Handsome Planter-Bench: DIY Woodworking Project

Alternating lumber thicknesses give this planter-bench a distinctive linear rhythm. Interlocked planters and bench seat repeat strong horizontal lines. Butted joints with countersunk copper-pipe end caps masking long deck screws hint at easy construction. Dimensions based on standard 2x4 (3½ inches wide, 1½ inches thick). Thinner strips from rough-sawn 1x8s ripped to 1½-inch thickness (or 1x2s). Planters’ inner shells from ¾-inch exterior plywood (one sheet makes both). Planter-bench: 3½ ft high, 12 ft long, 3 ft wide.

TOOLS & MATERIALS: Circular saw, electric drill, 1-inch paddle bit, sander, hammer, nail set, tape measure, combination square. Table saw optional. Materials: “Heart B” redwood decking and rough-sawn fence boards, linseed oil-based deck stain. Substitute cedar, mahogany, pressure-treated lumber; semitransparent or solid stains. Cost ~$300.

Plans available: send $1 + SASE to Planter Bench, Sunset Magazine, 80 Willow Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025, or download PDF (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).