Throwback to the '60S

Make a stylish retro couch upholstered with cheerful outdoor fabric for your stoep.

- Deon de Goede and Shelly Bergh

For the seat, you will need

SHOPPING LIST

• 18mm plywood, cut to: one 1 800 X 660mm piece (seat) one 1 800 x 390mm piece, with one long edge cut at 13° (backrest) four 640 x 470mm pieces (armrest sides)

•22 x 69mm planed pine, cut to: two 1 800mm lengths (seat frame, front and back) two 618mm lengths (seat frame, sides) two 680mm lengths, both ends cut at 45° (armrests, top) four 490mm lengths, one end cut at 45° (armrests, front and back) one 1 840mm length, both ends cut at 45° (top of backrest) two 410mm lengths, one end cut at 45° (sides of backrest)

• 22 x 95mm planed pine, cut to: two 660mm lengths (seat sides) one 1840mm length (front of seat) 69 x 69mm planed pine, cut to four 350mm lengths (legs) one packet 6mm x 50mm chipboard screws

• one packet 8mm x 40mm chipboard screws

• Alcolin Fast Set Glue

• 150-grit sandpaper wood filler

TOOLS

• cordless drill and 3mm drill bit

• pencil tape measure saw

• try square

• wood clamps

• 150-grit sandpaper

PROJECT NOTE

Look out for retro legs at your local second-hand store or flea market then you can skip step 2.

PROJECT GUIDE FOR SEAT

Hard labour 5/10

Skill level 4/10

Time needed 1 to 2 hours

Do it yourself for + R2 500: wood R2 400, screws R40, glue R40, sandpaper R20 (paint excluded)

Make the seat...

1 Screw the two 1 800mm and two 618mm sides of the seat frame to the long and short sides of the seat.