A “little guy” who to my mind has already made it big, Michigan’s TMC Furniture focuses on client-specified bentwood furnishings that incorporate all manner of nifty technological flourishes. Their collection of chairs, bookcases, and wall murals (including kid-friendly designs featuring butterflies, worms, frogs, dogs, and ducks) represents a continuum of forward-looking touches including aniline dyes, laser-cut wood, chair shells pressed with Forbo-linoleum, and—their latest innovation—digital image transfer on chair shells.

Chair with digital screen print. Manufactured by TMZ.

It’s sort of a past-meets-future arrangement, given that principals Blake and Sherri Ratcliffe have hit on a spot-on synthesis of modern classicism and cutting-edge adornment. Most of the pieces show a heart of laminate wood (much in the spirit of Aalto or the Eames), with a skin of variable patterns in shiny linoleum, or the crisp precision of a laser-cut design. But perhaps they say this best: “With an acclaimed portfolio of elegant, whimsical and captivating laser-cut designs, a beautiful palette of wood finish colors, and a broad selection of materials, TMC offers customers a wide selection spanning contemporary Scandinavian styling to traditional Arts & Crafts vernacular.” And they do it all from their home-turf of craft-rich Michigan with regionally-sourced materials, never resorting to the comparative evils of over-seas importation or out-sourced manufacture—now that’s a company to believe in.

Stop by and see TMC Furniture at #NeoCon09, the Ratcliffes will be happy to brag on their collection of adults and children’s furniture, including a particularly cool new piece featuring digital image transfer technology.