The Floating Bench

Due to the handcrafted nature of our products the final footprint can vary slightly from seat to seat, measurements provided are for the largest expected dimensions. If you are intending to set a slab under each leg we suggest not doing so until you have taken delivery. 

The Floating Bench was created in response to a gap in the market for contemporary, sustainable hardwood garden furniture, and its design still feels remarkably fresh. Its defining feature is the gently curved back rail, which appears to float unsupported while remaining robust and comfortable to sit against. That sense of lightness is central to the piece: the open back frames the garden beyond, while the crisp, sleek lines bring a refined contrast to softer planting and sit equally well in more contemporary outdoor spaces.

For all its visual clarity, this is not a bench designed only to be admired. The curved back is shaped through steam bending in native oak, giving the piece both strength and a softness in use, while the generous proportions make it feel welcoming and relaxed. The result is a bench with a sculptural quality, yet one that remains grounded in comfort, craftsmanship and everyday enjoyment in the garden.

Begin by configuring your seat online. Choose your collection, size and back style, select your timber or painted finish, and add any details that make it distinctly yours. Our website allows you to shape the piece around your garden and the way you live.

Nothing is set in stone at this stage. Once your order is placed, our team will be in touch personally to confirm every detail - from placement and access to finishing touches. We then confirm the full specification before your commission moves into the workshop. As your seat nears completion, we will send you a photograph from the workshop so you can see it being prepared ahead of delivery. This is a considered, unhurried process - crafted with care from first enquiry to final installation.

Delivery and optional assembly are confirmed separately, ensuring timings work for you. Accessories such as cushions, covers or additional touches can be selected later should you wish; many clients prefer to live with their seat first before choosing soft furnishings.

If you would rather speak to us directly, we are always pleased to help. Call 01297 443084 or email info@sittingspiritually.co.uk and we will guide you through the process personally.

Your finished seat is delivered with the same care with which it was made. We work with Richard and Kevin of Saturn Removals, a trusted specialist team who our customers speak of immensely highly. They understand our products, our standards and the importance of a calm, unhurried experience on the day.

Ahead of delivery, you will be contacted directly to confirm a convenient date and time slot. This conversation also allows us to discuss access in detail - from driveways and garden paths to positioning - so everything runs smoothly on the day.

On arrival, your seat is carefully carried into your garden and installed in the exact position you have chosen. The team will assemble and set it up on site, ensuring it sits level and swings freely. Before they leave, you are warmly invited to take a seat and gently sway - making sure it feels exactly as it should. Only when you are completely happy do we consider the installation complete.

It is a considered service, designed to make the final step of the journey as reassuring as the first.

Material contrast is at the heart of The Floating Bench. Crafted in natural and scorched oak from sustainable sources, it brings together the warmth and grain of natural timber with the depth and drama of a darkened, scorched finish. This treatment does more than create visual definition: the innovative use of scorching, sometimes referred to as Yaki-Sugi, also offers natural weather protection, while a low-solvent oil and wax finish helps the timber stand up beautifully to the British climate.

What makes the timber story especially compelling is the character it gives the bench. The scorched surface has a richness and texture that feels more layered than paint or stain, while the natural oak back and arms keep the overall design light, balanced and tactile. Together, these finishes give The Floating Bench its distinctive identity: striking enough to make an impression, yet restrained enough to feel at home in a calm, considered garden setting.

The Floating Bench sits at the heart of our collaboration with Simon Thomas Pirie - a partnership shaped by a shared appreciation for craftsmanship, material integrity and more contemporary forms of outdoor furniture. As part of the Simon Thomas Pirie Contemporary Range with Sitting Spiritually, it brought a fresh design language into the collection: cleaner lines, stronger architectural presence, and a more design-led interpretation of how seating can live in the garden.

That collaboration gave rise to one of the most distinctive pieces in the range. Since its launch, The Floating Bench has been shortlisted for RHS Chelsea Garden Product of the Year, featured in two RHS Gold Medal-winning gardens, appeared on BBC coverage, and gone on to receive the prestigious Design Guild Mark from The Furniture Makers’ Company. Earlier recognition through Liberty’s Outdoor Living Collection and praise as a “design classic of the future” only strengthen its pedigree. It remains a bench of real substance and quiet confidence - unmistakably contemporary, yet entirely at ease in the landscape.