Red oak with walnut accents. Tufted seafoam cushion. Minwax Natural 209. Minwax Oil modified polyurethane.

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This piece started with an upholstering technique I wanted to try - a way of applying and folding the foam to get those rounded corners on the cushion. The design came from that idea: the cushion slightly offset from the edges of the solid bench top.

The tufted buttons keep that pillowy, rounded look going. It was my first time making and applying buttons like this, and I'm really happy with how they turned out.

The legs have walnut accent plugs instead of oak plugs that would blend in.

I don't cut away a lot of material to chase perfectly uniform colour. The natural variations, the little knots, (the 'freckles' as I call them) - to me, that's the beauty of the wood. It should be highlighted, not removed. So choosing an accented plug felt natural.

If you remove the cushion, you'd see the legs pass all the way through the bench top and are locked in place with a walnut wedge. It's a detail that almost felt like a shame to cover up, but I'll show you here. (Last photo)

Caleb Wu

Caleb Wu is the builder behind Herit‑Edge, a small batch heirloom furniture brand based in Aurora, Ontario.

Caleb has had a passion for building his whole life, and woodworking has remained a steady, persistent love that continues to evolve as he expands into upholstery.

During the day, Caleb builds staircases, handles wood repairs, as well as maintenance and restoration on large woodworking machinery - tools that are often older than he is. His background in this work has shaped his approach to furniture: he prioritizes maintainability, solid joinery, and straightforward construction that can be fixed, refreshed, or refinished decades down the road. If something is built well, he believes it should be able to live a long life and stay in the family. After hours, building furniture is Caleb's creative outlet - a place where he blends wood and textiles, experiments with new techniques, and builds pieces meant to be used and appreciated every day.

He is fascinated by the idea that with enough patience, you can create something that lasts a lifetime - something more personal, more meaningful, and higher quality than anything mass‑produced.

That belief is the foundation for every piece he makes.