During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike, who was in recovery, and his partner Star found themselves searching for ways to cope with the isolation and stress. With AA meetings shut down, they began flipping furniture at their kitchen table as a way to stay busy. Mike quickly realized this creative process kept him “out of the liquor store and off of a barstool,” while Star found it beneficial for her mental health as well.

Recognizing the therapeutic benefits, they decided to start Furniture A.R.T. (Adaptive Recovery Teaching), offering workshops that combined furniture flipping with art therapy.

What began as a side hustle at their kitchen table soon evolved into A.R.T. Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting others in recovery through creative expression and personal growth.