BY SHELLI LIEB1VIAN

DORFMAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

ANGIE BAAN

Tal Siegmann's
unique wooden
designs are crafted
by his hands
and his heart.

A FERVOR FOR FURNITURE

t may have taken a few dozen
years and living in two coun-
tries, but Tal Siegmann finally
turned a passion for wood-
working into a career as a
furniture maker.
American-born but raised in
Israel, Siegmann, now of Oak Park,
learned to work with wood as a
child in school. He continued to
develop his skill through the inspi-
ration of his grandfather.
His family often spent the
weekends visiting his grandfather,
whose home was filled with the
tools that started young Tal on a
lifetime of building.
"I was always making some-
thing," he said. "As a kid, I used to
make jigsaw puzzles and small stat-
ues out of wood. My dad and I built
a tree house in Grandpa's back yard.
"My grandpa, who was born in

1 4 •

DECEMBER 200-1 • JNPLATINUM

An office-den's paneled wall with decorative inlays, left, reveals a built-in Murphy bed, right. Examples of Siegmann's inlays, center, before and after placement.

Poland, was an electrical engineer
when he made aliyah," Siegmann
said. "When he realized that in
Israel he couldn't work in that field,
he became a sophisticated plumber."
His grandfather's example showed
Siegmann that one could success-
fully change careers in midlife.
Siegmann's interest didn't wane
when he moved back to the States
in 1995 to attend Ohio State Uni-

versity's veterinary medicine col-
lege, but he put his time and ener-
gies into school. While there, he
met his wife, Lisa Soble-Siegmann,
an OSU grad working in Columbus.
After he graduated, the couple
moved to Detroit, where Lisa works
as associate director of Jewish Fed-
eration of Metropolitan Detroit's
Jewish Experiences for Families.
The couple now have a son Adi, 4,

and daughter Maya, 2 1/7.
"But after I had my degree in
veterinary medicine, I realized was
never really happy," Siegmann said.
"My wife and family encouraged
me to pursue my real passion of
working with wood."
So three years ago, he turned that
passion into a profession when he
opened Luki LLC in Southfield.
"When I started my business, I