Wall Mounted Coffee Cup Holder

In a quiet workshop nestled in the corner of a rehab center, where the smell of pine mingled with sawdust and hope, a man named Shaun began crafting a simple wooden coffee cup holder.

Shaun had once been a graphic designer, but after a long bout with burnout and anxiety, he found himself needing a reset. As part of his recovery, he joined a woodworking therapy program—not expecting much beyond killing time. But something about the rhythm of sanding, the hum of the lathe, and the way raw wood responded to his hands started to calm his mind.

For his first solo project, Leo decided to make a coffee cup holder. He carved the base from walnut, carefully measuring and drilling four evenly spaced holes. He added a slender oak dowel in the center and notched gentle arms that extended outward like tree branches, each one able to cradle a favorite mug.

As he polished the finished piece with beeswax, the wood came alive—dark grains catching the light like veins of old stories. It wasn’t just a coffee cup holder. It was the first thing he’d created since his world had unraveled. A small, practical reminder that healing could be handmade.

He brought it home and placed it by the window, hung his chipped ceramic mugs from it, and poured himself a cup of coffee. It tasted better that day.

(Made by Shaun Perryman for In The Kitchen Contest)