Helpful How To: How We Measured for Our Breakfast Nook

Nevermind the fact that I still have not posted after pics of our breakfast nook.

Let's just forget that little detail, ok?

And focus on HOW we did it.... 

Or rather, how we MEASURED for it...

Mmm Kay?

Because someone actually asked me how we did it.

And practically begged me to post about it.

So, let's start out with a little diagram of our area....

BEFORE

First of all, this is totally NOT to scale.

But you get the idea....

The side closer to the kitchen's wall area is slightly longer than that of the wall at the back door.

And that's a window in the back.

Obviously, we measured each wall, since we wanted the seating to be semi-flush with the walls. 

This gave us our length.

Three different lengths mind you....

But it would be just too easy to take those 3 dimensions and start building wouldn't it?

Determining length was less than cut and dry (total capentry pun - LOVE it) considering that we would be hanging 3/4" plywood on the face of the seats. 

Also, did you know that 3/4" plywood is not really 3/4" thick? 

It's more like 10/16". 

So yeah.

We had to build our frames to allow for 10/16" worth of facing board on each end plus 1/2" thick trim.

So length is X and X = desired length - 10/16" - 1/2".

Got it.

NOW we have the lengths.

And now we have to decide on height and depth.

Sounds easy right?

You see, we had to figure out the depth we wanted the seats at. 

This is also known as how far the seat comes out from the wall for those of you who are especially fond of lesser technical terms.

And of course, at some point, we needed to figure out height.

Or how high the seat is from the floor.

Oh and the depth would eventually affect the length of the other benches, so choose carefully....
Who's still following?


Pretty sure I can see about 6 of you still scratching your heads....
It's ok, I'm getting there.

With such a high pressure decision on the line, we decided to get EXTREMELY technical.
 
Ready?

We pulled out one of our chairs and measured the height and depth.

And used those measurements.

Yeah.

Tech.ni.cal.

Mind-blowing stuff, right?

Well, technically, if you want the seat to mirror the height and depth of your chair, it still isn't ginger peachy keen.

Yeah.

Math is involved.  AGAIN.

Only with height, you have to subtract out 9/16" PLUS whatever thickness foam you decide to use.

So TECHNICALLY height = Y and Y = desired height - 10/16" - 1.5" (in our case)

And depth?

Um, duh....

Desired Depth = D and D = desired height - 10/16" - 1/2" trim.
Now, for those of you who are still following...

And wondering how in the heck depth effects length....

Here's a picture for you.

This one might help a little more....

 No?

Well, we couldn't determine the LENGTH of the middle bench until we build the 2 side boxes to the desired DEPTH.

AND THEN, we measured.

And built.

The good news?

Once you get to this point, all the hard work is done.

Unless, of course, you want facing boards....

And then the math gets ALL CRAZY again....

We started with the INSIDE facing pieces.

And had them cut to the length of the benches PLUS 10/16" to meet up with each edge piece, with the width being the same as the height of the frames.

Then the edge pieces were simply cut to match the dimensions of the end frames.

Finally, the middle face was cut to the height of the frame by the length of the frame MINUS 1 1/4". 

But at THIS point, it finally did get easy.

Because all that was left was priming, sanding, painting and caulking. 

Oh and upholstering....

Which I did not take any pictures of.

But since this post isn't about upholstering, I am totally in the clear...

Don't you love me?

Final result looks something like this.

So yeah.

How many of you are totally wanting to try your hand at this simple algebraic equation in disguise?

For the record, when I was in 7th grade and said I would never use math for anything worthwhile, I was totally wrong.

Totally....

And for the record, I am sharing this at Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading Party. 



As well as over at Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday.

Because the world should know that math is for more than balancing checkbooks.


Head on over and see what everyone else is doing this week!