Author: webhank

We were amazed at the green hues in this amazing wood. Robert made this console table from a living edge slab of rare wood. Any guesses what it is? Many of us have eaten the nuts from this tree but not many have seen the wood in person. It’s pistachio! That makes the green coloring a little more explainable, but not all pistachio wood is this colored. This is a truly amazing specimen.

Live edge wood is always unique but even more so in this case. Not many folks have seen pistachio wood or even a pistachio tree so keeping the live edges really tells the story of this wood. It is fun to picture the size of the tree it must have come from. The dark coloring of remaining bark perfectly blends into the Twist hairpin legs. Choosing the style of hairpin legs can really change the overall image of the table. The taller height required of console tables necessitates a tall set of hairpin legs. This additional height allows for the metal legs to really show what they’re made of and be an artistic part of the furniture. We think the dark set of Twist hairpin legs is perfect on this table. We’re glad Robert is happy with them too:

Your outstanding legs compliment an equally outstanding piece of pistachio. Thank you so much for your creative and solid craftsmanship and outstanding service.

Thanks for sharing, Robert. We’re glad you had the opportunity to work with this amazing live edge slab wood. Excellent finished product!

In part one of our feature on Todd’s live edge furniture, we talked about styles of hairpin table legs. Today we wanted to share how Todd used hairpin legs and metal bench legs to make a matching (but not identical) set of DIY furniture.

Though there are many similarities between the pieces its striking how different the two pieces look simply by choosing different metal leg styles. Both hairpin legs and the bench legs are beautiful, functional, and durable. But they have totally different looks. The solid construction of the flat bar bench legs imparts a solid and sturdy look to the bench as a whole. The hairpin legs are just as durable as the bench legs, but we find that their thin construction doesn’t draw the eye to the legs much, meaning the tabletop is the star of the piece. What a perfect use on a small bench by the front door. The natural shape of the live edge slab looks perfect against the stone siding on this house. All in all, an excellent addition to this home!

The choice of where to place furniture in the house can be a fun one! Some folks like similar hairpin leg furniture all in the same room. For example, we’ve seen matching end tables and a coffee table all in the living room. Hairpin leg furniture throughout the house is another great option. The metal leg furniture right outside the home will look great with the second piece inside the house. What a great way to distribute the natural look of wood throughout the house.

Thanks for sharing Todd!

Todd made these amazing console tables, and although it probably wasn’t his intention, it’s a great example of how different hairpin table legs can change the look of a table. Both tables are made with live edge slab wood and hairpin table legs. The two hairpin leg styles Todd chose are the twist hairpin legs and the “Just the Tip” hairpin legs. Each style is a modern furniture leg made of solid steel rod, but the way these rods are shaped gives each it’s completely different look.

We’re often asked what differences there are between hairpin leg styles. Most obvious is the appearance. Different styles work best for different tabletops, areas of the house, and most importantly, preference. Preference is usually the deciding factor in your finished product. A few styles of metal legs offer additional weight support if that is a deciding factor in your project. Bench legs, 3 rod hairpin legs, and Just the Tip hairpin legs offer the most weight support. The Just the Tip hairpin legs seems more stable in appearance and hints at the claw foot style some of us grew up with. Though the twist hairpin leg can hold up a fair amount of weight itself, it gives a lighter more playful look to the table.

Think about what you want your final product to look like and that will help give you an idea as to what the best style of hairpin table legs will be for your project. Now you have some side-by-side images illustrate their differences. For some folks it is helpful to get an idea of how the final project will look before deciding on a hairpin leg style. When you’re finished, send us a picture of what you came up with, we’d love to see!

Summer is a great time for making that piece of DIY furniture you’ve been thinking about. The days are longer and the weather is warmer – great times to work in the garage with the door open or to be out in the yard; and nothing makes better custom furniture than metal hairpin legs.

Our customers have built hairpin leg furniture using hundred-year- old barn boards and fallen tree trunks from their own front yard – anything goes. DIY furniture resources abound, and there have never been more DIY’ers talking about turning pallets into beautiful creations, reclaiming wood, and upcycling various building materials than there are today. Hairpin legs are the perfect way to turn your earth-friendly creations into durable stylish furniture.

The hairpin leg style originated at the turn of the century and the clean, modern look is still relevant to this day. If you’re looking for a more angular feel, our square bar hairpin legs and our bench legs might be the right choice. These solid or tube steel (your choice) legs are designed to hold the weight demands of a bench, but don’t let the name hold you back – bench legs make great tables and desks as well.

Making a piece of furniture yourself gives you the ability to tailor the piece to your exact needs. Plus, it will make a great conversation piece. Perhaps you know exactly what your space needs or maybe you’re still planning out the details. But no matter what you decide, your custom hairpin leg furniture will offer you much utility and pleasure for years to come!