Long-time member
A Maker who has been a valued part of this community for several years.
Fast shipper
Customers say that this Maker ships promptly after completing a project.
Great service
This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
I'm the furniture maker and artist behind Benham Design Concepts. I specialize in building unique pieces of custom furniture and functional art. I enjoy the process of designing apiece just as much as I do building it, and bringing something new into the world. My main skillsets are based in woodworking; however, I'm a maker at heart and I am always looking to expand my skillset, to work with new materials, new ideas and come up with new designs.
I started Benham Design Concepts to turn my passion for making things into a business that will support my family and allow me to pursue my art of creating beautiful things
Design and Build Philosophy
Many makers have become well known for their style, you can look at a piece designed by the Green and Green brothers and see their signature elements. However, when someone asks me what style of furniture I make. This question always stumps me, as my style is always evolving. I would rather be known as the guy who is able to figure out how to make his furniture design fit the vision or inspire a new vision, rather than be pigeon holed into a specific style.
The next question I am asked is “Have you ever built this before”, and I can understand why this question is asked. Clients want to be reassured that I can pull it off. However, the fun for me is constantly evolving, and figuring out the next thing. I have found, all Skills are transferable, so whether I am making a new style door, bathroom vanity, or a bench for an entryway, I have the skills to pull it off, and the drive to learn.
I am proud that many of the pieces I have created for clients are one of a kind pieces of art, and each one has a story of how they came into existence.
The Back Story
I am a third generation craftsman, who grew up in a neighborhood of makers. On the corner was Jeff a custom cabinetmaker working out of his two-car garage. Next door was Mark, who ran two businesses out of a shop, built in his backyard. The first was building false teeth, and gold and porcelain crowns. The second was building clocks and all kinds of other cool things out of wood. Then there was my father, a carpenter by trade who turned bridge builder.
As I grew up, I worked alongside these makers learning their craft and their different techniques. My father took me with him on many trips to see how bridges where built and help me get a job in a welding fabrication shop, building steel earthquake restraints for bridges.
However, it was woodworking that captured my imagination, and is where I chose to hone my skill set. I have been studying the craft as long as I can remember. As a kid, I was more excited about the PBS woodworking TV shows, than watching Saturday morning cartoons. Some of my best lessons were learned by watching, This Old House, The Woodrights shop with Roy Underhill, and the New Yankee Workshop with Norm Abram. I watch and learned with passion and spent my idle hours in the garage emulating what I had seen, and honing my craft.
- PR
Patricia Risch
For Industrial Reclaimed Wood Desk4.8I would absolutely work with this maker again and I would also recommend Brian to others. Brian was timely answering all emails, especially specifical questions regarding measurements and metric conversions. His work is excellent with attention to detail which I really appreciated. Brian was mindful every step of the way and observing the actual delivery process and how he moved through it with great care was impressive.
- ES
elaina starman
For elaina's sign5.0Brian did a great job. He made a sign for my veterinary hospital that has already gotten us a lot of attention. He was timely, worked with us well, provided a good product at a good cost, and was friendly. I think there may be projects in the future that we will use him for. An added bonus is that I had the satisfaction of supporting a local business.
- RP
Ritika Patel
For Ritika's Furniture5.0Brian was extremely easy to work with. He came out to our house and measured the size of the door (which was nice in case we gave him inaccurate measurements) and he added to our vision in his own way. He let us know during the time that he was working on project and it was completed in a timely fashion. The best part (other than the finished product) was him installing it, so that we could enjoy it. Enjoyed working with him and would love to do so again in the future.
- DH
Daniel Hamel
For Craftsman style table lamp5.0I was looking for a simple Mission style lamp for my nightstand, but I could not find a commercially available product. I did an Internet search and found a few custom made versions. I was not aware that ordering something to be custom made was still an option today. I liked Mr. Benham's version of his Craftsman lamp, but I wanted certain elements changed in the design. He did some research and eventually devised interesting solutions to all of my design requests. The final product came out perfectly and better than I expected. Considering all of the work that went into the lamp, the price was very reasonable and the workmanship was flawless. The lamp was packed carefully and arrived without a scratch. Mr. Benham sent updates and pictures as he worked on the lamp. I have no complaints and can recommend Mr. Benham's woodworking design and manufacturing skills without reservation.
- M
Michael
For engagement ring box5.0After trying, rather unsuccessfully, to find a unique engagement ring box online that had everything I was looking for, I stumbled upon Brian's profile on CustomMade. Brian listened to my ideas, incorporated them into an initial design, and worked with me to perfect the finished product. He was communicative, very professional, and the end result was exactly what I was looking for ... a well-made, beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece that we will cherish for many, many years to come. I would highly recommend Brian's work, and would be more than happy to serve as a reference for him if any prospective clients out there would like additional information.
- K
Karrol
For kitchen table5.0A beautiful table was delivered on time and ahead of schedule. Great job and good design.
- L
Levi
For Custom ring box5.0I worked with Brian Benham of Benham Design Concepts to create a custom made engagement ring box that required specific detailing and engraving and four operational locks with matching keys. Here are the reasons I would HIGHLY recommend Brian - 1. He has a passion for what he does! His communications with me noted not only the specific design elements we were working on but also his love for what he does. He has a great eye for combining woods and colors and materials and bringing out their natural beauty. He displayed exceptional technical and artistic skills during the design and production of this ring box. One of the many examples of this is that he hand carved the four hearts on the box himself! 2. He was always timely, personable, and professional. I always received response messages back within a day often with design drawings and updates on what we were working on. After construction of the box began, he sent great pictures of the process and finished product which you can see online. Since the ring box was a central element in my engagement it is nice for people who appreciate fine craftsmanship to be able to see the construction of the project online. 3. He finished the project early and chose a shipping option so that I could track the shipment to ensure delivery before the date I got engaged. 4. The finished product was breathtaking - I wouldn't change anything about it. 5. I thought the final price was great for the time and effort that Brian went into working with me on the design (about 2 weeks back and forth), and the final product which also required the use of an expert engraver in both wood and metal. Brian works with a great engraver BTW who also submitted some design and script elements to me during the time we worked on designing the box. We got the design and finished product worked out within 1 month which was exceptional for a custom made product. 6. Brian made computer models of the finished design which were really nice in going back and forth on the final design. Brian always respected my design ideas and enhanced them through his expertise of craftsmanship and materials selection. My only critique is that the CustomMade.com site was sometimes slow so that the uploaded pics Brian sent me and sometimes took a long time to load. However Brian helped when this occurred by sending the picture files directly to my inbox. 7. Everyone I have shown the box to LOVES it! My proposal to my girlfriend was successful and we are getting married May 2013!!! Thanks so much Brian!!!
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