Non-toxic paint, from local sources

It’s mid-January, we are well and truly in the Nyoongar season of Birak (hot and dry), and headed towards Bunuru (hot, with easterly winds). We can almost feel the UV rays permeating the air, and the humidity is palpable.

Some of us are still working through our warm-weather home and garden edit, and perhaps painting and/or wood staining is on your list of things to do. And whilst there is a soporific kind of comfort in the warm night-air, especially on those balmy eves at the beach or in the backyard, we would much prefer to be breathing in the smell of sea and salt, than breathing in the toxic fumes coming off a freshly painted wall, or freshly stained garden gate.

As I mentioned in my article on the Paintback program, most commercial paint contains a high level of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which have the potential to cause serious damage to our health and the health of our environment. These can range from dizziness and nausea to cancer and even acid rain. Furthermore, VOCs can actually continue to be released into the air in our homes for literally years after first application.

My personal experience: currently (as in right now! I am writing this whilst I wait for the paint to dry) I am rejuvenating my garden gate, and I’ve needed to buy paint that contains VOCs; I’ve also bought completely non-toxic paint. I needed a metallic spray paint that would work on the metal frame of my gate, so I bought Dulux’s Duramax Bright Finish in Bright Copper Rose. I’ve sprayed one light coat, in the open air of my garden, which took me about 10 minutes to do — and I have noticed that my chest feels tight, and it’s harder for me to breathe. Comparatively, I spent a whole evening, a few months ago, painting a kitchen hutch in Fusion Mineral Paint’s Coal Black, coating it twice. I did this in my dining room, and I felt perfectly fine. So, it’s not just a scare tactic — VOCs genuinely do have an effect on us.

Many bigger companies (such as Dulux) are now creating more eco-friendly products, such as Dulux UltraAir. This is wonderful…in my humble opinion, anything that moves us closer to a greener way of living is a positive development. It’s even an Australian company, which I think is really cool.

But if you are keen on using a paint or stain with absolutely no toxins, and supporting small and local businesses in the meantime, here are a few other options.

Something Painted

Something Painted Chalky Finish Furniture Paint is a small WA business created to provide everyday people with an eco-friendly paint that has a chalky, matt finish and absolutely no toxins. The website promises that the paint will dry in 30 minutes, so if you are very busy (perhaps you are an entrepreneur?) but have a penchant for refinishing furniture, then a) I relate and b) this is a great selling point.

Only water is needed for clean up; it sticks to wood, paint, metal and brick; and no sanding or priming is necessary. Price-wise, it ranges from $16 to $54, depending on the size that you need.

I don’t yet have any personal experience with using Something Painted but I am going to give it a go when I upcycle two dining chairs that I purchased from the Salvos in Port Kennedy, for $10 each, so I will write a review then.

Fusion Mineral Paint (and stains, and gels…)

Whilst not an Australian company, Fusion Mineral Paint is still a family company stocked at a family company and that family company is very local. In fact, the same family company — The Upcycled Barn — stocks both this paint brand as well as Something Painted. (The Upcycled Barn also stocks a few more local paint brands that aren’t listed here: I strongly encourage you to head down to Bakewell Drive and check them out for yourselves.) Also, Fusion Mineral Paint manufactures their paint in their own home town, and provides a directory of stockists local to you.

Back to the paint, though…it comes as mineral paint, metallic paint or milk paint in the most delicious and prolific array of colours, a set of paints specifically for children, there’s a stain and finishing oil (SFO) that comes in 5 different shades, furniture wax that comes in 8 shades as well as 2 aromatherapy options, and 4 different specialty finishes — all of which are non-toxic, none of which need a primer or top coat (though they have that as well, for extra durability) and most of which are water-based clean up…

It’s interesting that the zero VOC products I’ve listed so far are all able to be washed up with water. I think it goes to show just how clean they are (no pun intended). But also, how simple to use, and how they contribute to simple living, too.

Fusion Mineral Paint has a massive array of other, complementary products. Prices are mid-range. For example, a 500ml pot of mineral paint cost me $44.

Ecolour

When my son was born, almost 4 years ago now, I wanted to find a paint for his cot (this was before I discovered the magic that is, for us, co-sleeping) but I was worried about the toxins in the paint. Ecolour was the answer that I found.

