Mike Z Design is a company dedicated to creative solutions. Being a self-taught designer & craftsman, I’m not locked into any particular style; however I do seem to have one of that is truly my own. This style was developed in part because of my unique shop location in a basement. When I started to build larger pieces I had to come up with a way to get these projects out of the shop. I have always been a fan of the Mission/Craftsman or Stickley style; many of these pieces break down and are held together with pegs. Japanese woodworking techniques and design have influenced me as well. These two styles – along with my love for mid-century work such as Heywood Wakefield, Eames, and Herman Miller – helped to define my style. In truth, my influences range from objects found in nature to other art forms such as carving and sculpture, in particular anything made by hand. My work has been referred to as “Functional Art,” and I think that’s accurate. I prefer to work in solid wood and use traditional joinery. I enjoy using contemporary shape and style while adding old world craftsmanship through tennons, wedged tennons, butterfly mortises and the like. There are times when I use mechanical fasteners, but use a piece of end grain to simulate a through tennon. I do this in situations where over time a lag bolt will out perform a traditional wood joint. My work is built to last and will be around for hundreds of years. maple coffee table Tracy's coffee table Wood is a natural product and susceptible to changes in humidity. A good woodworker can combat these issues with proper joinery technique. Being a natural once living material, strange things sometimes happen. Wood can split, grain can peel, and voids can appear after the material has been thickness planed. There have been times when I’ve had to be creative about fixing an unavoidable problem with the wood. Oftentimes these “fixes” become the client’s favorite aspect of the piece. All the furniture is finished by hand with traditional tools. Tool marks and imperfections are part of the charm and indicate a truly handmade piece of furniture. I’m not the kind of designer that will push you into a project because it’s what I want to do. What I want is to make you happy. There is no better feeling than clients telling me – even years later – how happy they still are with the piece I created for them. The piece I design for you will be the only one like it on the planet. The end result will be better than what you’re expecting and last for generations. I live for this work and am constantly trying to better myself. If you’re in the market for a custom piece, 1998 and you like what you see here on my website, then it would be a pleasure to design and craft something just for you. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Enjoy the site; it is a work in progress, so please check back often.