At Benjawbski Designs, we celebrate the beauty and integrity of wood in every creation. Based in Knysna, South Africa, our woodworking is proudly home-conceived, hand-crafted, and made with passion. Every piece reflects the care, skill, and individuality that go into true craftsmanship — never mass production.
Whether you’re browsing for functional décor, a unique accent piece, or a thoughtful gift, we’re delighted to share our work with you.
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Benjawbski Designs is a home-based workshop located in Ant’s garage on Leisure Island in Knysna, one of South Africa’s most scenic towns, renowned for its indigenous and commercial forests and its vast tidal lagoon. Our products are crafted with care, creativity, and the personal touch that only a small, dedicated studio can offer.
Our founder, Ant — also known as Benjawbski and affectionately called “Whiskey” — began woodworking later in life (in February 2025, in fact) following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. When kayaking was no longer possible, woodworking became not just a pastime, but a new chapter of purpose, focus, and expression
Today, each item produced is shaped by experience, resilience, and a genuine love for the craft.
We primarily work with indigenous African woods, cherished for their unique grain patterns, strength, and character, and occasionally incorporate ethically sourced non-African or repurposed timber. Every piece we create tells a story of natural beauty, thoughtful hands-on making, and respect for the material.
TYPES OF WOOD WE USE
We work with a rich variety of hardwoods, each with its own personality, texture, colour, and warmth. Many of the woods we use are supplied by Rare Woods SA — see www.rarewoods.co.za for more detailed technical information on individual species.
Some of the woods you may encounter in our work include:
African Rosewood & Bubinga
Dense, luxurious hardwoods with deep reddish-brown hues and striking, often dramatic grain patterns.
Afrormosia
An elegant hardwood with golden-brown tones, valued for its stability and refined appearance.
Knysna Blackwood
Highly prized and increasingly rare, with rich dark colouring and fine, even grain — often regarded as one of South Africa’s finest furniture woods.
Padauk
Known for its vivid orange-red colour when freshly worked, maturing to deeper tones over time; durable and visually bold.
Walnut & French Oak
Classic, timeless woods with warm hues and familiar grain patterns, often sourced from reclaimed or repurposed material.
Panga Panga
Extremely hard and dense, with dark chocolate-brown colouring and subtle striping; prized for its durability and dramatic appearance.
Garapa
A pale yellow to honey-gold hardwood with excellent strength and stability, often used where toughness and clean aesthetics are required.
Kiaat
Closely related to African Padauk, Kiaat is durable, extremely stable, and resistant to insects and termites. Although less dense than Padauk, it offers an impressive strength-to-weight ratio. Its heartwood ranges from light golden brown to medium brown with reddish or purplish tints, and it works, turns, glues, and finishes exceptionally well.
Zebrano (Zebrawood)
Instantly recognisable by its bold, contrasting light and dark striping, making it ideal for statement pieces.
Wild Olive
A very hard indigenous wood with widely varying shapes, colours, and swirling grain patterns — each piece is truly unique.
Imbuia
A richly coloured hardwood with warm brown tones and occasional figuring, traditionally used in fine furniture.
Beech
Pale, fine-grained, and consistent in texture, lending itself well to clean, modern designs.
Ash
Strong yet flexible, with a light colour and pronounced grain; valued for its toughness and versatility.
From dense hardwoods to sustainably reclaimed timber, every material is chosen for both its aesthetic charm and its enduring quality.
Explore Our Handmade Creations
Each item is thoughtfully designed and carefully shaped, reflecting our dedication to craftsmanship and attention to detail. Our current product range includes:
| 1. a) | Standard Doorstops | |
| 1. b) | Maxi Doorstops | |
| 2. | Tealight Holders | |
| 3. | Coat Racks | |
| 4. | Key Holders | |
| 5. | Serving Boards |
Occasionally, we additionally create one-off or limited-edition items, inspired by unusual timber or moments of creative exploration — watch this space. Also, we constantly seek ways to improve the functionality and appeal of our products.
© Benjawbski Designs’s products are copyrighted. All rights reserved.
