Reviews
“He is a joy to work with!”
Ben is a maker of wonderful things…from our bathroom vanity, wet bar and farmhouse table, to the refurbish of our antique cedar trunk. We are so pleased with all his creative and beautifully constructed pieces. Not to mention he is a joy to work with!
— J.J. (Paso Robles, CA)
“Couldn't be more pleased!”
Ben has built us three pieces that fit our speciality. He was always interested in what we were wanting and always delivered a high-quality built item. Couldn't be more pleased! Love his work and hopefully can have him build us something more eventually...
— Peg Obsorne
“Everything about it exceeded my expectations. ”
I rarely take the time to write a review online. However, my experience with Ben has prompted me to take to the keyboard. I saw one random small picture online of a fireplace surround that had Ben's name attached to the caption. After a quick Google search, I was browsing thru his work. After a few email exchanges, we were on the phone designing a reclaimed wood wall and custom metal fireplace surround. Even though we are 2,000 miles apart, Ben made me feel confident that we were on the same page. He is very thorough. He provided a fantastic amount of detailed drawings, emails, as well as lots of great design ideas. Just a couple of days ago my fireplace arrived packaged up all safe and sound. I couldn't be happier. His work is beautiful. Everything about it exceeded my expectations. It was simple to understand and install. I would highly suggest working with Ben and I look forward to working with him again on my next project. It isn't often that someone is this talented, thorough and easy to work with.
— Chad (OH)
“Ben was fantastic to work with and extremely responsive.”
Ben created a custom hanging bed for use in the porch room of a client of ours. The piece was gorgeous and a year and half later the client sill remarks on how much she loves it! Ben was fantastic to work with and extremely responsive. The bed was very large and he organized all the shipping and delivery, which was a great help to our company. His workmanship was excellent and he truly cared about our client's satisfaction. We highy recommend Ben's work.
— House of L Design (Solon, OH)
"He is a wonderful combination of artistic, technically talented, exacting and organized."
We hired Ben in 2013 to build cabinetry, wine racks, decorative entrance door, and tables for our wine cellar. He is a wonderful combination of artistic, technically talented, exacting and organized. He listens. He finished on time. He's a nice guy! He consulted us on each step. He sent out timely invoices itemizing everything that was being done. And foremost for us he was incredibly creative and artistic, using recycled material when available; barn wood cabinets, copper counter-top and backs to wine racks, zinc backsplash and table tops...etc. Fabulous, beautiful, unique, and "green" wine cellar. We love this guy! He was "on the same page" as us the whole way. There is nothing that we would do differently or change. Highly recommend.
— C.L. (Los Olivos, CA)
“I would definitely recommend using Ben Riddering for any and all custom built furniture.
Ben Riddering was commissioned to design and build a high quality hanging bed for our outdoor sunroom. Ben exceeded all of our expectations. The materials (wood, steel, ropes) were of the best quality. The detail in the work was top quality. I would definitely recommend using Ben Riddering for any and all custom built furniture.
— Scott (NJ)
“He expertly brought this old growth wood back to life”
Ben is a true artist! We brought him old beat-up redwood that had originally been floor boards in a 100-year-old dairy barn. He expertly brought this old growth wood back to life, transforming and joining the boards into new conference tables for our office. His craftsmanship and joinery is outstanding. I look forward to our next project with him.
— Jim Duffy at Ten Over Studios (San Luis Obispo, CA)
“The craftsmanship is impeccable.”
I am the first proud owner of The Dutchman, a beautiful live-edge, walnut slab headboard bed. The craftsmanship is impeccable. Ben really got to employ his talents as artist and craftsman with this piece -- coming up with the design and making suggestions along the way. He is pleasant, honest, reliable, timely, kind, capable and honorable. And his workshop is a feast for the senses -- so much to see and experience. The bed itself is not just a piece of art, but sturdy, classy, and solid. I could not be happier.
— M.B. (Arroyo Grande, CA)
“It turned out fantastic and we still get comments on it.”
We hired Ben to design and build architectural wall elements out of reclaimed lumber in our new office space. It turned out fantastic and we still get comments on it when people walk in for the first time.
— Truitt (San Luis Obispo, CA)
“We could not be more pleased with the end result.”
Ben is an amazing artist. We hired him to build among other things our sales and work counters at our new archery shop. After consulting with Ben we knew we could just let him do what he does best and we could not be more pleased with the end result.
— Scott Wilson at Central Coast Archery (San Luis Obispo, CA)
“We accomplished this all by email!”
My client fell in love with a bathroom vanity that was too large for her space. From my rough drawing and using the favored piece as inspiration, Ben designed and built a beautiful bathroom vanity and coordinating wall mirror from reclaimed French oak. He made several design suggestions which improved the aesthetics and function of the vanity. We accomplished this all by email! When my client and I went to pick up the custom-built pieces we enjoyed meeting Ben in person, got a tour of his clean and professional workshop, and enjoyed seeing several more furniture pieces in progress and completed. His workmanship was flawless and we received both pieces in the time frame quoted.
— Gloria Bunker Design (Camarillo, CA)
"On a personal level, a person with more character, honesty, and integrity than Ben simply does not exist."
I have been a fan of Ben's work for years so when it came time to remodel a new office space for our business, he was the only person we approached. We gave Ben our rough concept (it was very rough) and he created a 3D rendering that captured our intent exactly. He worked through several challenging details with amazing creativity. The finished project is the focal point of our office and garners high praise from every visitor. On a personal level, a person with more character, honesty, and integrity than Ben simply does not exist. I hold him in the highest regard and would confidently recommend him to anyone.
— Charles Ashley at Ashley Vance Engineering (San Luis Obispo, CA)
"I was blown away at not only the speediness but the acute attention to detail and how he took my ideas and made them into something of his own art piece."
I was recommended to Ben Riddering from a local restaurant owner who I highly trust and after viewing Ben's samples online I knew anything he made would be fabulous. His works speaks for itself but I can say that also his customer service exceeded my expectations as well.
When I brought my ideas to him about a headboard I wanted him to make he was a very good listener and came back to me with some really great ideas of how we could make this piece. He gave me options in multiple price ranges so that I could choose something that best worked for my budget.
When I came by his shop to look at some samples and different wood grain options he had drawn up some quick layouts on a board to give me an idea of the way the piece would play out in the whole room which was such an awesome visual to help me make my decision on which direction to go with my broad vision of what I wanted. I am an artist as well, so not only am I picky but I had a hard time telling him in words exactly what I wanted at first and he guided me through all of the different options. He was very professional and helpful.
Once we finalized the idea, I was blown away that he completed my piece within a week's time! The entire process was only a few weeks and I was blown away at not only the speediness but the acute attention to detail and how he took my ideas and made them into something of his own art piece. I am MORE than happy with the finished result and I couldn't have even imagined a more amazing headboard than the one he made for me. I will be contacting him in the future for any furniture design building needs!
