Last week, I showed you an inspirational outdoor furniture set. Despite the fact that I am redoing my craft room, I simply could not resist making a trip to buy lumber, just in case, well, just in case I did find the time to build something.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CaKKubJMarnp3XWzY2xvWZRvj6sjAqSihkkf3Yxb217bTiWHbzXt60pWqhs2aWelRXp0PNVRofp-4Ziz-mOPAQebDaeJTxLBJiQ8M25FdkqVL_NjKVvPyPBwipsvtoyAVHBKcQ9J8A0r/s400/DSC_7732+%28Large%29+%28Large%29.JPG)
Of course, finding perfectly straight, unknotted, and unblemished wood proved to be non-existent. By the end of my shopping trip, I had the guys in the lumber department willing to chip in. I don't know if it was because they were bored from lack of customers on a Thursday afternoon or if they looked at me in my dress and wedges (yeah, I was coming home from work) and couldn't but feel sorry for me trying to reach and pull 2x4s off of a shelf that was inches higher than my 5 foot height.
I decided that because of the inaccuracies of store cuts, I would do all my cutting at home so I drove my 12 foot pieces with the trunk hood open all the way home. Good thing I was only half a mile away from my house.
....and on Friday, I put my craft room on hold and started building. I won't go into detailed steps on how to build it because you can find that on Knock Off Wood's blog.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXfX3Ni9vzr42wyoEKSOnkS0Q5LSRfOQeDrM4SalaJysz9Y68HK8ncaDTEZo9L2nNKGt6P5CzjQoYGAIMiJjQMBklVQxES5cddQTPd02H5JjFJTTJkelYc9iFBBCoqcDxbj7RSCLsH6SX/s400/DSC_7737+%28Large%29.JPG)
I will say that I finally splurged on a Kreg Jig. I've been wanting this for a while now and I finally took the leap and bought it. Instead of having to drill screws into the wood on the outside, I am able to do it from within, hiding all holes and at the same time saving me from having to fill the holes in with putty.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyj8VxVi0m_N-VLPxckb66lcvuLLdVz7i1o9kpAL7ulf0TZ044U2_fQtLRQIPOFEv-SsFm8iX_gpRF1AcBaBGaecoK9PPlfeKLsSBXrQo1YQS1UdVY0gvcxNl9j3_X-PdFVyxbZJ-lTMRQ/s400/DSC_7736+%28Large%29.JPG)
Do you see any holes from the outside? I am loving my Kreg Jig at the moment.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAAif6ylqWeSE5PLg-PvckmFPDqpUY6gIg3DBkQel1blx2B-VUmfk1qOuaX0DsdgiuYWcnBiefQ8tUd1X0E-6rmnntleY5Iz-vJecnRacQG2_qAnhB3HzlA01p4lTHvgnoxzrnrQcfkIX/s400/DSC_7738+%28Large%29.JPG)
It allows you to angle your screws from behind.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYlHiYRRhYHJ_FONnGK2KRDnhxqptCTcMgItYYhZpiWl9-eg5nuFATgqo1o-z_y_HtyvJI22qMDMUs2cO7QTCfGXjIHRD2ht2sRkEAwpWtQ7z39JPUnTpvNZiXqbKlOYn3SAV6tOzqVtp/s400/DSC_7739+%28Large%29.JPG)
Of course, I had to make what seemed like hundreds of holes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWvsJRF4925oaSpa5L-CH4t88dzj1JQ3sZacM0tNsO9i_2qeKVumtq9IfUelJtqAslL3ax3e5oePHs6rJg9j4e6SK-1BxMkBlnsLeO2QKktScblGppV7flWhCahIyOkTGmRKNdDao2PE2/s400/DSC_7741+%28Large%29.JPG)
Since I had less than perfect wood, I spent two hours sanding all my cut pieces. It was horrible, but very necessary.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0vOBBvgz9fu-_Uwh3EmmP4Eu70GJwWWHXLtdiSjNH_q-R0sr9OPhKtv1ipObzIyZjB_tXus-_iPgqCz9vkeptQjKvGDvPEn2vX71gUzPbt3Sxpj3FqWN2dlMt2JM3_J391FC3SKWSLbT/s400/DSC_7745+%28Large%29.JPG)
After the sanding, I stained everything. Since the grooves were only a 1/4" thick, staining would be a little difficult if I did it after I assembled all my pieces.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEY2WYXpeYiHjqrXhhPgcyVT43oOctccE7Ynq0uhuTQ2acNoS03jBJWC_qs-UdNJskNg0kOhn58iWIfbPvE9aOGArcIDTV59pJDIv62xcACCS1mllwfEJppaL96JyNrQMQUyb9H4KikEk/s400/DSC_7748+%28Large%29.JPG)
I am not sure whether I am in love with the seeing the contrast of the grain. I bought a semi-solid color rather than a solid color and I wonder if I would be happier with a solid color. For now, it will do.
And the results:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfN8MLDVirhR4vhqnYyGnMjYMnj-nadmVFay_NQp4hMYZjLsKOjmTj0S3M8FJoqalS6c3SqwqUwZfKdUHMP0N-WzLNS3l9ZK2ysniuK2jXOQJtp_901gCEoWS2XmcYW2heJWgq9VG0jHN/s400/DSC_7749+%28Large%29.JPG)
A table for what seems to be eight. I do love the clean lines of this piece.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkS_JQ3O5yWCQaVtV4Jtsba2PGjnWmE35bn3vtqOw2ZzmySxenEczxt6P_Mi4UN-OTJrjahxZs6BzuXwwmF8Wn6QTASl5tXh9HCP9C9DHXc7WvtRUNuOJ6JQOlGzIOPPRTQgYBwAkhj2g/s400/DSC_7751+%28Large%29.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqN32g0cOai4meLemwEUbzOVqMIz9iKmkMhrphPTxGg44ukFJYeuHZ8JSfbllegTJyA6z3U4e93MwntubcG8UCws_rTef6Kpd-Zm77QI8tPezJjRtbPJrAUMuVX7V11LEyJQ5mHKWeJ7tI/s400/DSC_7753+%28Large%29.JPG)
Now, all it needs are the benches and chairs. I can't wait to finish this project up. I'm also seeing maybe an outdoor rug, some bench cushions and a burlap table runner to make this the perfect dining area. What do you think?