Combine the classic lines and legendary comfort of the Muskoka chair into a two-seater settee and you have the perfect place to share a cold pitcher of lemonade and some engaging conversation on a warm summer day. The key to the design is the wedge-shaped table that positions the chairs at an ideal angle for chit-chat. Add a sun umbrella for shade and even the relentless rays of the midday sun won’t chase you indoors, away from your relaxing oasis.
I built my settee from cyprus because it’s durable, lightweight and exceptionally resistant to rot, mildew and insects. Other good choices for outdoor projects are cedar, redwood and mahogany. For assembly, I used a weatherproof Type II adhesive, galvanized carriage bolts and rustproof stainless-steel screws. I counterbored all the screw heads by 5/16" and concealed them with tapered wooden plugs after all the construction was done.
Download the complete project plans for the Muskoka settee here!
Download the templates for the Muskoka settee here!
Download the complete materials list for the Muskoka settee here!
What’s your angle?
The most challenging part of this project is the table that links the chairs together. There are a lot of complex angles involved in creating the tapered shape. The joint between the chairs and table also needs to be sturdy so it won’t collapse when the whole thing is picked up from the ends.
Get started by cutting the pieces needed to make the corner assemblies for the front table legs. When you rip these parts to width, you need to apply a 75º bevel to one edge by tilting your saw blade 15º from vertical. (Take a look at the “Front Table Corner Details” section of the plans for more information.) After preparing the parts, assemble corners with glue and a few counterbored stainless-steel screws to secure the joints.
Construction of the rear leg corners of the table requires a different approach because the sides extend above the level of the table to support the braces for the backrests. Start by sawing the backs of the rear legs. These have a 75º bevel, just like the corner pieces for the front. Next, prepare the rear leg sides that are located on the sides of the table. These parts require a few extra steps to complete because they have a complex shape. Begin by cutting out a 4"-wide x 311⁄4"-long blank for each support member. You should prepare four blanks in total because two more supports will be required later on for the outsides of the chair assemblies.
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