Hay Bench

Carla Baz is a French-Lebanese designer dedicated to foster synergies between her innovative approach to furniture or lighting and the very accomplished skills of Lebanese artisans. After studying interior architecture at ESAG Penninghen in Paris, she pursued a masters in product design for the luxury industry at the University of Art and Design Lausanne where she had the opportunity to work on several projects under the supervision of international designers such as Ronan Bouroullec, BarberOsgerby, Marti Guixé, Pierre Charpin and Humberto and Fernando Campana. She then engaged in diverse professional experiences, working in London for Burberry, Vivienne Westwood and Zaha Hadid until she felt it was time to explore her own lines. Thus began a very inspiring sequence of experiments which resulted in small editions of her sculptural and functional furniture and earned her the Brussels based Boghossian Fondation’s 2013 Design Prize. All her projects are rooted in that elaborate relationship where innovative ideas meet noble materials that are worked by hand.

Don’t underestimate a good bench — antique and vintage benches are storage pieces, stylish accents and statement-making additional seating.

Today, benches are a great option to maximize seating in your house and outdoor space. The perfect option to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere in foyers and entryways, benches can also transform dining areas, making it possible to host a hungry family with limited space. Whether you’re sprucing up your entertaining with upholstered Empire-style benches or adding more options to a dining room that’s seen a farmhouse makeover, this humble furnishing has only become more versatile over the years. Designers have recognized the demand for a good bench, crafting the convenient seating alternative from a range of materials, including wood, iron and even concrete.

Mid-century modern benches from George Nakashima, Charlotte Perriand and the pared-down Platform bench by George Nelson for Herman Miller are classics of innovation, but maybe you’re looking for an unconventional design approach to your home's seating. Opt for something totally outside the box — an antique pine church-pew bench paired with a vintage wool throw and stationed under the mounted coatrack in your mudroom is a distinctive touch.

For your outdoor oasis, a wrought-iron patio bench is the obvious choice but not the only option. An enclosed back patio would do well to inherit a rattan bench with cushions, but it can be susceptible to weathering and should be covered or moved indoors when not in use.

Whatever your seating arrangement needs are, find vintage, new and antique benches for every space on 1stDibs.