The Maker: Michael Fortune, Mastering the Art of Furniture Design

Nestled away on a quiet property just outside of Peterborough, Ontario lives Michael Fortune, his loving wife Janet, and their sweet dog Bentley. They have built a life for themselves that is focused on joy, creativity, and serenity. Their beautiful historical home and the nature that surrounds it are where Michael has found inspiration for his world-renowned furniture designs and pieces of art.
His journey in furniture design started as a teenager and has been a lifelong passion that has led to many amazing experiences over the past 51 years.

Designs that Move like Nature

Michael’s work is immediately recognizable for its fluidity and curves. Every piece he makes has a wood movement that he achieves with his unparalleled steam bending techniques. His pieces have bold architectural shapes softened by an attention to detail that reveals itself the closer you look. From across the room, a chair might appear sleek and simple, but step nearer and the intricate hand-shaping, delicate joinery, and subtle textures and wood grains invite a deeper engagement.
He delights in this layered experience; the moment a spectator’s curiosity transforms into admiration. “The forms almost demand that you look closely,” he says of his designs. “How the hell was that done?” – It’s a question that not only speaks to the emotional connection he hopes to spark in anyone who interacts with his furniture.

Strong in silhouette, intricate in detail, and perfectly balanced in comfort.

Fortunate Wrong Turn

Michael’s path to becoming one of Canada’s most respected furniture designers all started with an accidental wrong turn. As a young student, his graphic art’s professor asked him to deliver a box to another campus. Once he reached the building, forgetting whether he was supposed to go left or right, he pulled into the first driveway – the wrong driveway. He walked up to the first available door and opened it, completely unaware of the impact this decision would have on the rest of his life.
Inside was a brand-new commercial furniture design facility started by the provincial government. Michael was immediately curious, and by the end of his impressive two-hour tour, he had been convinced that furniture making was the career for him.
Over the decades, his curiosity has only deepened. Steam bending, lamination, and custom jigs are all part of his vocabulary, but none of them are mere gimmicks. For Michael, the method always serves the idea.

A Workshop that Breathes Possibility

His workshop, studio, and lumber yard are all an extension of this mindset. Filled with well-worn tools, jigs from past projects, and carefully stored planks of local lumber, each with its own potential waiting to be revealed. His sawmill and kiln give him control over every stage of production, allowing him to mill and dry his own lumber in a way that still allows him to steam bend his pieces successfully. This level of independence isn’t about efficiency, so much as intimacy. He knows his material inside and out, allowing him to push the limits of his lumber.

The Artist's Eye

Michael draws inspiration from the world around him, often from nature. Something overlooked by most will catch Michael’s attention, from the movement of a bird to the soft curves of a blooming flower. These organic forms translate into furniture that feels both contemporary and timeless.
Something that Michael deems essential to his work is his ability to draw. Being able to put on paper what he is envisioning in his mind allows him to finesse designs and show the client his ideas.
When he begins designing a piece, he will sit at his drafting table, let his body relax, and focus on creating vague shapes and curves that will eventually inspire the final piece. No two pieces are ever quite the same, even when producing a set of chairs or tables. Subtle differences in grain and subtle details lend individuality.

Passing it On

Beyond his own creations, Michael has had a profound influence as a teacher and mentor. He lends his talents to a top-tier woodworking school in Indiana every year, as well as travelling around the world running workshops and classes sharing his experiences and expertise. The passion that he emits while teaching shows how much he truly enjoys passing knowledge onto the next generation of furniture makers.
Michael will often invite interns to work closely with him, teaching them one-on-one and guiding them as they create their own pieces. He has delighted in watching many of his students go on to establish successful careers of their own. His impact extends far beyond the walls of his own studio, ensuring that the art of steam bending will not be forgotten.

Leaves in the Wind

Each piece that Michael has created over the years has been unique, thoughtful, and beautiful and to pick a favourite would be an impossible task. One that stands out, however, is a dining set designed for the Governor General of Canada. The chairs that he designed were not only stunning but had beautiful meaning behind them.
Each chair featured delicate wooden leaves inlaid into the back, giving the impression of being carried by the breeze.
For the head and foot of the table, each leaf was made from a different variety of wood. Michael sourced wood from around the world to represent the multiculturalism of Canada. Just like in the other chairs, the leaves had the air of movement, drifting slowly to the ground. This time, however, a brilliant red maple leaf ascended through the leaves, an unmistakable nod to Canada.
This work embodies Michael’s sense of play, precision, and symbolism – all while maintaining the importance of comfort.

The Quiet Pursuit of Beauty

Today, decades into a career that has earned him international acclaim, Michael Fortune remains as curious and committed as ever. His pieces can be found in homes, galleries, and collections across North America, yet he continues to work with the same humility and joy that first drew him into the craft.
In a world filled with machine-made furniture distributed on mass, Michael’s work stands as a reminder of the value of handcrafted and unique designs. His pieces are made with care, meant to be lived with, touched, and passed down. They each tell a story through the quiet elegance of honest materials and human intention.
As he walks through his property, the smell of freshly sawn lumber and the sounds of birds chirping in the distance, Michael Fortune embodies a truth that every maker understands: mastery isn’t about perfection, it’s about the lifelong pursuit of beauty through work well done.

To learn all about steam bending wood, check out Michael's step-by-step lesson here: The Method: Michael Fortune’s Guide to Steam Bending Wood