An Australian brand, albeit from over east, Ecolour’s paints contain zero VOCs and — how cool is this — they can be tinted to match almost any other manufacturer’s colours. Although I painted a cot with this colour, these paints are actually mainly a wonderful option for painting houses, as their range includes wall paint, wet area paint, paint for doors and trims, and a weatherproof exterior paint. Finishes include a low sheen satin and a Tuscan Flat. There’s a urethane for indoor timber floors, which comes in 7 tints, and a sealer for use on concrete and masonry surfaces.

Prices range from around $40 to around $250.

These are just a few of the options available, but as you can see, if you look beyond the obvious, there are so many eco-friendly, healthier options available.

I love to be educated, and I love to showcase local businesses. Can you please tell me: is there a locally made, environmentally conscious paint range that you would have liked me to list here? What about a local painting business that keeps sustainability in mind?

I hope this has been somewhat helpful, and has inspired you to choose a zero VOC product for your next painting project.

Paintback — A Simple and Free Way to Keep Our Planet Clean

We live on a beautiful yet fragile planet, and I believe that if you are reading this you are just as passionate about supporting the health of our environment as I am. But we are also all human, with societal, physical, and financial limitations that impact the resources available to us, at any given moment.

So, whilst our heart’s desire might be to use 100% toxin free products, there are times we may find ourselves in a bind, and one of those times is when we are painting our homes. Or if you are a professional painter, it might not be your call as to which product you use — this might be up to your employer or your client.

You are probably already aware that most housing paint contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can cause harm both to your health (a serious concern for anyone but especially for children, elderly and people living with an illness) and to the environment. But did you know that VOCs can be released into the air from the fumes of your paint for years after the original application? VOCs may cause nausea, dizziness, memory loss, impaired vision, and even cancer.

Air pollutants from VOCs can damage our animals and plants, and cause acid rain, which can kill our aquatic life —something so dear to us in our coastal community.  

Whilst it is ideal to use a zero VOC product, there are only a few, not very-well-known options available, though more eco-conscious products are entering the market. I’ll write about these options soon. For now, what can we do when we have to use, or have unwittingly used, a paint that contains VOCs, to minimise their impact? Well, to protect human bodies we can open up the windows and doors, wear a face mask, and make sure that those who are more vulnerable aren’t present. To protect the environment, something that we can do is to dispose of this paint thoughtfully.

Paintback is an Australian not-for-profit initiative that was started by some of the most well-known paint traders in 2016. The simple idea is to take leftover paint products — both the paint and the packaging — to a recycling facility linked to Paintback, where these products will be collected from and then recycled. And the two closest locations to Rockingham are Cleanaway in Kwinana and Millar Road Landfill Facility in West Baldivis.

You can drop off up to 100 litres at a time, in 20 litre containers, at no charge to you. And it’s not just paint that can be recycled! Wood coatings, varnishes, shellac, primers, and packaging are some of the other products that can be recycled too. There’s a list on the Paintback website, or you can have a look at my Instagram, where I’ve posted a photo of the list.

Right now, Paintback’s process is to separate the paint from the containers, recycle those containers that haven’t been contaminated, and use the paint as an alternative energy source. (How cool is that?!) So far more than 38 million kilos of paint and packaging have been collected since the initiative began.

But Paintback’s bigger aim is to reduce the waste of the paint industry by 90%, using a circular economy model — where products are not simply created, consumed, and discarded, but care is taken from birth to death then rebirth of the product, if you will — and research is being conducted on diverse uses for recycled paint such as making geopolymer concrete, ‘a type of concrete that is made of industrial waste and processed at room temperature. This would significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of other cements, which is processed at temperatures over 1400 degrees Celsius’; recycling the plastic from paint buckets to make new paint buckets; and using old paint as an ingredient in road construction materials.

It might take a little extra time to dispose of your paint in this way (and please don’t think I am claiming to be perfect at this!) but if all of us took a little extra time to dispose of our household waste thoughtfully, we may just buy a little extra time for our future loved ones on this planet. Not to mention having a cleaner home to live in today.

