Montfort bench

We made this bench on Saturday. It's a nice exposed-wood loveseat bench with an industrial feel.

The seat of the bench is made from the same pallet as the glass-topped coffee table. It has great character and bestows the bench with its name.

The supports and armrests are basic 2x4 and 2x6 Lowe's lumber. Structurally sound with 10d nails. Very strong construction. I would confidently invite a McCrary twin to pop a squat.

The exposed wood knots and nails are a stark contrast to the sleek, clean, and unstable Ikea brand of furniture. The only alteration we made to the wood was a simple course-grain sanding to take away any sharp splinters that could poke and snag.

"Needle"

We figured it needed an accent, and maybe a little more comfort. We opted to make pillows out of burlap coffee bean sacks (kudos to Variety café and their awesome staff!). The pillows inside are very comfy and the burlap cover smells beautifully of earth with a hint of coffee. The designs on the sacks are pretty chic and trace back to Ethiopia.

The wood could be a little more comfortable, but the piece is great for dinner parties, as the armrests are a great height and sufficiently wide to avoid getting stuff knocked off. I find myself using them to put down my plate, glass, or desert, paying no mind to the table right beside me.

Can you imagine yourself sitting here, sipping a glass of chardonnay with your arm rested on its armrest on a sunny Sunday? I can't because I don't know you. But you can, and that's what counts.