Cool Hunting

Although they look fit for a kid's room, these novelty animal benches, made by the careful hand of São Paulo artisan Ted Benvenuti of Camaleonte, are gorgeous enough to grace the world of adults. Each one, weighing 77-88 pounds, takes him anywhere from 10-15 days to build, from fitting the wood pieces together to sanding and sealing the overall work. Benvenuti uses Brazilian bentwood that's been certifiably reforested, but he also hunts for leftovers from carpentry shops specializing in furniture creation.

Because of the handcrafted nature of the benches, each animal—like in real life—possesses its own personality. Benvenuti's real-life best friends are a Lab and Golden Retriever, but he's quick to point out that his wood dogs are ultimate companions because they don't require a veterinarian nor cleaning up after. You can find his four-legged creations in São Paulo exclusively at Conceito Firma Casa.

The animal benches are just one example of Benvenuti's inventive woodwork. We also recommend checking out his bicycles and (wonderfully politically incorrect) Favelas, which would make a great doll house for a modern kid.