Michael A. Doerr 

Michael Doerr started his woodworking career building large wooden sailboats for Master Shipwright Ferdinand Nimphius, after which he taught himself furniture design and construction. Producing a variety of unique designs that accommodate residential and office needs. When producing his original designs there are a number of special characteristics on which Michael focuses: the selection of individual pieces of wood to enhance the overall design; precision in layout for functional comfort; the flow of the unbroken line that visually continues throughout his designs, creating a one-dimensional appearance. Every piece has a hand-rubbed oil finish and upon completion are signed and dated.

Since the founding of Doerr Woodworking in 1987, Michael has developed a national and international clientele base. His awards and accomplishments have been acknowledged in many ways over the years, including: best of shows awards, magazines articles, Niche Award nominations, and University contracts. Furniture historian Oscar Fitzgerald included his furniture in the Parson School of Design/Smithsonian Institute lecture series “Contemporary American Crafts”. Dennis Blankemeyer’s book “Craft Furniture, The Legacy of the Human Hand” and Thomas J. Jordan’s book “Sturgeon Bay, The Secret Treasures of Door County” has also included his story and work. 

Michael has shared his woodworking knowledge with willing students in craft and design schools such as Penland School of Craft, Arrowmont School of Craft, Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, and Northern Michigan University. Michael also welcomes students into his studio where he teaches a week long In-Shop Chair Construction Class. During this comprehensive class students learn Michael’s chair construction process while building their own chair, with his guidance, leaving with the knowledge to repeat the process on their own.