Name: Michael Moody
Age: 33
Title: Owner of Michael Madley Furniture Design
Married/Single: married
Kids: no kiddos
City you live in: Scottsdale, AZ
A typical day in my life includes…
waking up way too early to go to yoga, returning client phone calls, and then its off to the woodshed – measuring, sanding, sawing, and making amazing things – until my wife calls me in for dinner.
I was born…
in the Mile High City.
My favorite thing about Arizona…
the Sonoran desert beauty – there’s nothing quite like a watercolor sunset over a forest of saguaros.
I’m listening to…
Ole Scheeren’s TED Talk about why architecture should tell a story – I always strive to let the story of each piece of wood carry through in my designs, so this talk is especially resonant to me.
My family…
is small and lovely – I am lucky to share my life with my wife and our cat.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
George Nakashima – his timeless designs and respect for nature continue to inspire me and my work.
One thing I cannot live without…
my chisel – my work is mostly done by hand, and the chisel is the key to getting everything perfect. Can you tell I’m a perfectionist?
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
an engineer! I was always designing and building; miniatures, models, or forts for my green army men. My grandfather was a professor of engineering at University of Colorado-Boulder so I guess you can say designing and building is in my genes.
I’m inspired by…
good design; minimalism, simplicity, and timeless elegance.
The one person who motivates me is…
my wife. I may be the head of the house, but she is the neck!
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
decaf coffee. What is decaf, anyway? Wanna hear a joke? Decaf.
The perfect day would be…
sleeping in, sipping an espresso with my wife, then delivering an amazing piece of furniture to one of my clients. I love how everyone’s face lights up when the Madley Wagon (aka our mini truck) pulls up with their custom piece in the back.
My first job was…
as a shop hand at an auto shop.
My favorite escape…
designing a piece of furniture – I get into my creative flow state and it becomes a true meditation.
My life…
is definitely unpredictable but always incredibly amazing. My wife and I are on a grand adventure together.
I’m currently working on…
designing my Spring 2019 collection.
Always…
take time to appreciate good design.
Never…
second guess yourself.
Favorite Quote…
“A wise person knows that there is something to be learned from everyone.” – Anonymous
Biggest Dream…
is to design and build heirloom pieces that will be handed down between generations.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
having an unorganized or dirty working environment. I’m a vacuum fanatic.
