Simplicity Is Key To This Garden Furniture

Easy elegance, comfort and durability are hallmarks of traditional English garden furniture. Its classic lines and unassuming appearance recall big houses in the country, wide green lawns, well-tended gardens and warm weather.

Fortunately, it isn’t necessary to have a country house to enjoy the benefits of this type of furniture. And it isn’t necessary to be an expert woodworker to build it. The key to English garden furniture lies in its simplicity of construction.

Inexpensive to make, the do-it-yourself set shown here is built from standard Douglas fir, although mahogany, oak, redwood or teak may be substituted. The four pieces require mostly straight cuts, a few curved cuts traced from full-size patterns and basic construction techniques. The pieces may be painted, stained or simply left natural and sealed.

The largest piece, the bench, measures about 60 inches long by 35 inches tall by 25 inches deep.

The four plans of the English Garden Set, No. C111, are $19.95. Each plan includes step-by-step instructions with photos, full-size traceable patterns, an exploded diagram and a shopping list and cutting schedule. Separately, plans for the English Garden Bench (No. 855) and Chair (No. 856) are $7.95 each; the Table (No. 857) is $6.95, and the End Table (No. 858) is $5.95.

In addition, a catalog picturing hundreds of other do-it-yourself projects, including many outdoor furniture projects, is available for $3.95. Prices include postage and handling (for first-class mail, add $1 per item up to $3 maximum).

MEMO: To order by mail, clip this article and send it with a check or money order to U-Bild Features, c/o The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2383, Van Nuys, CA 91409-2383. To order by credit card, call (800) 828-2453. Please specify plan numbers.