Brian Benham

Brian Benham
Guild Instructor

Learn with Brian

Brian Benham designs and builds custom furniture and has drawn many of the plans behind Guild courses. Here is every Guild course he teaches, from your first SketchUp model to a Greene and Greene entry door.

See Brian’s courses Meet all instructors
5Guild courses
18+hours of lessons
59lessons

Why learn from Brian

SketchUp from zero to shop drawingsBrian’s three SketchUp courses take you from the basics to detailed shop drawings and layout, so you can design your own furniture before you cut a board.
He draws the plansBrian has created detailed plans and offered design help for The Wood Whisperer and the Guild for years, so he knows what makes a drawing useful in the shop.
A lifetime in the tradesHe started in construction with his father and was working in a steel fabrication shop by 13, learning jig building, shop setup and how to read shop drawings.
Ask questions as you buildEvery lesson has its own discussion area. Post a question or a photo of the spot where you are stuck and get help from members building the same piece.

About Brian

Brian’s career in the trades began at a young age, working alongside his father and learning the basics of construction. By age 13 he was working in a steel fabrication shop for a bridge construction company, where experienced welders taught him welding, jig building, safe shop setup and how to read shop drawings.

In his mid 20s Brian moved into project management for a design and remodel company, splitting his time between job sites and working with the company’s shop master on custom cabinets and built-ins. He launched Benham Design Concepts in 2010, building custom furniture and artistic design and build projects.

All of Brian’s Guild courses

Every course includes PDF plans, printable cut lists and a discussion area on every lesson.

Greene & Greene Inspired Entry DoorGreene & Greene Inspired Entry Door11 lessons · 3 hrs Intro to SketchupIntro to Sketchup8 lessons · 2.5 hrs Japanese End TableJapanese End Table7 lessons · 2 hrs SketchUp: Beyond the BasicsSketchUp: Beyond the Basics13 lessons · 6 hrs SketchUp: Shop Drawings & LayoutSketchUp: Shop Drawings & Layout20 lessons · 4.5 hrs

Two ways to learn with Brian

Buy a course

One payment and that course is yours for life, along with lifetime Guild membership benefits: past Guild meetings, woodworker interviews, live demos, exclusive vendor discounts and direct support from Marc.

Pick a course
Guild Stream

$19 a month or $199 a year. Subscribers get 10% off any course purchase, including Brian’s courses, plus two of Marc’s courses to stream on demand each month. The lineup rotates on the 1st. See the schedule.

Start Guild Stream
Ready to build something?

Pick a project, grab the plans and build it alongside Brian. Curious what members think? Read their reviews.

Browse Brian’s courses