Moving to Lake Arrowhead when he was 13, Michael continued to develop his woodworking skills building things out of whatever he had. Honing his skills at the Art Institute, he began developing his own style using reclaimed materials including Wine Barrels. The Wine Barrel furniture became very popular with friends and family who in turn, encouraged him to sell his creations. "Often I see furniture that is poorly made and I think....I can make that so much better". Is a sentiment that motivates Michael to learn new skills and ultimately leads to new designs. He finds that Wine Barrels lend themselves to furniture design because of the ergonomic natural curve of each stave.