seating for two in limited spaces (keep away from pencils)

When I was just a lad, I remember a similar project that my father undertook. I'm sure my parents had some late nights building and upholstering a pair of small, hand-crafted couches. At the time, they used white vinyl that was commonly available for upholstery projects at the end of the 80's. I'm sure they admired their creation proudly when complete, but sometime in the intervening weeks, I discovered that a pencil, carefully sharpened, would make a nice, neat row of holes in the said material. Somehow, Mom and Dad knew exactly who had done it. On that occasion, I learned that hiding under my bed wouldn't serve to prevent the impending consequence of my youthful folly.

So maybe it was genetics or subliminal memories, but it just seemed natural with our young family, that there should be a comfortable place for tired adults to sit and visit at the end of the day. Getting that monster couch, which never looked so large at the store, down that pokey hall and through the doorway, after it turned the initial corner getting into the hall is never an elementary endeavor. Well, for that much effort, you might as well try something of your own.

For those looking for a nice starter project where space comes at a premium, this bench might be a good one to try. At the time, we didn't have a lot of nice wood, but showcasing what we have went a long way with the help of some clearance upholstery which covered the plywood frame. Hand coped and contoured edges, symmetrical detailing, square false tenons for the arm-rest, and uniquely carved legs make a rather small piece really stand out.

The legs were the most fun. Using a compass and some curve templates, along with a bit of creativity, the front legs of this bench extend upward to meet the arm-rest which appears to be tangent to the cylindrical top of the posts. The bottom of each terminates in something reminiscent of a horse's hooves. Perhaps there is a bit of an Egyptian theme going on there. In contrast to the complex shape of the front legs, I do like the gentle curvature seen by the shadows cast on the faces of the rear legs and the slight taper down to the bottom, so if fancy and carved seems daunting, the gentler shapes found there might be more appealing.

I am rather critical of my own work, so if you see something that really bothers you, just remember, I may be in full agreement with you; because, while I'm proud of some features of this bench, there were certainly a few things that could have been better. Here is a short list: If I were to do it over, I'd make the armrests from thicker stock to accentuate a larger round on the interior of the arm and to balance better with the stouter legs. The ears or "viking horns" are a bit much and might have been more subdued to reflect the lower rail, which I think is a better composition of curves. I also discovered, after the fact, that there are some fantastic products for giving a cushion a bit better curved shape and it would be easier to keep the lines nicely perpendicular. The upholstery tacks used here were pretty simple to use, but some piping on the edge of the fabric might help keep the edge a bit neater as well. I did wrap upholstery around the back and ended up using screw fasteners where they wouldn't be as likely to be seen to connect the top rail to the back to give it some extra height (be very careful when putting a screw through fabric because the screw can grab and ruin woven things pretty quickly).

Personally, the armrests were a bit low for me, so be sure to measure for what will be best for you. Significant help is available for anyone taking on furniture projects and wondering how to size these pieces. One good reference is http://www.brezlin.com/design/chairguidelines.html.  Thanks for the info! Lastly, if you are anxious for the welfare of this bench, rest assured, it is safe. The bench now sits in my parent's home, safely away from the pencils and curiosity of six year-old's.  ;)