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Meet Chris Harris of Harris Timberworks in Loveland

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Harris.

Chris, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always had a passion for the arts since I was little. In my early twenties, woodworking caught my attention as a practical way to express my creativity. I began my journey working for the local hardwood dealer. I learned a lot about the different species of wood and met a large number of local craftsmen. After a few years, I decided I wanted to start my own business, building furniture and architectural pieces. I have been very fortunate to team up with Wayne Gardner, who is my partner and mentor/teacher and has over 40 years of woodworking experience. He was trained at the North Bennet Street School in Boston, Massachusetts. Wayne is passing down to me his skills in cabinetry and also Federal-style furniture, which is his specialty.

Recently we had the pleasure of building a notable piece in partnership with Lena Samuelson, a local Designer and G2 construction. Astronaut Scott Kelly moved to Colorado and had a vision for a bed frame to meet specific needs; we had the pleasure of taking his design and vision and turning it into a reality. One of our main considerations was not only to meet the desired aesthetics but also to construct a bed frame intended to last a lifetime. Through thoughtful joinery, we were able to construct not only a beautiful piece but also a piece that would last, something to be a true heirloom.

We strive to stand out by using only the finest quality materials and unrivaled attention to detail. We want to bring back the tradition of maintaining possessions that can be passed down to future generations, and that requires thoughtful design and meticulous craftsmanship.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the main challenges we face is working in a culture geared towards the purchase of low-cost goods that can be thrown away in favor of something new and fresh over a short period of time. Our mission to provide the utmost quality sometimes goes against the grain, but our clients often find it surprising how much more they can get for a small increase in cost. The biggest difficulty is finding out how to bridge that gap from our client’s perspective.

Another challenge can also be how busy our society is today, providing the kind of attention to detail that we require of ourselves usually takes a little bit more time to accomplish, and not everyone is ok with that tradeoff. Over time we anticipate finding more and more of the right partners who believe in our vision and are willing to sacrifice speed for quality. Personally, I am walking through the challenge of becoming a new father with a small business. It can be a huge challenge to find a balance of work and family while trying to build a business.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Federal furniture is at the center point of our philosophy and approach to all of the pieces we create; Federal furniture employs the most difficult and detailed techniques in woodworking, exemplified in pieces done by John and Thomas Seymour from the late 1700s to the early 1800’s – some of which can be found in the White House today. Our foundation in federal furniture, where every part of the piece has embellishment and detail, allows us to accomplish every aspect of our client’s vision. One of our designers recently commented that she could feel the difference in quality just standing in front of our cabinetry; her experience embodies our goal as a company. Some of Wayne’s favorite sayings are “we don’t do easily” and “anything that can be made out of wood we can build.”

One example of our strong conviction for quality material is our commitment to not use any Industrial Particle Board (IPB) or Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) in any of our construction. This is where we differ from almost all other cabinet and furniture companies in the country. We strongly believe that Veneer Core Plywood or Pro Core Plywood is a superior, longer-lasting product. Fiberboard has become so commonplace that this can sometimes lead to sourcing issues; we will always go out of our way, sometimes even as far as veneering our own plywood, in order to avoid IPB or MDF products. This is an aspect of build quality that can sometimes get swept under the rug because you cannot see or feel it. In our experience, over long periods of time, these fiberboard materials will lead to product failure, which goes against our core values.

What were you like growing up?
My father was a big influence on me; he was a fantastic piano player. Some of my earliest memories are of band practice in my dad’s garage and dancing at the local restaurant’s live music night. He passed away in a car accident when I was 11 years old. I had already been very interested in art through sketching and ceramics, but shortly after he passed, I decided to pick up music in his remembrance. I think that this experience really enhanced my love of the arts; through art, I processed deep grief and emotion at a young age. I always wanted to be a famous musician growing up. Once I was out on my own, I had some tough experiences pursuing this dream. I ended up moving back home and working in general construction. It was at this time that I discovered that working with my hands could be a more practical path to making a living through my creativity.

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