These are the business's primary product and are favourably looked upon by most clients. Photographs include a selection of both sold and available doorstops. Click on pics to enlarge. Elegant and functional, our standard doorstops are crafted from premium woods and finished to highlight their natural grain. A non-slip pad is attached to the underside of each doorstop.
Standard doorstops are wedge-shaped, approximately 50 mm wide, 20 mm high at the front, and 160 mm long. Each doorstop features a decorative knob attached at the highest point, adding interest and individuality. Knob heights vary, but are typically around 30 mm.
These are a larger, more substantial version of our original design, ideal for heavier doors or those wanting a bold wooden feature. They require twice the volume of wood and were designed specifically by Benjawbski Designs to add interest to the product. The increased surface area allows wood colours and grain patterns to be more prominent, making each piece particularly striking. Photographs include a selection of both sold and available doorstops. Click on pics to enlarge.
Popular on dining tables, both indoors and outdoors, our tealight holders bring warm ambience and natural character to any setting. They are available in a variety of wood types, styles, and sizes / number of candles. Felt or rubber feet are fitted to the underside to protect table surfaces from scratches. Click on pics to enlarge.
Made from premium wooden boards, our Coat Racks are both functional and stylish coat racks and made with appropriately spaced hooks - typically 150 mm from hook centre to hook centre (the standard spacing).
Racks range from compact 3-hook designs for smaller spaces to wide boards with 8 or more hooks for larger rooms needing storage for coats, jackets, hats, and more. Wood types, widths, thicknesses, edge profiles, and finishes vary from rack to rack. Click on Pics to enlarge.
Hook styles range from standard 90-degree wire-type hooks to ornate metal and/or ceramic multi-hook designs.
Mounting holes are pre-drilled and hidden beneath the hooks on the left and right extremes, and screws and wall plugs can be supplied on request for installation onto solid surfaces such as walls.
![Coat Rack - French Oak Repurposed 7 Hooks CR07FOR002 985x110x20mm]
R2,500.00 SOLD](/images/1200/19904632/CoatRack-FrenchOakRepurposed7HooksCR07FOR002985x110x20mmSOLDAV3-JlxuGh3e1HkFXCpSH2YP7Q.jpg)
Available Key Holders vary in wood type, size and the number of key hooks. Click on pics to enlarge. Hand-made key racks that combine practicality — the need to hang multiple keys in one convenient location — with design flair.
These items are supplied with high-quality adhesive backing for easy installation without drilling.
All Benjawbski Designs's Key Holders come with high-quality double-sided tape strips already stuck in place. These are more than sufficient to 'permanently' attach to virtually any ‘wall’.
Note – the host surface should be reasonably smooth and must be clean. Remove the thin cover tape, position the Key Holder correctly and push firmly against the wall.
All Serving Boards (with the exception of one Yellowwood piece) have been made from Wild Olive, a hardwood known for its dramatic variation in shape, colour, and grain. No two boards are ever alike.
All products showcase the natural beauty of wood, with variations in tone, texture, and grain that make each piece uniquely yours. Click on pics to enlarge.
PRICING & DELIVERY
We believe in transparent pricing and reliable delivery.
Prices (South African Rands)
Because each piece is individually hand-made, prices reflect both the quality of the materials and the craftsmanship involved.
Delivery
We offer secure courier delivery via PostNet throughout South Africa:
For international shipping or special destinations, please contact us for a tailored quote.
Payments
We handle all payments via the secure Yoco system. Both card and remote payments are catered for.
Important: All products are sold voetstoots (“as is”). At this stage, we do not offer returns. We are, however, always happy to answer questions before you place an order.
LOCATION
Benjawbski Designs is proudly based on Leisure Island in Knysna, a breathtakingly beautiful coastal town in the Western Cape, South Africa. Known for its iconic Heads, tidal lagoon, and surrounding indigenous forests, Knysna provides daily inspiration that influences our creative woodworking.
Whether you’re local or planning a visit, our workshop is rooted in a community rich with natural beauty and artisanal spirit.
Wild Olive before cutting.
Marking out the positions for Coat Hooks.
The Mitre Saw.
