Michael Bokovitz, a high school digital media teacher, has a secret hobby of woodworking and restoration. He began his exploration with the activity after being inspired by creative TV shows.

The teacher, who runs a web show made for the school district, described his first steps into his new found hobby and said, “I love the creative aspect of it and I decided to give it a shot with a dresser and that’s kinda how it ran, it actually started with American Chopper. Watching those guys make bikes just blew my mind.”

Bokovitz loves the idea of turning something old and worn into an excuse to be creative and forget the world for a little while. Bokovitz has worked on multiple pieces of furniture such as tables, desks and chairs. He said he enjoys the short break from his digital job.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this hobby for Bokovitz is the ability to share his projects with others. He said, “It’s just been kinda fun to have people want some of the stuff and be able to just give some of the stuff. I give it like as gifts to people I know that like them.”

Bokovitz especially enjoys seeing the transformation of each project he does. He said, “The before to the after, I think it’s pretty cool. See them in the beginning and then what they turn out to be.”

Bokovitz is looking to establish a steady distribution of his projects so he can continue to work on more in the future. He said, “I need to find a way to sell these things. Initially I make stuff that I like and it just decorates the house and now I’m running out of space, so I have to figure out the best place to sell, and if I can do that then I’ll figure out all the dressers and desks that I have sitting around ready to work on.”

His projects vary in length of time to complete. Some requiring immense attention to detail, and others can be completed more casually. Bokovitz said, “[The time it takes] depends [because] I’ve taken dressers, cut them down and turned them into benches so that takes a week or so or two weeks, and then I’ve done things where I’ve just kinda stripped them down, paint them up and distressed them and sealed them within maybe six or eight hours.”

Some of Bokovitz’s students have seen his work. Kyle Kinkopf said, “Bok’s ability to take cheap, old furniture and make it into something new and modern is beyond amazing.”

Another student of Bokovitz, Genna Dipippo, said, “I’ve seen how something changes and it honestly doesn’t even look like the same piece. He makes something that’s already old look so original and unique. It’s definitely the best, to see the transformation.”  

Bokovitz sees no end to his hobby in the future. Reflecting on it, he said, “I think it’s just kinda cool to create something different and I like the old farmhouse distressed style look, something a little bit different, something to do. Sometimes I’m working with [my sons] so it’s kinda fun to do. It takes ten times as long, but it’s fun to work with them and do that stuff.”