The refined craft and exceptional range of Christophe Boucher began in the city Tours and spanned across the Loire Valley in France. Knowing this provides a rich foundation for the skilled artist and professional craftsman that he is today. The region along the Loire river is symbolic to the French people, it represents a nation of builders and European thought and design. Along with the people, it's best known for its great architectural monuments and its many Châteaux.

 

Much of his early training was taught to him by his father, Jacky, who learned from the generations before him. The Boucher family travelled together meeting and ultimately working with many of the regions well-known craftsmen. As a child, Christophe and his father worked closely on projects with Jacky’s contacts, exposing him to their knowledge of mastering different types of materials, across both mechanical and general construction.

 

As a young man, he began a journey that would shape his approach
and skill into what it is today. First in Spain, then back to the south of France, he wanted to experience life and people outside of the area of his heritage. It wouldn’t be until after returning from Germany, where he served in the French army, that this journey would continue. Eventually settling south of Paris he teamed up with a manufacturer that built and shipped custom crafted boats across all of Europe. His ability to adapt and apply his talent to the small spaces of boat interiors, all containing different angles, became his signature: custom solutions for custom spaces.

 

Christophe’s signature was fully realized in the United States when
he opened his first custom upholstery business in Sausalito, located
in Marin County. He successfully serviced upscale clientele in the renovation of car, boat and airplane interiors, while continuing to
refine and expand his work with leather, fabric and vinyl materials.

 

In Early 1999, the journey would resume. Christophe sold the business and travelled extensively, first south to Central and South America,
then north to Canada; compelled by his prevailing curiosity for meeting new craftsmen and finding inspiration. Eventually, he would return to California and create a new venture that applied all of his learned knowledge and talents. Today, Billard Custom is the culmination of
one very unique life, enhanced by techniques developed from around the world and a passion for creating custom experiences.

 

His approach to each project begins with a conversation to brainstorm with his clients. He works solely from the imagination of the individual — no existing blueprints and no design plans—here it all begins with an idea. His equation brings 2 parts practicality and 1 part custom creation to every project. This technique is the epitome of his refined experience and represents half of his overall portfolio.

 

The other 50 percent of his projects come from collaborations with architects where he works from detailed blueprints to accomplish
and realize their final products. It’s this ability to take on both the individual’s imagination and, on the other hand, work with professional architects that has earned him an esteemed reputation throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Christophe Boucher +
Billard Custom