About Mike
Bunch’s Woodworks was founded by Mike Bunch in 2023 with a mission to create exceptional handmade furniture built with skill, integrity, and lasting value. For Mike, woodworking is the culmination of a lifelong interest in building, problem solving, and understanding how things work.
Growing up on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Mike was naturally drawn to working with his hands. He spent much of his childhood alongside his parents, helping with projects around the house and watching ideas take shape in the family’s basement workshop. That early curiosity developed into a desire to make things of his own. As a young maker, he gravitated toward projects that challenged both creativity and technical skill, from Pinewood Derby cars to crafting knives with custom handles from raw materials. He found satisfaction in transforming simple materials into something useful, beautiful, and uniquely his own.
After earning his B.S. degree from the University of Rhode Island, Mike built his professional career in Massachusetts as a project manager for a high-end residential and commercial painting company serving the North Shore. Working with discerning homeowners, designers, architects, and builders taught him the importance of communication, accountability, organization, and precision. Managing complex projects from start to finish also developed the problem-solving and project management skills that now influence the way he approaches furniture making.
As his passion for woodworking grew, Mike pursued formal training at the Charleston Woodworking School, graduating in 2025. There, he immersed himself in traditional woodworking methods and fine furniture construction, developing a deeper appreciation for time-honored techniques, thoughtful design, and meticulous attention to detail. His education provided the technical foundation to turn a lifelong passion for working with his hands into a fulfilling professional craft.
Beyond the Shop
In his downtime, Mike has many outdoor interests and pursuits. Bow hunting, fishing, hiking, and exploring the woods have been lifelong passions. He grew up fishing with his father and brother, who remain his favorite partners on the water. Time spent in nature provides balance, perspective, and inspiration, and reinforces the patience and attention to detail that woodworking demands. For Mike, slowing down and paying attention to the natural world mirrors the same patience and care required to work thoughtfully with wood.
Personal Design Inspirations
Although Bunch’s Woodworks is versatile and eager to work across many design styles, Mike is personally drawn to what he calls “Modern Mission”, a refined blend of Mission, Shaker, Arts & Crafts, Craftsman, and Japanese influences. He counts makers like Mike Pekovich, Thomas Moser, and George Nakashima among his inspirations. At the heart of his aesthetic is a quiet balance of utilitarianism, the understated beauty of exposed joinery, and a deep respect for the natural character of wood. For Mike, furniture must first serve a clear purpose and only then become beautiful. This approach is the opposite of showy, it rewards careful observance, revealing its finer details over time. The same joinery that gives a piece its structural integrity is deliberately left visible, turning strength itself into a quiet visual statement.
Our Intentions
At Bunch’s Woodworks, everything we do is guided by a commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and design, and an outstanding client experience. We believe that truly great furniture is the result of thoughtful design, careful material selection, clear communication, and uncompromising attention to detail.
We also believe that the best projects are built on strong relationships. Every client, designer, architect, and builder we work with is a valued partner in the process. By listening carefully, communicating openly, and staying adaptable throughout each project, we ensure that the finished piece reflects both our technical prowess and our client’s vision.
Every commission presents new challenges, new lessons, new design elements, and new opportunities to improve. It is this commitment to continuous learning, problem solving, and growth that drives us forward and pushes us to become better furniture makers with every piece that leaves the shop.
Our goal is simple, to establish meaningful relationships with our clients, design a piece that compliments and elevates space it will inhabit. and create heirloom quality pieces that combine thoughtful design and enduring craftsmanship, supported by an exceptional client experience from start to finish.