Romancing the Woods

Blog and Photo Updates

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December 19, 2014
Windham Chairs & Table Set
Windham Chairs, Ottomans and Table
Windham Chairs, Ottomans and Table Windham Chairs, Ottomans and Table
Windham Chairs, Ottomans and Table Windham Chairs, Ottomans and Table
  A recently completed chair, ottoman and table set for a client on Windham Mountain. The chairs and ottomans were built using bark-on eastern red cedar trees and the table has an eastern red cedar top with a mountain laurel base.
see more chairs and tables
December 7, 2014
Martin Dining Pavilion
Martin Pavilion
Martin Pavilion Martin Pavilion
Martin Pavilion Martin Pavilion
Martin Pavilion Martin Pavilion
Martin Pavilion
Martin Pavilion Martin Pavilion
  This was a project that we completed back in September. The majority of the structure was built at our workshop in Saugerties, NY then dismantled to be installed atop concrete pier footings at a private home in Connecticut. We fastened the posts to the footings using threaded rods by drilling vertically through the bottoms of the posts then met the hole with a larger horizontal hole about a foot up for the nut. All holes were plugged with bark-on cedar plugs leaving no visible hardware. After our job was complete a stone patio was placed underneath hiding the piers and making for a very beautiful and comfortable dining pavilion. Vines will be planted at the corners to give the structure a living roof.
see more pavilions see more pergolas
October 26, 2014
Williams Dock & Shelter
Williams Dock Shelter
Williams Dock Shelter Williams Dock Shelter
Williams Dock Shelter Williams Dock Shelter
  This was a project that has been in the works for some time. The gazebo was completed in the beginning of March 2014 with the dock having to wait due to muddy conditions until only recently. It was a new experience building a dock like this and over 6' of water at the end made it a challenge. Only two of us put this together with the help of a small rowboat and a large sledgehammer. We used western cedar boards for the dock frame and deck and rough sawn locust 5x5's for the support posts. The gazebo was built using bark-on eastern red cedar trees. All of the dock materials were cut to size at our shop and fully sealed on all sides with a water sealer. The end grains were then coated with a wax sealer to prevent moisture absorption and checking. We fastened the dock to the shore by attaching it to two footings using threaded rods and bolts. The gazebo which has been a gorgeous display in the parking lot of our shop had to be fully dismantled and carried out to the end of the dock. It all went back together rather smoothly.
see more gazebos
August 3, 2014
Old Chatham Fencing
Old Chatham Fencing
Old Chatham Fencing Old Chatham Fencing
Old Chatham Fencing Old Chatham Fencing
  A recently completed project with a simple and popular design inspired by fencing in Central Park, NYC. Built entirely at our shop then disassembled to be installed on site in Old Chatham, NY.
see more fencing and railings
June 19, 2014
Country Living Fair
Country Living Fair 2014
Country Living Fair 2014 Country Living Fair 2014
Country Living Fair 2014 Country Living Fair 2014
Country Living Fair 2014 Country Living Fair 2014
Country Living Fair 2014
  We recently had the opportunity to showcase some of our work at the Country Living Fair at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY. We were given a great location sharing space with the Country Living Store at the top floor of the Horticulture Building. Our space acted as both a place to show what Romancing the Woods can provide as well as being a comfortable place to rest your feet for awhile. We had many benches to sit on and they seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed. The doghouse was the best in show with almost everyone commenting on it as they walked by. Many even stopped to take a picture with it. I think that we will create some smaller ones for next year. Overall it was a very successful weekend and we met a lot of friendly people. We are very excited to do it again in 2015.
