ABOUT US | moon-design

OUR STORY

"Nowdays, carpentry is no longer something that is appreciated until you stumble upon some wood work performed long ago. It catches your eye and all of the sudden you appreciate what a properly installed, calculated joint is supposed to, or should, look like. We treat every joint, cut and fit like a work of art. " ~ Mike "Moon" Mullen

Mike started working at Maderas de Santa Barbara, his father's furniture plant, at the young age of seven, where he would sweep the floors and pick up scrap wood every day after school. As the years passed, he eventually learned all of the trades in his father's plant such as upholstery, carving, finishing, assembly and millwork. This valuable training led to a job with his now brother-in-law, Craig, at the tender age of seventeen. Craig was a successful developer who built houses and apartment buildings from the ground up and took Mike on as an apprentice. Craig is responsible for tagging Mike with the nick name "Moon," and for giving him the invaluable training and experiences to become a successful Carpenter.

At nineteen, Mike moved to Texas with the intention of starting a construction business in the booming city of Dallas. Having flyers printed and walking door to door, he was able to get a fence and deck business off the ground that soon became more focused on custom cabinetry and millwork.

At the close of the eighties with the economy failing, Mike moved back to Santa Barbara where he opened a custom cabinet shop. The shop was the "go to" place for many contractors that had difficult projects, such as tapered columns or unique cabinetry designs. By 2000, Mike's growing company had thirty-eight employees. He specialized in hotels, restaurants, resorts, and custom homes. One home worth mentioning is currently on the market for $39.5M and can be viewed on the internet at 4385 Marina Drive, Santa Barbara, CA.

When the economy took another dive in 2008, Mike seized the opportunity for change. He and his wife, Pam, decided to move their young boys, Corbin and Tanner, to Grants Pass, Oregon to be closer to Grandma and Grandpa. Mike was hired as a contractor consultant for the State of Oregon to build the emergency broadcasting system for the state. He was brought on as the Principal Project Manager, responsible for construction and design. The position required Mike to be in Salem, so he moved his family there about four years ago. His contract with the State of Oregon ended in April, 2014.

Mike enjoyed working on the State program, but really wanted to get back to working with his hands and "making joints fit." So, Moon Design was born to focus on finish carpentry.

Being from sunny California, Mike figured the biggest hurdle would be working throughout the winter months in Oregon. Mike's solution was to build a mobile 7'x14' cargo trailer completely outfitted as a carpentry shop.

"I can back into a driveway, pull electrical and air hose cords from their reels, plug the power cord into the house or temporary power pole, and instantly have an indoor work station. The table saw, miter saw, compressor, and several tools are all mounted in the trailer, eliminating the need to drag tools in and out. I put my bags on, grab a nail gun and go to work."

For more information or a consultation, please call us at (541) 450-0394 or send an email request.