Meet Michael Leanes of Michael Leanes Design

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Leanes.

Michael, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up, my dad owned a machine shop and I watched him work on parts for the oil, aviation, and medicals fields. I gained a lot of knowledge on how things work and how to design from scratch. I always wanted to design my own product and wood became a no brainer because it is forgiving and easy to work with.

I started progressing from wood to mixing metal and taking pride in making my table bases with inspiration from architectural elements. All of my woodwork consists of joinery and does not include screws or nails. As I go forward I would like to continue pushing my designs to work with new materials and gain a better understanding of materials I am not familiar with.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a business from scratch with no money is not an easy task. The hardest part is learning to balance all the roles in a company. As a one-man company, trying to maintain a professional appearance is very important. Little things like photographs and website homepage can make or break a sale.

Please tell us about Michael Leanes Design.
We specialize in designing and making unique pieces of furniture. My favorite pieces consist of life edge slabs. I think the thing that sets us apart is the material and bases we use. we strive to make bases that deserve the beautiful wood we are placing on top. In today’s handmade furniture industry, too many makers are using square tubing for their bases and calling it “industrial”. I want to give buyers a piece that is truly unique to them; from initial design, to finished product.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is coming home from school when I was 5 years old and digging in my dad’s tool box to find tools that I could use to remove the training wheels on my bicycle.

Contact Info:

• Website: michaelleanes.com
• Phone: 8325748168
• Email: michaelleanesdesign@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelleanes/

Image Credit:
Stephanie Williams

Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.