Do you know about other eco-conscious community initiatives in and around the Rockingham area? Or even an individual person making a conscious decision that positively impacts our community? Please send me an email at jodie@southernharbour.org or a message on Instagram and let me know, as I am always looking to connect with and showcase local creatives and community-minded entrepreneurs.

Posy Drop - Delivering Floral Happiness, Locally

Imagine hearing the sound of someone at your door and upon opening it, being on the receiving end of a fresh, delicately crafted posy of flowers, hand delivered, just for you. How does it make you feel? Loved, surprised, touched…all of the above?

Now, imagine being the giver of those flowers, and witnessing this reaction, day after day. It is scientifically proven that giving to others makes you feel happy and perhaps that’s why I could positively feel the joy radiating off the page when I read Kate Gordon’s answers about her new(ish) business, Posy Drop.

Can you please tell me a little about Posy Drop, and what makes you passionate about your business?

Posy Drop is a local flower delivery service offering beautiful handmade and hand delivered posies between Bertram, Kwinana and Golden Bay.

I purchase fresh flowers based on seasonal availability and offer varying colour palettes and flowers each day — this means there is always something that will take your fancy and each posy is a unique surprise for both the receiver and the person who is sending the flowers!

I really love being able to deliver posies of love to the local community, we have a really wonderful local community here in the Rockingham area and seeing people’s reactions to being spoilt with some beautiful flowers and gifts makes my job one of the best in the world! Even with the early morning runs to buy fresh flowers!

(Is it just me or does visiting a flower market sound like a divine way to start your day? — Jodie.)

What part of the city of Rockingham (or Mandurah, or Kwinana…) are you from and what do you think makes that part of the world unique? 

Posy Drop is based in Safety Bay — I absolutely love our little bay, it is a hidden gem of amazing coastline, quiet beaches and friendly community-minded locals.

How does sustainability and environmental-friendliness feature in your business? 

 I try to use as many biodegradable options as possible when producing, packaging and delivering my posies. I have also been expanding my knowledge in floral foam-free options for events and wedding flowers and will be continuing to implement this more in the future.

How do flowers add value to our lives? 

Flowers can brighten anyone’s day!! No matter the occasion, flowers are always suitable whether you want to wish someone a happy birthday, thank them, let them know you are thinking of them or show your sympathy.

What are your tips for building a beautiful bouquet? 

A cohesive colour palette is the perfect base for any bouquet, having a beautiful main focal flower and incorporating locally grown flowers and foliage – we have some amazing local growers!

What is your favourite, local day out? 

 Definitely a day enjoying one of our local beaches! We are spoilt for choice!

 How can people — either clients or even other businesses — work with you? And do you offer workshops? 

 Send me a message on my social media, the “contact me” form on my website, via email or even give me a call. I love being a part of all your important events and local community functions and events, so I’m always happy to hear how we can work together.

 At the moment I do not offer workshops, after only owning the business for just over a year I didn’t want to jump into everything all at once. However, I am always expanding my knowledge and it is something I’d like to offer in the future. If anyone has an idea they’d like to run past me for an event or a workshop, I’m always open to new floral adventures!

How did you come to be involved in Posy Drop? 

 I began my Posy Drop journey in 2020 as a delivery driver delivering posies to the local community. A year later I was fortunate enough to take over the business as my own and continue delivering handmade and hand delivered posies to the local community! I think being able to hand deliver the flowers myself is one of my favourite parts of Posy Drop as I get to see everyone’s reactions when they receive their beautiful posies! It honestly makes my day!

Posy Drop deliveries run on Monday, Thursday and Friday and delivery is free between Bertram and Golden Bay (yet another reason to buy local). Follow Kate’s Facebook and Instagram accounts to have images of beautiful flowers, as well as the latest Posy Drop updates, delivered to you regularly and to support another of our local businesses. Or get in touch with her at admin@posydrop.com.au.

And if you do set up a workshop or partnership with Posy Drop, please let me know so that I can promote this for you on Southern Harbour’s Instagram and with a blog!

The Upcycled Barn – Breathe New Life into Old Beauties

Walking into The Upcycled Barn, time takes on a new quality. The outside world hushes, the light filters softly past the multitude of items stacked in the windows, and the shop bulges with treasures to be discovered. If you are an antique and second-hand décor lover like I am, walking through the back room feels like entering Narnia, as you wind your way through vintage and retro wardrobes, mirrored dressers, and interestingly carved cupboard doors.

