Custom Outdoor Furniture for Porches, Gardens and Landscapes

When spring arrives in Vermont, many of us begin the long anticipated migration of life processes--eating, working, reading, cooking, catching up--to our porches and patios. We bear the chilly mornings and late afternoons ‘til Memorial Day, looking toward our gardens and landscapes with longing. Maybe it’s because summer is always too short—or too perfect?

Henry James once explained a ‘Summer Afternoon’ as the most perfect two words in the English language. A time when interiors blend into exteriors and the world is invigorated. Our customers are inspired to request custom furniture pieces to celebrate their outdoor living spaces. While not the mainstay of our portfolios, a handful of Guild members have created spectacular chairs and benches for porches and garden paths. Peruse these favorite ‘living out’ selections and savor the craftsmanship and the season.

Rockers by Kit Clark (No. Ferrisburg) and Bob Gasperetti (Mount Tabor) are marvelously crafted to add an Arts & Crafts element to your porch scheme while literally calling to be sat in. Kit’s rocker (at left) is featured in Curly Maple and Bob’s Vermont Rocker (at right) in American Black Walnut, both with a natural oil finish. Native woods like walnut, white oak and cherry are naturally weather resistant and can be harvested sustainably.

We’ve seen a bench like this Gasperetti piece incorporated into a zen-inspired coastal garden, but its open style would translate well into almost any landscape. Made from Brazilian Ipe (pronounced ‘ee-pay’) it has a wonderfully rich patina, is sustainable and loved for its durability and rot resistance. Also using Ipe (for back slats) is Dave Boynton’s oak bench, pictured below. Designed for a client in Walnut Creek CA, the bench pays homage to a community noted for its significant Arts & Crafts design history and is sealed with several layers of the boat finish 'Deks Olje.'

There a few craftsmen among us who’ve created outdoor benches for favorite Vermont cultural sites. Tim Clark (Vergennes) recently installed a set of three at the Shelburne Museum, adjacent to the new Pizzagalli Art Center. A structurally impressive combination of cherry and stainless steel, the benches are 3, 6 and 9 feet, styled to complement the center’s contemporary architecture. More at Tim's Blog!

David Hurwitz (Randolph) white oak seating piece really conjures the idea of a ‘living landscape.’ A couple of years ago, the MontshireMuseum put out a contest call to the Frog Hollow State Craft Center and the Guild of Vermont Furniture Makers, looking for bench seating to place along their Woodland Garden Trail. Hurwitz’ piece was selected with four others, including two by Guild Members Dan Mosheim (Dorset) and Doug Clarner (East Burke). All three pieces are totally unique and rely upon stylistic and material elements to make their connection with the wooded landscape.

So here’s to summertime and custom fine furniture designed to bring the inside out. The Guild of Vermont Furniture Makers can help you create a place to think, observe and be inspired. If you have a vision for a unique piece or are intrigued by the members' work included here, you can contact them directly through their profile pages on our website.

 Let us know how you plan to enjoy the rest of the summer season!