about varian designs

Varian Designs was created to provide you with beautiful, inspiring, and original furniture. Our forms are contemporary but our materials are traditional.

We are committed to making intelligent, referential, and environmentally conscious furniture that enriches the lives of all those involved in its creation and use.

The positive impact of the Varian Designs collection extends from the tradesmen who harvest the materials to those who enjoy an evening of conversation around our tables or relaxing on our chairs and benches.

About Forest Dickey, Founder of Varian Designs

Forest Dickey was inspired by the two disparate settings of his youth: Wisconsin's rural landscape and historical barns and the sky-scraping steel of New York City.

After reclaiming a large portion of red oak timber from a barn on family property, he began making furniture that brought together the warmth and history of the wood with urban architectural designs. The reclaimed wooden beams and timbers create the primary visual component of his furniture.

Forest received his master of fine arts degree in furniture design and woodworking from San Diego State University and was apprenticed to Richard Wrightman in New York City and Gail Fredell in Aspen, Colorado. He has studied and worked as a studio assistant at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Aspen, Colorado, and is a member of the Furniture Society. He received a bachelor’s degree in art history and visual art from the University of Chicago.

He lives and works in San Francisco.