Bowled Over

Entertaining outside should include an inviting retreat for relaxing and great conversations. The furniture you choose plays a key role. This coffee table meets all the criteria of great furniture by being durable, versatile, functional and unique to you.

What You'll Need

• FlexRock (shown: "Oceanic")
• 3/4= plywood to size (pictured 24= x 36=)
• stainless steel bowls 4022-328 (shown) also available in a variety of sizes
• jig saw 1268-666
• alkyd primer 1831-441/851
• metal repair roll 2610-856
• contact cement 2030-402
• utility knife 1033-722
• ball pein hammer 1125-214
• awl 1011-185
• nails 2132-016
• Goof Off 4521-020 series
• 4 x 1-1/4= galvanized floor flange 3243-243
• 4 x 1-1/4= galvanized threaded pipe 3245-553, 17= to 29= depending on coffee or table height or PVC pipe (optional) 3262-150
• Beauti-Tone latex paint flat white 1835-394
• coarse steel wool 1665-086
• stencil 1680-924
• water pump 5076-810 (optional)

Step By Step

1. Cut plywood to size, mark and cut holes for bowl(s). Sand if necessary.
2. Prime with alkyd primer. Let dry 48 hours.
3. Glue plywood and metal together with contact cement following label instructions. Let dry.
4. Trim metal from hole using a utility knife. Tidy edges up around hole with hammer.
5. Nail edges with small nails. (Punch with the awl first to make it easy.)
6. Trace stencil design with marker. Punch entire design with awl and hammer. Remove marker with Goof Off.
7. Attach floor flanges to the bottom of the table.
8. Screw in legs. (Black PVC is an alternative to galvanized pipe. Glue four PVC caps to the bottom of table. Cut the four PVC legs to length and glue into the caps. Glue a cap to bottom of each leg).

Tip: If desired you may soften the sheen of the galvanized metal by brushing on diluted latex paint and removing with coarse steel wool in a straight dragging motion along the length and width of the table.

Life is just a bowl of opportunities, especially when it comes to all the different options you can put in the bowl(s):

• For a water feature, simply drill a small hole under the rim to slip through the cord of the water pump and place rocks to allow the water to bubble and babble. How Zen!
• Plant with drought resistant plants, like hen and chicks. Drill holes in bowl bottom and add a small amount of gravel and good soil.
• Simple is good. Fill the bowl with water and float candles and/or flowers.
• Fill with ice for a party waiting to happen!

Note: Create the table to suit your design and needs, building it as big or as small as you wish, with as many bowls as you need. Although we used tin for the surface facing, you could also use Tech Stone Granite, exterior stucco, cedar fencing even Beauti-Tone paint.