Do you know what I’ve wondered more than once in my life?
You’re dying to know, I can tell.
Here it is.
Why are Adirondack chairs so expensive?
Does anyone know?
It’s not like they are the most intricate chairs ever built, right?
These chairs from L.L. Bean are all-weather Adirondack chairs that come in a variety of colors. They are $299. EACH! Although, they are made in the USA.
These Acacia-wood Adirondack chairs from World Market are regularly priced at $129, but are on sale for $78. That’s much more affordable.
The chairs come highly reviewed, but the product info says you should cover the chairs or bring them inside during inclement weather. I can handle that for the winter, but every time there’s a summer thunderstorm? Not going to happen.
I am trying to convince Handy Husband that instead of buying 4 Adirondack chairs or as they are known in Canada, Muskoka chairs, we should build them!
He LOVES it when I have these ideas.
That’s probably because the WE in that sentence really means HIM.
I’ll contribute my elbow grease to the sanding and staining, but if we want these chairs to look more professional and less like they came out of a Dr. Seuss book, he should do the measuring and cutting. He’s a little more detail-oriented than I am.
Thank goodness.
Free plans abound online for Adirondack chairs, so this is what “we” are considering.
Option 1: This style from Popular Mechanics, which look just like the ones from L.L. Bean.
(image: Popular Mechanics)
Option 2: This style from Black and Decker. That’s a fun little design detail on the back, don’t you think?
(image: Black and Decker)
Option 3: This style designed by Ana White for Home Depot DIH Workshop, which uses 2x4s for the frame construction.
(image: Ana White)
Option 4: This style from Popular Woodworking.
If only their free plans also came with free help from these guys…
(image: Popular Woodworking)
Here’s a fun fact. The first Adirondack chairs were created in 1903 in the…wait for it…Adirondack Mountains by Thomas Lee. Lee never saw commercial success from his idea though because of some patent drama.
I don’t need ANY drama when it comes to home projects, so I want to pick a style and set of chair plans that’s doable 4 times over. I tend to get sentimentally attached to the things Handy Husband builds, so this also needs to be a style that I’m going to happy looking at and sitting on for at least forever 10 years.
No pressure or anything!
Now, the question. Which Adirondack chair option do you think “we” should build?
Here are some other projects “we” have built over the years. I’ll stop using quote marks now.
DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Farmhouse Bed – Update One Year Later
Twin Trundle Bed – Pottery Barn Knock Off
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