Chris Smith, Metal Furnishings
Hackettstown, 908-850-1728
The son of an industrial metal worker, Chris Smith practices his craft in an old barn attached to the 55-year-old farmhouse he shares with his wife and two young daughters in rural Hackettstown.
Smith, who works in brass, bronze, stainless steel, zinc, copper, iron and other metals, doesn’t consider himself an artist. “I used to be a professional motorcycle racer,” he says. “Then we had kids, and I realized I had to make a living.” He leans to a large degree on his wife and design manager, Agnieszka, for help: “She’s the real artist. She does all my sketches,” he says. “I can barely draw a stick figure.”
No matter. Smith handcrafts furniture—including chairs, tables and lamps—as well as design elements, such as railings, gates and fireplace screens.
Smith collaborates with designers and architects on most projects. “I’ll go on a site visit and help people visualize how something will fit in their space,” he says. Once all parties agree on a direction, he handcrafts each piece himself. “I’m the guy,” he says. “I don’t hand it off to a minion in a shop.”
Typical of the process is the copper hood in accompanying photo. A custom-designed piece, it’s ready to be installed in a new kitchen in New Vernon.
Still, Smith’s favorite pieces are the ones he designs on his own, like the powder-coated, spring-steel chair featured two years ago in Architectural Digest. Available in a variety of colors, it sells on his website for $750.
“I don’t want everyone to have it,” says Smith. “It’s not a Walmart thing.”
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