Why Our Rustic Benches Are a Store Favorite

Furniture Features
Written By Rich Helmer
Saguaro Bench from Mexico

Saguaro Bench from Mexico | Milagros Rústicos in Mesa, Arizona | Village Square at Dana Park

Customers often tell us: “I didn’t come in for a bench, but I left with one.” And we understand why. At Milagros Rústicos, our handcrafted benches are as beautiful as they are versatile.

Each one is made by artisans using solid wood, carved detail, and often accented with cowhide, copper, or tooled leather. They're perfect for:

  • Entryways and foyers

  • Foot-of-the-bed seating

  • Hallways and mudrooms

  • Statement pieces under windows

Our benches range in style—from simple reclaimed wood designs to bold, Western-inspired pieces with star cutouts and hand-tooled panels.

They're often one-of-a-kind, and when they're gone... they're gone.

Stop by our showroom in Village Square at Dana Park and see why our benches are some of the most talked-about pieces in our collection.

Hand Carved Bench from Mexico

Hand Carved Red Cross Bench from Mexico

Rich Helmer

Originally from the Chicago suburb of Elgin, Illinois, Rich Helmer's family headed west to Arizona just before his final years of high school. Rich became instantly fascinated with the desert southwest. Its renowned grandeur and mysterious energy would profoundly influence his later work, as would the endless beaches of Mexico and Southern California. Rich's sonic creativity emerged at an early age, as did his unorthodox approach to artistic ventures.

As a primarily self-taught guitarist and songwriter, Rich has never been one to live by a handbook. However, after devoting most of his life to music, he abandoned his true passion and decided to seek a more "realistic" vocation. The decade-long diversion is something that Rich still occasionally laments, but he also knows that the past is just that - the past. Fortunately, Rich decided to dust off his vintage Telecaster and pursue his love of photography, leaving him with little time for regrets.

Rich dares us to consider what possibilities may lie along the path less traveled with both humility and purpose. Whether provocative, soul-stirring, inspiring, disconcerting, or some combination of these, the overarching theme in Rich's work is that, for him, the lens is much more than a curved piece of glass; it is a vehicle through which viewers can experience worlds that might have otherwise remained hidden.

Join his journey.

https://www.richhelmer.com
Previous

Drink in Style: Handblown Cobalt Blue Margarita Glasses from Mexico
Next

The Story Behind Our Mexican Talavera Pottery