Maker's Story

Chris was  born in 1976 in Rotterdam and studied at the HMC in Amsterdam.  After school, he  started his own atelier and where he still works on his own projects and ideas. This Gelderland based furniture maker who, through material inventiveness and curiosity,  includes something unique and fun in his work with a focus on the basic materials. His works are perfectly made but a bit illogical at first sight. Creating tension in the object keeps it fascinating.

“I definitely work from an idea, and then from a design. I’m someone who’s trying to get the wood to do what I want. I use certain aspects of its natural, physical properties. Some people get hypnotised by the timber itself, whereas I want to be in control of it.”

The Process

Due to his rural upbringing and early training, Chris is most comfortable working with wood. To Chris, craft is a means to an end; a unique method for creating a hand-crafted work of art with inherent character and soul, as well as function. His pieces make a visual statement but remain inherently useful, and it is perhaps Chris's curiosity which spurs his unique approach and interpretation of manufacturing processes.

Products

Q&A

What motivates you to make?

The combination of having an idea and then trying to make it still feels like playing. I prefer to work alone and usually without a drawing so I can fully focus on what I'm making. But it also gives me a kick to, for example, make a flat-pack cabinet that is perfect on the drawing, down to the smallest detail. If the idea is good enough, making it is always a joy.

What and/or who are you most inspired or influenced by?

As a former ADHD man, I don't think I can complain about the flow of ideas that come along, but I find the work of Andy Goldsworth very inspiring. With minimal means and almost playing, he succeeds time and again in creating something lasting.

What is your unique approach to your craft and how have you honed your skills?

I trained as a craftsman cabinetmaker in Amsterdam and then started my own workshop. New ideas attract me more than classic crafts and I believe I prefer to look for how something can work, rather than for ready-made solutions.

What is your defining or proudest moment as a maker so far?

The first thing that comes to mind is a moment at a trade fair in Cologne. Here, a group of designers were standing near an insane reuse project and they mentioned (without knowing me) my Only Doors cupboard as the starting point of their research. The result was totally different but very cool!

What is your dream project?

As I almost always answer this question, designing my own house or even neighbourhood seems like a great challenge to me. I don't (always?) think that everything can and should be better but something more playful and exciting would be fine.