We just wrapped a custom home workbench for a client—tucked neatly into their attic and built to their exact specifications. We started by mapping the sloped ceilings and knee walls, then designed a wall-to-wall bench that maximizes every inch.
The client came to us with two clear goals for their project. First, they wanted to reuse specific pieces of furniture they had saved, integrating those elements into the new build rather than starting from scratch. Second, as a keen yachtsman and water-sports enthusiast, they needed the workspace to handle oversized plywood sheets comfortably. We began the design on a sheet of squared paper, mapping layouts and dimensions together. That collaborative sketching phase was both fun and creative, and it gave the client a sense of ownership over the final piece.
We proposed splitting the workbench into two distinct zones: a measuring and planning area on the left—positioned that way because the client is right-handed—and a work-holding section with the vice mounted at the right corner. To maximize reuse, we wrapped the client’s pre-existing chest of drawers in a robust wooden frame and, where possible, repurposed timber from a disassembled bed they had saved “just in case.”
Cool features:
We designed the bench frame to step out just enough to clear the drawer handles, creating a precise 90° corner that doubles as a clamping and reference edge—saving space while turning the bench into a built-in square. The same idea is mirrored at the opposite end: one jaw of the vice is leveled perfectly and the edge continues to a sharp steel point. Together, they let the client clamp a flat sheet in the vice and brace its far edge against the frame, so he can work comfortably on pieces larger than the bench itself.
Our design and build ethos is simple: create pieces that work beautifully for decades and make the client’s workflow feel effortless. We design for dual functionality, integrating tools and features so they reinforce one another rather than sitting on top as afterthoughts. Wherever possible, we source responsibly and reuse existing components to reduce waste and add character. The result isn’t a table with vices and clamps screwed on—it’s a fully integrated workbench where workholding, referencing, precision, and tool placement are engineered into a single, coherent system, tailored to how the client actually works.