HISTORY

              Founder Michael Bright first learned about woodworking during an Industrial Arts Class in 7th grade. This class was a pivotal experience that led him to pursue drafting, art, and woodworking classes throughout high school. Also, during high school, he worked with a local boat builder fabricating furniture for custom boat interiors. His next step was to apply in 1981 to a summer program sponsored by “Appalachian Center for Crafts”  (Tennessee Tech University). His application was impressive enough to earn Bright a scholarship. The summer course focused on the art of wood lamination and curved furniture components, as well as the use of hand tools.

            The experiences from his days with the local boat builder and the summer program in Tennessee provided a solid foundation for Michael Bright. In the fall of 1981, he was ready to start his own business, Bright Wood Works, in a small corner of a warehouse in downtown St. Petersburg.  He set up shop with an assortment of hand tools and minimal power tools. His intention from the start was to create unique hand crafted pieces using heirloom techniques.

            Each completed project gave Michael Bright more financial resources to upgrade the tools and machinery the company needed to tackle more complex endeavors. Over the past thirty-two years, Bright Wood Works also has re-invested resources in order to move the business to more desirable locations within downtown St. Petersburg. Currently Bright Wood Works occupies a 15,000-square-foot warehouse in the Grand Central district of downtown St. Petersburg. This facility is equipped with a full gamut of specialized machinery.
Authorized Miele Dealer

 
                OUR 11,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY LOCATED IN SAINT PETERSBURG COMBINES OUR SHOWROOM AND ALL OF OUR MANUFACTURING AND FINISHING AREAS. WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT AND ON TIME. WE DO NOT USE SUB-CONTRACTORS. ALL MANUFACTURING, FINISHING AND INSTALLATION IS PERFORMED BY OUR OWN TRAINED AND SKILLED CRAFTSMEN
 

WHY CHOOSE US?

            If you are looking for a custom woodworking shop with the ability to offer full-service, “white glove” handling for the entire project, then Bright Wood Works is for you. Over the years, Bright Wood Works has established excellent working relationships with all of the ancillary trades: contractors, designers, plumbers, electricians, tile craftsmen, countertop templaters, art glass artisans, and flooring installers. Additionally, our company can provide a completed project that includes fully integrated lighting and audio-visual equipment. 

            Savy in the arena of design, Bright Wood Works also welcomes collaboration with architects, interior designers, and homeowners to fulfill the dreams and visions with flawless palpable results.

            Michael Bright has surrounded himself with an “All Star” team of local craftsmen including the design staff, woodworkers, those in the finishing department, and final installers. He has developed a culture at Bright Wood Works that attracts both the best of the best, plus those who strive to become the best and are capable of learning from their mentors. Bright Wood Works is able to focus on a project from conception to realization.

            Each project starts with the conceptual idea that is translated into a refined design and engineering plan. Then the approved project is ready to go to our shop floor for the collaborative energy of the craftsmen with collectively over a hundred years of old world woodworking skills combined with the most advanced woodworking machinery.  All finishes are created by highly skilled artisans in our in-house finishing department. Lastly, our project is brought to completion by our own installation team.

            Founder Michael Bright has been continuously licensed and insured ever since he opened Bright Wood Works in 1981. He has sought out and attracted projects that other custom shops were not equipped to handle and has developed that niche as the hallmark of Bright Wood Works. In fact, Bright Wood Works has received both local and national recognition for many of these projects.

            When quality and craftsmanship are what you are seeking, the bonus of a lifetime warranty makes it apparent that Bright Wood Works is the answer.