Rooted in Place: A Craftsman’s Life on Lummi Island | Thomas Lutz

Thomas Lutz is the craftsman behind Uisce Irish Pub’s 36-foot mahogany bar in Bellingham, the custom dining furniture at the now-defunct Willows Inn, and dozens of bespoke pieces of fine furniture all over the Pacific Northwest. After 32 years living on Lummi Island, he finds it difficult to imagine living anywhere else.

Photo by Kristen Boehm

Lutz grew up in the New York suburbs and studied engineering at the University of New Hampshire, but he wasn’t settled on what to do next. As early 20-somethings, he and his then-girlfriend Samya decided to move across the country, landing in Bellingham as self-declared “East Coast refugees.” He thought about becoming a musician, or a farmer—but then, at Artwood Gallery in Fairhaven, he met wood furniture maker Alan Rosen, who was looking to take on apprentices. Lutz thought it would be a good way to kill a year while he waited for in-state tuition to go back to college.

That was 1994. Within a few weeks of commuting to Rosen’s shop on Lummi, Lutz fell into an unabiding love with both furniture making and the island itself. He and Samya relocated to Lummi and never looked back.

Since then, they’ve raised twin sons, now adults with inherent connections to Lummi’s ecology and the ability to work with their hands. He volunteered as an EMT firefighter on Lummi for 13 years, nurtured a side career as a photographer and digital artist, and loves boating on the Salish Sea. He even gets to live a little bit of the farming life he once considered—his family has lived on and caretaken a property laden with gardens and goats for over two decades.

Photo by Kristen Boehm

Practice Makes Passion

With no prior experience, Lutz spent his yearlong apprenticeship in Rosen’s shop sanding, finishing, and absorbing as much as he could.

“Furniture-making is creative, but it’s also highly technical. You’re always working within constraints while trying to be as inventive as possible. That balance makes it a fascinating challenge with an endless learning curve,” he says. “It never feels overwhelming, because I am completely committed to the craft.”

In 2003, Lutz secured his “dream studio space,” looking out into Legoe Bay. As a one-man operation, he’s the designer, woodworker, delivery driver, and everything in-between.

“My practice is rooted in a biophilic approach to design—each piece is intended as a bridge between the natural world and human-built spaces,” he says. He brings his love for the region into his work with local woods, includes natural imperfections, and adds hand-hewn textures. Rather than lacquers and stains, he prefers oil, wax, and fire for finishing.

His works combine beauty and utility, and are often made in close collaboration with clients. It’s a creative puzzle he finds endless satisfaction in solving: realizing his clients’ visions and his own drive for excellence, all within a given budget.

Rooted but Reaching

After three decades of living the dream, Lutz wants to keep doing what he’s been doing—just with a little more reach.

“I’ve had mostly word of mouth, but I’m seriously trying to expand at this point,” he says. “I’m wanting to connect more with architects and be more on the radar of Seattle designers. I want to be their guy.”

To see Lutz’s furniture and other projects (like the interior of a boat named the Peapod, full kitchen interiors, and even total cabin renos), check out his portfolio online or schedule a studio visit.

Original article here.