The Upcycled Barn has that timeless old-world shoppe essence you could imagine in a cobblestoned country town, a place that feels wholesome, warm and a little bit magical. And it’s not just down to what is materialistically in the shop, but the people who run it.

‘The Upcycled Barn is a happy place where we play music, sing, converse and make friends with all our customers. We have lots and lots of customers that just come in to stay a while and say hello.’

When I rang Tracy, the owner, feeling a little nervous about asking her to feature on my blog, her salt-of-the-earth manner and enthusiastic openness to my request instantly put me at ease and raised my confidence. She sent me her answers in a stream of consciousness that is indicative of her effervescent personality, and I have arranged these in the interview below for you. Within her answers is not only the story of Upcycled Barn but also some wisdom from a creative small business owner, who survived through the Covid pandemic, that may uplift others.

When did The Upcycled Barn open? If it's not too personal, how long did it take for your business to become profitable?

The Upcycled Barn opened from an empty building in February 2017. The Upcycled Barn I opened with stock I had and absolutely no debt, everything purchased for the business is paid for in full and up front, there has never been any owing debt on the business, and because of this we quickly expanded to a huge space of 900 sq metres bursting with fabulous vintage antique mid-century Art Deco lovelies. This is the only way to start a business, in my opinion. It’s a tough industry and having to pay huge rents and debt etc., you simply cannot make a lot of profit.

We have made a good profit from day one and it’s just got better every year because of this. Although, I will never be rich because I owe no one anything and that is my focus. It’s a family business that helps school our children and provide after school activities and we live comfortably. 

How and when did you become interested in upcycling furniture? What does sustainability mean to you, both literally and personally?

I have upcycled and loved antiques for all my adult life and I’m 55 now so a very long time. There’s always a use for good solid wood and nothing is unsalvageable. I try my best to work with my local demographic and am very conscious of the cost of living these days so want everyone to be able to enjoy nice things.

My focus is on keeping costs down and providing excellent quality items that will last the distance. I despise this Ikea plastic, laminate, throw-away cheap furniture. I try my utmost to keep new products slightly under retail and this has been the reason we have survived Covid and tough times with small business; we are also very happy to negotiate prices. My business focuses on happiness, and we welcome family-orientated customer service.

Do you run workshops and if so, what kind and where can people find out about them?

I don’t run workshops simply because there are many people out there that do. I’m very happy to give and show customers what they can do and how they can do it and offer guidance and help. I also am happy to let people know where workshops are happening, also sharing many, many online sites for tutorials.

‘Not doing workshops allows me to be more customer focused and work in the business, and most of my new upcycling customers are happy to go away with the required products and come back in a week later saying oh that was so easy. This makes me happy.’

Are there some words of encouragement that you could give to other local creatives who are starting out?

One thing I always say to Creatives is love what you do. Do it because it makes you happy, don’t expect to get paid an hourly rate for your hard work, and don’t add that to your selling price as then your product is far too expensive. And remember you are competing with Kmart; you need to showcase your love of craft and if you make a small profit then well done. There is absolutely no room for greed these days.

Are you a Rockingham local? If not, when, and why, did you move?

I live in Port Kennedy and have grown up in the area with my dear husband and six wonderful children, all of whom help in the business when necessary. Running your own business gives you the flexibility to focus on your family and be able to still put them first. 

What's your favourite, local day out?

We love every inch of Kennedy Bay/ Long Point beach and Rockingham foreshore. We have the best beaches in Australia. We are a very blessed state.  

Kokonuts Living

(This is interview is from the archives and was given in August 2020. Image from Instagram.)

Luxe, boho and coastal, Kokonuts Living is a small, local and impeccably curated online homewares store that is also stocked at The Junction —— South West Collective in Mandurah.

My perfect local day out is actually just hopping in the car w/ my hubby & grom, driving along our beautiful coast roads and getting a bite to eat, from Palm Beach all the way down past Falcon, there are so many little beach shacks and surf spots to be seen. It's a simple kind of day out but I'm pretty simple and the beach is where my family and I feel our happiest.

