Monday, January 04, 2021

Open Seating

We couldn't believe our luck when we rode by and saw this "free" table sitting on the curb! This happened about two months ago. It could not be a nicer fit for the new deck... a long and deep, sturdy table with fitted pipe legs, and heavy wood planks. It looks great! Since the deck was built with making events in mind, we want to keep it both open and inviting, with space for gathering and doing projects, but without crowding ourselves. This is why Alex suggested we don't look for chairs to add to the table. It would be too many pieces of furniture to buy, and to deal with. Then I thought of benches... two pieces of furniture that could seat many visitors, and be easily tucked out of the way when not needed. They could be versatile! The idea stuck, and Geoff, William, Alex, and Max got to work on a design, and making!
To compliment the style of the table, Geoff looked for steel pipes to make legs for the bench, and he was happy to find Brooklyn Pipe. Actually, he started at our local hardware store, but the limited selection is what made him do a wider search. Some of the pieces had to be painted, so we could make them look a little more uniform. Technically, it's all a bit mismatched, but that kind of suits our aesthetic anyway! I won't get too detailed in describing all of this. They made measurements, came up with a configuration, and then called me over to decide on a paint color, and I went with Nocturne Blue, by Behr; same as our picnic table (maybe?)
William painted the 2"x8", 8' boards. It's Nocturne Blue. But. Maybe not. Our Nocturne Blue looks nothing like it shows on the website. Nothing. And it doesn't even match the other picnic table we were looking at when we chose to paint the benches blue, too. What the heck? It's not a disaster, but I suspect we will be going over the benches, someday, with a more subdued blue. But please don't mention any of this to Geoff. He likes to get things "right," and they all worked on this for my birthday present, so he really really wants it to be perfect, for me to love it. I love it! I love love love the benches, and maybe I will paint them, again. No biggie! The whole paint color issue has us scratching our heads, but only in a mellow bemused way.
Using pipes like this is something new for us, and we like it. We are thinking of using the extra parts to make shelves, maybe for the blacksmith shop.
Now we have two benches, and seating for ten, or more. They are very stable, and have a nice, deep seat. We will be able to use them at the table, or pull them away for sitting around the perimeter of the deck... versatile, like we hoped for, and that's good for us. When we can get back to hosting making events, this new space and accomodations, are going to be really nice, like an extension of our shop. We look forward to all the making, playing, and sharing we will be able to enjoy.

8 comments:

gretchenjoanna said...

I love your bench color VERY much, more than the Nocturne Blue on the Behr site, but that probably has something to do with the amount of that blue color I have seen in Orthodox churches and cultures ;-)

When I think "nocturne" in regard to color, I don't imagine either of those blues, though. One seems too joyful, and the other too sedate...? But I am not an artist by any means, so I should probably be silent on the subject!

In any case, it's a beautiful color you have there, and a most beautiful table and benches you have in the sense of beauty-as-function. I'm impressed with those pipe legs. Another thing that is lovely is your expression of hope in the future, of having lots of friends gathering to sit next to each other around your fire, soaking up your love and hospitality.

Janece said...

I cannot wait to put that table and its beautiful new 'Bemused Blue' benches to use! ;) The whole thing looks amazing! And those men of yours... they are so talented.

angela said...

Love love love it.
I think it’s a beautiful blue and wow what a great find
Recycling is what I love the best. You will have many happy hours sitting around
That table and benches

Teresa Kasner said...

Wow.. I can't believe someone gave away that way cool table and that you were the lucky ones to adopt it! Your guys did a fantastic job on making the matching benches. You are very fortunate to have them make those for you.

*H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!*

((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Happy New Year, GretchenJoanna!
It is a pretty blue, and it doesn't take an "artist's" eye to talk about the blues! On the picnic table it looks rich, like a navy blue infused with something perky, but not high energy. On the benches it feels much livelier. I like it, but... I was discussing decorating choices with my Mother in law, Ruth, and describing how I am aiming for something calm, almost neutral on the deck. I think we can call this color a lot of things, but maybe not "calm and neutral." I just think it's ironic that when I was trying so determinedly to create a particular vibe of soothing and neutral, I came up with this lively shade! It seems whatever I aim for, I always come up eclectic, mismatched, and colorful.
And hope has to win, right? I don't always feel confident, but looking forward creates an easier, more comfortable space to live in in my head.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

"Bemused Blue." Oh, Janece! I love it.
We have so much to look forward to.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Angela, we still can't believe our luck... this was a great find. Recycling is great, and we have shared many things at our curb, too. I love that things just seem to wind up some place new, where they can be appreciated.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Thank you for the birthday wishes, Teresa!
I am super fortunate... they all pitched in, and I am so glad that they made them so beautiful. Fortunately, I did not sketch the very basic, very dull picture I had in my head, because that would not have been great. I have been amused about what I had envisioned vs what they came up with!