Maple. Tufted rust coloured cushion. Minwax Paste Wax Finish. Cork Tray Lining.

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The tray bench! I've always loved how vintage furniture often had very specific, niche purposes - like the old gossip bench, built as a dedicated spot to sit and call a friend. That kind of specificity really speaks to me.

The tray bench follows that same idea. In the morning, when you're putting on your shoes and getting ready for your day, it's nice to have a soft landing spot for your keys and coffee mug instead of the floor. I don't love the sound of a hard travel mug hitting wood, so the tray is lined with cork - a long‑time favourite material of mine. It's a small detail, but details matter. And the soft sound of cork is so much better to me.

I like to use maple for its light colour and clarity, so this bench doesn't have any stain colouring it. Instead of dressing it up to look like anything else, the maple just has a coat of wax to bring out its shine.

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.