertainty people have around buying something custom that they cannot yet see or touch, helps with the quoting and I can also draw the room in which it is going into so you can get a feel for the size and the impact it will have.

Often, the thought of having something custom built conjures heart palpitations at the thought of the expense. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. I had a specific design in mind, inspired by the IKEA GJÖRA bedframe, which costs $499 (at the time of writing this blog post) plus $89 delivery (equalling $588…and all the blood, sweat and tears of building flat-pack furniture, which is unqualifiable). Instead, through T-M-S, I was able to have a piece built exactly as I envisioned it, for $650 including delivery and assembly. So, whilst the cost was very close to the IKEA price, I received a piece completely individual to me and my family, and the service exceeded the standard that comes with big-chain purchases. Not to mention, I had the opportunity to support a local creative entrepreneur, embrace sustainability and reduce my carbon footprint.

Sustainability is very important to Chris. He told me,

My whole furniture making experience is mainly driven from industrial looking pieces, steel mixed with wood (I have an engineering background) – too much is built with no longevity, I like to over-engineer and build to last…Too many are offered cheap from the big stores, but they have no strength and end up on the verge during hard rubbish time.

I also like the idea of no packaging – lots of furniture is over packaged and all this ends up in land fill or sent offshore to be recycled. The impact to the environment is huge.

So, I always deliver and assemble everything I make to reduce this impact (where possible).

It’s important to Southern Harbour not to forget the individual behind the project. The character of our locals is what makes up the tapestry of our community. When I asked Chris what inspires him, he said

A lot of my design inspiration comes from over-engineered vintage industrial design elements found in old school engineering factories etc. which sadly are becoming very rare — form and function which have a sense of purpose and that are useful to [the] end user and the space.

Lots of people’s spaces are different so why go buy a piece of furniture that is standard and doesn’t fit?

Although I am not a carpenter by trade, I have found a lot of my metal skills transfer to wood and the challenge of learning new skills and techniques is very rewarding.

Personally, I can’t wait to see what Chris does next; I am particularly interested in his pieces using old railway sleepers.

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