Mike Jarvi saws, planes, chisels, steam bends, bolts and glues his way to producing his signature wood Jarvi bench from logs.

Jarvi is known as a steam bender and as the inventor of the one-piece table and bench. Born in 1952 in the upper peninsula of Michigan, he was known and worked as a residential framer and log cabin builder. Mike’s one-piece concept was conceived while working on the property of Crab Tree Farm, a complete working farm and historical collection of decorative arts and crafts located on the shores of Lake Michigan.

In 1998 the owner of Crab Tree recognized Jarvi had a certain flair for woodwork and suggested a two-year course at Parnham, the John Makepiece School of Woodworking in Beaminster, England. Returning from this pivotal time, Jarvi set up Crabtree woodshop and Jarvi Furniture – a place where ideas seem to form in a friendly atmosphere, design is recognized as a team sport and work continues in the “Spirit of Steam.” - Source: craftcreativitydesign.org