SWFL.io - Local NewsReporter: Bianca Smith
•8/21/2026
NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — Walk into Cocoon Gallery on Fifth Avenue South in Naples and it is hard to think of it as a traditional furniture store.
The gallery is filled with live-edge tables, sculptural roots, mirrors, geodes and other pieces made from materials found in nature. But the real magic behind the showroom is happening just a short distance away, inside Cocoon’s 20,000-square-foot Naples woodshop.
Inside the warehouse, artisans work with enormous slabs of wood, some reaching up to 20 feet long. Each piece has its own shape, grain and imperfections, which become part of the final design. Buyers can even select their own slab and have it customized to specific dimensions and finishes.
Shop manager, Frank Bentivegna, says Cocoon Gallery is always looking to create one-of-a-kind pieces, " If you can dream is up, we can make it. We are always looking to make one of a kind pieces."
The process takes a combination of craftsmanship, patience and creativity. The wood can be dried, flattened, sanded, bleached, stained or pigmented. "When you're looking for the best materials with no damages. At Cocoon, we want the cracks, water and bug damage. It makes for a more interesting table," said Bentivegna
Walk into Cocoon Gallery on Fifth Avenue South in Naples and it is hard to think of it as a traditional furniture store.
Natural cracks and openings may be filled with colorful epoxy, creating another layer of art within the piece. Cocoon also has a custom-built kiln designed to handle its massive slabs and root systems.
And while the finished furniture may look polished and modern, the goal is to preserve the character of the original material, " at the end of the day it's nature who creates the art, we just help bring out it's best features," said Bentivegna
Cocoon describes its pieces as “functional art,” combining furniture and décor with the natural shapes and textures of the materials used to create them. The collection includes live-edge tables and mirrors, root sculptures, shell-derived wall art, geodes, agate, jasper, onyx and other natural elements.
Sustainability is also part of the company's story. Cocoon says it does not harvest live trees for its pieces and instead works with materials including dead and petrified wood. The company also says its sourcing partners in Southeast Asia participate in replanting efforts.
No two pieces at Cocoon are quite the same. What starts as a massive slab, root system or other natural material is transformed by the artisans into something designed to become a centerpiece in someone's home.
So, the next time you are walking down Fifth Avenue South and spot Cocoon's dramatic displays, there is a lot more to the pieces than what you see in the showroom.
The story starts in the warehouse, where nature provides the material and the artisans bring the vision to life.
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