Amber, Kokonuts Living

Amber and Maria kindly took some time to talk to me, way back in August 2020, when the Southern Harbour blog was just an opal of an idea.

How did Kokonuts Living form? What’s your inspiration?

Maria: After living in Indonesia for over 9 years and always having a passion for homewares, I decided to bring my love of coastal décor and homewares to WA.

Who are the people behind your brand?

Amber: Behind KL is Maria and myself; Maria handles all the "fun business" side, lol, whilst I handle the majority of the web handling, social media, content creating and marketing. We have just hired Sarah Ellen photography to start shooting our products though, which has been amazing. We have an absolutely amazing team over in Indonesia; Nicole who travels far and wide to source the beautiful things we bring to our Kustomers as well as our amazing artisans who make them for us! But we also have our amazing hubbys who truly are the muscles behind the biz!

What relationship does Kokonuts Living have with Rockingham? And Kwinana?

Amber: KL is widely known to be situated in Mandurah as we are stocked at The Junction on the foreshore — The Junction is an amazing collection of nearly 35 amazing small businesses! Make sure to head down and check it out! But we don't limit ourselves to any particular suburb as having an online business means we have many Kustomers from all over Australia!

What’s Kokonuts Living’s stance on sustainability and being environmentally friendly?

Maria: At KL we try to be as conscious as possible with our carbon footprint, we choose to use as many recycled materials as possible. We think it's amazing the resources businesses have these days with packaging that is more environmentally friendly!

Do you have any styling tips for using Kokonuts Living’s products?

Amber: Both Maria and I believe 'Less is More' when it comes to styling, which we think a lot of our decorative items as well as the large say that. When it comes to styling we're both big on clean lines, natural lighting and a good statement piece! That's actually what inspired our Malibu Range, each piece is a statement piece on its own or but ultimately can be styled all together.

Describe Kokonut Living’s perfect, local day out - please!

Amber: My perfect local day out is actually just hopping in the car w/ my hubby & grom, driving along our beautiful coast roads and getting a bite to eat, from Palm Beach all the way down past Falcon, there are so many little beach shacks and surf spots to be seen. It's a simple kind of day out but I'm pretty simple and the beach is where my family and I feel our happiest.

Where can people purchase your products and is there an option for local pick up?

Amber: KL is online but you can find us down at The Junction along Mandurah Foreshore, situated amongst amazing cafes and restaurants. We certainly do offer a local pick-up option, which is located in Secret Harbour.

For moments of beautiful, beachy home inspiration, follow Kokonuts Living on Instagram and Facebook.

Giving with S.O.U.L

‘There but for the grace of God go I’, a wise man once said. For me, “God” refers to the vibration of a higher energy that, I believe, runs through and guides us all if we tap into it. For him, it was a Christian deity. Still, the sentiment was the same for both of us.

The man was my boss from when I worked in a homeless shelter many moons ago. We often acknowledged the underlying truth that we’re all just a few, frightening, steps away from homelessness. It’s an uncomfortable thought. Blessedly, community organisations exist, working behind the scenes (as important and as inconspicuous as the undercurrent of the ocean), to offer a helping hand to our community members experiencing homelessness and vulnerability.

Servants of United Love (S.O.U.L Incorporated) is a dual-focussed, Rockingham-based charity providing meals and care packages to those who need them, as well as holistic support, including accommodation, to vulnerable women. Previously these were women who were pregnant and homeless, under the S.O.U.L Care and the Village Women programs. Sadly these programs had to close, along with the much-loved SOUL charity shop, which sold upcycled furniture.

‘Our heart and vision is still to provide safe and supportive places to house vulnerable and pregnant women. If you are in a position to support this vision or are able to provide us with accommodation or a house, please call us on 9558 9350.’

https://soulincorporated.org/

However a new wave of programs has arisen: Lilia Haven and Lilia Haven Furniture.

Lilia Haven is a holistic program that aids in the healing of women aged 28 and older, who are experiencing depression, anxiety, unresolved trauma, poor mental health and other life-controlling issues. The aim is to empower participants through education to ‘thrive in future relational and work environments’.

