X Arbor with Bench

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 I am stoked to share my X Arbor with Bench today!!

It just makes me smile!  I have always loved arbors so it kind of makes me giddy that I finally built one!
And I also love X patterns, you know my floating night stands and rustic industrial kid chairs, so naturally I had to use it in my plan. :)  I am so happy I did!

I am so thrilled to team up with Build Something to bring you the plans, they have an awesome site for free building plans and you can even upload your own.  It is such great community!
I started by cutting all my wood, drilling pocket holes and using my jigsaw for the rafter boards.  I love seeing the wood all stacked ready for building.
I stared by building sides.  I marked where the rails needed to be and then attached them to the legs.
I cut the angles on my x pieces and then drilled a pocket hole in each end for attaching it to the side.  I love my Kreg K5 Pocket-Hole Jig (affiliate link) and how you can drill pocket holes at such steep angles.
Here are my x pieces ready to be put into the sides.
First I attached the long x pieces with glue and 2 1/2'' screws.
Once I added the long x pieces I could add the short x pieces.  I started with the bottom ones...
And then added the top!
Looking good!  I did this for both sides.
Once I had the sides ready to go I attached them together with the top support boards and the seat aprons.
I added the seat supports and gave them a little love tap with my mallet to get them in. :)  Then I drilled in the pocket hole screws.
I added the seat backs with my pocket hole screws and made sure they were level.  I actually decided to add these at the last minute, so they may not be the most comfortable because they are straight, but I am glad I added them anyway!
I used my clamps to help hold up my lower rafter (top left) and then used some 2'' nails to hold it in place.  That way when I added my screws it was nice and secure.  For the top rafters I marked 3'' from each and marked on the lower rafter where they needed to be placed.  Then I clamped them and screwed them on.
I used my Home Right paint sprayer to give it a couple coats of paint.  I originally planned to stain it, but when the stain I used looked WAY too orange, I decided that white was defiantly the better option. :)
It looks so cute and I can't wait to put some plants on both sides!  My kids have really been enjoying it too...
I mean how cute is this?!  My three youngest, love them!
So are you ready to build your own?  Head on over to Build Something for the free plans!

And if you build it, please tag me with #mylove2create on social media so I can feature you, I love to see your builds!

Thanks for reading!

Hugs,
Mindi

I will be linking to these parties and Savvy Southern Style, Bloom Designs