Redwood Garden Benches

Based on the popular Massive Armchair design, the Massive Garden Bench belongs to the lineage that began our chair-building enterprise in 2003. The "massive" designation refers to the customer for whom we originally created this design. At 6'4 and 340 lbs, he needed a piece of furniture built for strength, but without compromising beauty. We believe the simple, straight lines and extra thick wood of the Massive Garden Bench deliver on both accounts.

One of our most popular benches, the Ti Amo ("I Love You") bench is offered as a way to honor the people we love in our lives, especially those who have sacrificed through their service to country and family. Many people choose to add an inscription or plaque to their Ti Amo bench. We can add an inscription for a nominal cost and you can have a plaque made by your local trophy shop.

The Luna Garden Bench was inspired by a full moon rising. Our founder, Raul Hernandez, asked for a bench to remind him of the magnificent moonrises over the Old-Growth Again forestlands in Annapolis, California. The Luna combines glowing Redwood tones with an arched backrest perimeter… yes, kind of like the moon peeking over the trees. The Luna bench grew from the original 4-foot version to a 5-, 6- and 8-foot version because our thoughtful customers gently persuaded us to build the sizes they wanted.

The Light Luna Garden Bench is a lighter version of our standard Luna Bench. The backrest is three inches shorter and it has no arms. We also offer this bench with the option of a storage shelf underneath. Many of our customers use this bench by an entryway, with shoes stored underneath.

The nature of the Ruth Garden Bench design is about a young lady. Her beau wanted a rocking chair as a special gift to her. “Design elements?” said the beau, “I don’t know. I just want it to remind me of her” he told Master Carpenter Tony Toledo. Tony asked a few discreet questions and then pulled out the Massive Chair. He reduced the width and depth of the manly Massive chair and added the rocking assembly. Then the curves started… First, her back arched discreetly and almost inperceptibly backwards. Then her arms began a curious dip and roll while the seat suddenly had an agreeable gentle wave. The straight frame members were replaced by soft, playful motion-filled curves. After Tony’s third rocker, the guys in the shop preferred to stare at the rocker more than sit in it.

After several custom orders (yes, our customers literally had to say “I like the Ruth Rocker, can you make a bench 4 feet long with the same design for me?“), it occurred to us to make the Ruth design in bench sizes and as a dining and armchair in 2006.

The Bonsignour bench was born when the owner of the Bonsignour Restaurant in New York city called to order a bench for his waiting area.  He liked the Ruth Bench. He liked the Luna Bench. He wanted a hybrid design of the best features of both. A week later, the Bonsignour bench was born.  He was delighted. We were delighted. We are still waiting for a free reservation to the restaurant though…

The lighthouse bench is "borrowed" from an old bench outside the Pt. Arena, CA lighthouse. Back in 2001, the original bench had legs extending into concrete underground. We beefed up the slat thickness and the seat supports and made the leg design "portable". It is a strong and popular bench at home indoors or out. They've been built in all sizes for gym saunas, private & public showers, university hallways, front porches & back decks, restaurant waiting areas, hotels and even for a veterinary hospital. It is an elegant and simple design with dozens of applications.

The Alan's bench was a complete surprise. In 2005, Alan called in to order some lumber. He had purchased from us before and wanted to make a special bench. He loved our extra thick high quality Redwood. We sent a 150 lbs package. About 1 1/2 years later we received 2 photos in an email. Wow. We emailed right away asking if we could steal the design. He said, "how much?" We said, "we'll name the baby after you." He graciously accepted our offer and Alan's bench was born.

Lost at night in Healdsburg, CA, Angel walked into the bookstore in the main square. The store caught his eye because of an old husky bench bolted out front. He asked about it, but no one remembered who made it. Someone said it had been there for over 20 years. He came back the next morning before work to photograph the weather-beaten beefy boy in the morning light. Then, as usual, he took artistic liberties to create his namesake in the shop. Only after endless pleading, he confessed the location of the "original." Upon inspection, everyone in the shop admitted Angel's bench was even better than the original beauty. Angel still designs and builds furniture part-time with us. He lives with his family in Gualala, CA and is presently working on a new design… stay tuned!

Angel's latest creation was finished in September 2008. A South Florida customer sent a couple photos of a weathered bench on the grounds of the Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Coral Gables, Florida. The Lutyens bench is a traditional design we had wanted to add to our line, but just didn't get around to it until the photos arrived. A handful of details were strengthened and improved upon and Forever Redwood's thick-timber prejudice was also added to the mix. Our Cuban friend in Coral Gables loved the bench. He said it was perfect. So, without any further modifications, here she is….

Lisa and her husband Scottie vacationed in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the spring of 2009. They had a favorite bench overlooking the ocean at the Caneel Bay Beach Resort where they stayed. When they got back they wanted someone to build the same bench or something similar to remind them of the special stay. Lisa found us and sent a couple photos. The bench had a distinctive backrest design, but was the usual scrawny thin timber design most of our competitors make. We said we can make it better, faster, and stronger—a Bionic version that will last as long as their marriage. So, we built the backrest similar to the original design, but made it thicker with all stainless steel fasteners. We then borrowed most of the other features from two of our existing benches, the Luna and Massive benches. We are very pleased with it. So are they! We added the custom engraved message on the front of the seat as a final touch.

Frank Marrero, our beloved cofounder, was our first furniture designer back in the day. At the time, he was also part-time tree planter, forest thinner, barn builder (where we made furniture the first 4 years), grad school student and father of two darling kids. He had never designed or built any furniture. But, he did once own a hardware store, so naturally we voted him in charge unanimously! Frank designed and built a few "imaginative" benches first (yes, we still have one). After 3 tries and some inspiration from church pews, he finished what is still today's Rustic bench. It's our first. It's the most unique and massive of our benches. We've made hundreds. Its indestructible, comfortable, bullet-proof and guaranteed to outlast us all. Give it a whirl. Don't let its funny looks scare you and please don't try to move it by yourself—even the small ones are about 100 lbs.

The Heritage Garden Bench was designed for a local wood fanatic. He only wanted a bench if it was long lasting and comfortable and made with just one giant board for the seat and another for the backrest. It took us a while, but we passed the test. The Heritage Garden Bench has no competition as the undisputed ultimate "wood fanatic's" dream bench. Look around, does anyone make anything like it? Do you qualify as a wood fanatic? Its OK, you have plenty of company and we won't tell anyone.

Our Fullback Picnic Bench take the classic picnic bench design and adds a back to it for greater seating comfort. You can use the Fullback Bench both as part of a Picnic Table (we offer a discount for all table set purchases) or on its own. This is a design that will never go out of style, and since it's made with our high quality, full-thickness Redwood beams, the benches itself will last for decades.