Volunteers who previously used their skills to upcycle furniture for the charity store are now channelling this love into restoring furniture for the verdant Baldivis property, which will be the site of Lilia Haven, opening in April 2022, thus creating an intentionally warm and beautiful home for the women who stay.

The S.O.U.L Soup Patrol program is still offering soup and filled-bread-rolls in six locations on Sundays.

These are:

Lake Richmond Cnr Safety Bay Rd and Lake Street – 4.50pm

Navy Memorial park—Governor Rd Reserve (opp caravan park) – 5.10pm

PCYC Skate Park – 5.30pm

Anniversary Park – 5.50pm

BP Dixon Road (near Caravan Park) – 6.10pm

Lakes Caravan Park (Old Mandurah Rd) – 6.30pm

If you’re interested in getting involved, either as a participant, a dinner guest, a volunteer or a benefactor, you can contact S.O.U.L Inc. at

1/5 Cessnock WayRockingham WA 6168

 0450947751

 soulinc@iinet.net.au

TerraCycle pod recycling, and a poem about coffee

Oh, how I long for you in the morning

Your musky aroma and the warmth of the pour

Of that steaming hot, rich liquid

And the stream of precious elixir

Filling my physical and metaphorical cup

I came upon you later in life

To keep me awake between lectures at night

Now each day when the new day breaks

I crave you to stir and arouse me

A sip of you and I have a little more strength

To greet whatever lays ahead

You clear my sleepy, cloudy head

And gently you awaken me

Okay, so I didn’t intend for my poem to sound quite so sensual.

Is it any wonder, though, when this sophisticated liquid elicits such a passionate response from all of us who partake? Coffee pod machines have also amplified the quality of the coffee that we drink at home.

What’s not so palatable is the amount of landfill that these little pods of heaven are creating.

More than ever, we need to be conscious about our waste. According to Solo Resource Recovery, 3 million single use coffee pods are disposed of by Australians per day.

Coffee pods are one of the trickiest things to recycle as well, given their size and the amount of components that go into some of them: aluminium, plastic, and of course, coffee grounds. Luckily there’s a program called TerraCycle, which can help.

TerraCycle, a social enterprise, recycles the tricky, every day things such as razors, cosmetic containers and yes, coffee pods. Partnering with several different companies across many industries, TerraCycle exists in 21 countries. They’ve even connected with Woolworths on an arising program called Loop. Loop ‘aims to change the way the world shops with refillable packaging offered with convenience and style’. (TerraCycle.com, 2021)

Small steps can change your coffee pod carbon footprint.

There are a few ways to get involved, depending on your budget, time-freedom and the types of coffee pods you use. The first step is creating an account with TerraCycle, which is easy and absolutely free.

The brands Green Barista, Di Stefano and Seven Miles are all Australian made with a strong stance on sustainability. Other participating brands include L’or and Nescafe Dolce Gusto. These pods can be collected in any bag placed inside any box. Whilst you don’t need to clean the pods you do need to squeeze out any excess liquid, make sure your parcel is completely dry and seal the bag and, obviously, the box. (I find that if I empty my pods straight in to a bag and keep it in my bin closet, the pods naturally dry out by the time I am ready to recycle them.)Then simply download a shipping label from your profile on the TerraCycle website, tape it to your parcel and ship it. TerraCycle will cover the cost of shipping, too! The coffee from Di Stefano and Green Barista will also be commercially composted.

Another way to get involved is to drop them off at a local collection hub. The TerraCycle website has a searchable map where you can find your closest collection point.

Lastly, you can get involved by setting up a collection hub yourself! If you’re comfortable with it, you can do this from home. However, you could also enlist a local business or your child’s school to act as a drop off point. Once the pods have been received, the steps are the same as above: package, seal and send.

Even more reasons to feel warm and glowy…

All TerraCycle projects donate a percentage to charity. If you become a collector, you can even pick your own charity to donate to. TerraCycle has raised over 44 million dollars for charities. And joining is free.

Participating in TerraCycle is just one way to feel good about enjoying the finer things in life. Do you have any suggestions, questions or know of a local program that focusses on sustainability? Then please email me at jodie@southernharbour.org and let me know.

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.

Browse the latest from T-M-S Industrial Steel on Facebook and Instagram and get in touch for your custom piece here.