Heartwood Creations is an Orange County Wood Gate service owned and operated by Von Aronson in Laguna Beach, California. As a skilled carpenter with 40+ years experience and a natural gift for finish woodworking, design and problem solving,  Von earned his California contractors license in 1992. About the time of the birth of his son in 1997, his passion for woodwork and his love of nature found common ground. Out of this natural evolution, HeartWood Creations Garden Architecture and Wood Gates was born.

Nestled among the scenic hills of Laguna Canyon, in Orange County, Von’s workshop has been the birthplace of his unique gazebos and pavilions, trellises, garden arbors and handmade gates and doors that adorn many of the finer homes of coastal Orange County and beyond.
Now, his high quality and pre-finished custom wood gates, in a variety of styles,  are sought after by designers, builders, landscapers and homeowners throughout Southern California

Over the years, Von has also been mentor and coach to dozens of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and other school kids in the Irvine/Laguna Beach area.  His workshop has been the scene of many youth groups creating Pinewood Derby Cars, elaborate Eagle Scout Service Projects, merit badge projects and other Boy Scout woodworking projects as well as an electrified Cigar-box guitar as an 8th grade project for a  family friend.  Working in the community and helping others, especially youth, has always been a big part of Von’s personal mission to be in service to others by sharing his skills and gifts.

In Von’s own words:

“From an early age I was surrounded by extraordinary aged and rustic architecture.  Growing up on the east coast of the US in one of the original 13 colonies,  my sense of my surroundings was shaped by the architecture, landscaping and  historic countryside in and around Princeton University and nearby Rocky Hill, New Jersey.    I loved the beautiful handcrafted wood doors and architectural detail of Princeton as well as the magnificent stone and iron work found throughout that region  (some dating back  250 years). The stories, the history and the local legends going all the way back to the late 1700’s add a real distinction you can feel.
Later, I spent a few years in New Orleans, where I absorbed the look and feel of historic architectural detail born of it’s Spanish and French ancestors.   The old hardware and inventive ironwork and woodworking in the French Quarter and the Garden District are still extraordinary. ”

“In my 20+ years creating beautiful garden woodworking and custom wood gates, these influences have found expression in my work in many ways, especially in my rustic gates.   From hand-carved and distressed finishes, creative use of premium hardware and decorative ironwork to one-of-a-kind speakeasy grilles and artful placement of the interesting natural flaws and figured grains of the wood I use”

 “My vision as a wood artist is rooted in my passion for detail and a tactile sense of presence and function.”