Stinson Beach Bench

Old-growth redwood is ancient timber — wood from trees that were growing before European contact, salvaged from dismantled barns and water tanks across Northern California. Working with it is an exercise in humility. Every cut feels significant.

This bench was commissioned for a coastal property near Stinson Beach. The brief was simple: something that belonged to the landscape. The slab was selected for its live edges and the dramatic figuring that emerged after milling — swirling cathedrals of grain that tell a geological story.

The steel frame is deliberately minimal — angular legs in black-oxide mild steel, powder-coated for weather resistance. The contrast between the ancient, organic timber and the sharp geometry of the steel is the tension that makes the piece work. It sits low, close to the ground, as if it grew there.

Three coats of Osmo Polyx-Oil protect the surface while maintaining the tactile quality of the wood. Over time, the redwood will darken and the steel will develop a subtle patina of its own.