Submitted by SteveUK on Thu, 06/18/2015 - 01:06

Although Ive done a lot of DIY projects this was my first real furniture build. I modified the plans for the Simple White Outdoor Sofa because my back cushions were quite short and I didn't need the back to be so high to support them. I also liked the idea of having some contrast to the painted finish so used some Sapele I had. I'm really happy with the end result.

I wanted it to be a little more substantial that the original plans and I wanted the arms to be arms to fully support a forearm (and a beer) so I used 3 x 3 for legs and a 4 x 2 ripped down to 3 x 2 for the arms. I also tapered the legs to soften the lines a bit and give it a bit more interest.

The armchair is made in the exact same way but I made the legs a little taller so that the arms were at a more comfortable height to rest both arms on while reading a book or newspaper.

Estimated Cost
Cushions were $65. Timber costs were around $150 (Pine)
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
It's painted in Farrow and Ball Green Blue and the Sapele is just danish oiled.
Recommended Skill Level
Starter Project