To those of you who emailed ... Is it done? To those of you who asked ... Did it work? To those of you who commented ... Will we ever see it?
The answer is yes. I got butt implants, they totally worked and maybe a lucky few of you. Also I finished my hack of the Restoration Hardware Aspen Collection. Just in time to pack it away for winter!
I'm not going to interrupt your scrolling with too many words in this post.
Because the clumsiness of my words will only detract from the beauty of my hack.
Although I should mention I haven't actually finished the coffee table yet. I still need to chamfer the edges (I'm holding out until someone decides to give me a router and chamfering bit).
It is not a lightweight collection. Knowing I'd have to move it around eventually I decided to put it on casters. The only casters even remotely strong enough to support it were appliance casters. I wouldn't say it makes the sectional exactly slip across the backyard like a letter carrier on ice, but ... it can be done.
That chair there? I have relaxed in that chair. Not for long, but long enough to be able to claim I've relaxed in that chair.
There were more than a few hiccups along the way. Which could have been due to the wine now that I'm getting a good look at the whole picture.
The chair's seat and back are at what is considered the perfect sitting angle, 100 degrees. So the seat of the chair slopes towards the back a bit and the back is at a similar angle, making you feel cradled.
I wanted to have the same angles for the couch and built it that way until I realized that you can't have a sectional couch built like that because once you get to the corner your angles are going all sorts of different directions.
DAMN YOU MATH.
So I built the seat straight on the sectional and fiddled around with it by adding extra bits of lumber here and there to sort of fake an angle. More on that in a later post where I focus on how I actually built this thing.
Bread, olives and wine. The PERFECT snack ( if you replace the wine with Diet Coke).
The next step is to make or buy some sort of cover for the whole thing. A pergola is out of the question because that'll be just a bit too much going on in this little backyard of mine. My choices are either a couple of those sail cloths or one of those massive cantilevered umbrellas.
I might get a few weeks of sitting out here if the weather cooperates. And the butt implants.
Ritz
It looks just terrific, Karen! Bravo!
Alena
It looks very nice, Karen.
I was thinking, as I started to scroll down through the pictures, that it must rather heavy but you addressed that.
I would not be able to leave anything outside for days. I don't know whether it is due to me being in a more urban area than you or due to my house being situated fairly close to an expressway but the amount of dust here is rather prohibitive. I could practically wash my windows each month (which of course I don't do).
Great job!
Karen
Divine.
You might consider using shade cloth over the seating. It provides shade and you can still see through it at night to see the stars.
JulieD
Well done Karen! It looks great! And I like your vegetable arrangement next to the chair too. Such an inviting back yard.
maggie van sickle
Beautiful Karen! Well done! Need I say more?
Jackie
Fantastic job. I'm just wondering where & how you're going to store it foe the winter. You are the most handy person I know.
Nancy Blue Moon
You are the best girlfriend...
Leticia C. Cortes
I echo everyone's comments, down here in Texas, first thing that came to mind...HOT DAMN!
Jan in Waterdown
Respect.
Jules
K, Your talent and creation is FAB!
I want it! I want it all!!
My hubby is finishing our cedar deck as I type...all wood from our property and milled on our mill....but when I saw your patio, it gave me more ideas for beyond the deck.
Your entire back garden I LOVE!
Way to go, you are amazing.
Jules from the (sunny today) BC coast?
Sabina
Carnivore...a very nice choice of wine...and the furniture is cool too - good job!
Gretchen Sexton
SPECTACULAR!
AWESOME!
FABULOUS!
OUTSTANDING!
I have run out of superlatives...
What a fantastic look you created!
Needless to say, I love it. And whenever I make that trek to Canada (from Alabama) I hope to see it in person! (haha)
Can't wait to see how you do the cover!
PS Loved the Vancouver trip as well! (it's on my bucket list)
Tres
Very impressive work with a beautiful outcome! I know you will get years of enjoyment from the set - starting next summer :-)
sylvia hawryluk
stuck on the visual of a mail carrier on ice comment ...too funny ! Nice work BTW
Stephanie
Totally worth the wait. Spectacular job. It was a picture of your backyard on another site that drew me to your site a couple/three years ago and I have been around ever since watching in awe. I am more your sister, pink tool belt (I spent Saturday renovating my friend's powder room with all my own tools), but have "stolen" more than one idea from you. Keep it up. Hope you meet your Thanksgiving deadline you have given to yourself for your interior.
Pam
WOW, a very big wow, nice job!
Kate
Your best yet! I've been following your blog like since forever, and this project is phenomenal.
Thank you.
Just thinking, your biceps and triceps must be toned to max from slinging the heavy lumber.
In winter, could this patio set serve double duty as weight training?
Sending my best from Boston,
Kate
Rebecca
It's gorgeous, Karen! I love your backyard so much.
brenda
there are no words.......
when do you sleep, eat potato chips or bathe?
Isabella
Impressive and enticing. Now for decent weather through Dec. and you've got it made. Will the cushions store easily? The wood should be fine in the elements, aging in nice ways. Way to go.