May 9, 2014
Maverick Benches
Maverick Bench Maverick Bench
Maverick Bench Maverick Bench
Maverick Bench Maverick Bench
Maverick Bench Maverick Bench
Maverick Bench
  Here's a few images of a set of benches we recently completed for a client in Cold Spring, NY. They are 5' benches in our 'Maverick' design style with a few unique details. For the bench seats we cut our own boards leaving the wane on both sides. Our usual technique involves using half-round logs, either bark side up or dadoed over the frame with the bark-side down. We then attached the legs, back rails and arms by chiseling a flat surface the shape of the log, then pulling them in with 3/8 x 6" galvanized lag bolts. The lags are countersunk and concealed with bark-on cedar plugs. Our decorative elements are cut to fit then fastened using countersunk ceramic coated screws.
see more benches
April 5, 2014
Hofstra University Arena Garden
Hofstra Gazebo Roof Hofstra Gazebo Bridge
Hofstra Gazebo & Bridge Hofstra Gazebo & Bridge
Hofstra Gazebo & Bridge
  We finally finished the gazebo and bridge project for Hofstra University's Arena Garden. We started the project before the winter and have been waiting for the weather to cooperate so we could install it. The gazebo sits in a small manmade pond which features a waterfall and some beautiful plant life. I was told that students have been known to keep fish in the pond as well. The installation was difficult but after many hours of advanced problem solving we finally got it to fit. There were many rocks and boulders that we had to move in order to squeeze it in. All our hard work paid off because it turned out to be a beautiful piece.
see more bridges see more gazebos
March 27, 2014
Gazebo Roof Construction
Gazebo Roof Construction Gazebo Roof Construction
Gazebo Roof Construction Gazebo Roof Construction
Gazebo Roof Construction Gazebo Roof Construction
Gazebo Roof Construction Gazebo Roof Construction
  Here are a few images showing the progression of a hexagonal gazebo roof with a decorative peak. This roof will be placed atop an 8' diameter gazebo with cantilevered benches that will be placed within a small pond at the Hofstra University Arena Garden. The roof is built using 100% eastern red cedar trees and weighs approximately 1500 lbs. For shipping we will have to remove the peak as well as two of the sides in order to fit within the 8'-6" width limit.
March 14, 2014
Williams Gazebo
Gazebo Stacking Gazebo Stacking
Gazebo Stacking Gazebo Stacking
Gazebo Stacking Gazebo Stacking
  In order for us to place the roof on our gazebo we require the help of Mike Mattera's Trucking & Crane Service. Mike has been helping us from the beginning and we consider him part of the Romancing the Woods family. The base and the roof both weigh approximately 1500 lbs each so doing this without him would be quite difficult. We like to set up our gazebos entirely at our shop before delivering them to their final resting place. This assures us that we won't have any surprises when we arrive for installation.
March 8, 2014
Conservancy Bench
Bench Progression
Bench Progression Bench Progression
Bench Progression
  The above images show the progression of a recently completed 5' mountain laurel bench for the Columbia Land Conservancy in East Chatham, NY. The seat plank is made from two rough sawn 2"x12" black locust boards. We left the seat as natural as possible with only a slight bevel on the edges and a very light sanding. The joints are fastened using a combination of timberlok and ceramic coated screws.
February 27, 2014
Gazebo Roof Progression
Gazebo Roof Progression Gazebo Roof Progression
Gazebo Roof Progression Gazebo Roof Progression
Gazebo Roof Progression
  The above images show the progression of a small gazebo roof. This particular gazebo is 4'-6" square and has two cantilevered benches. Its final resting place will be at the edge of a 24' dock in Woodstock, NY. The roof frame is built on the structure then removed to be finished with eastern red cedar half-round logs. All logs are split and surfaced at our shop then fastened to the frame using ceramic coated screws. We will have to completely take this roof apart in order to install it on the dock. More images of the installation will come when the weather breaks. Hopefully soon.
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    This page is a place to show the yearly highlights of the work of Rob Davis and Romancing the Woods. If you would like to keep more up to date on what's going on be sure to follow us on our social media pages. We are on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. For information on how to purchase a Romancing the Woods structure please visit our contact page. Rob Davis and Romancing the Woods has been building quality furniture and structures since 1999.
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