On Monday, October 1, 2018 at 7:42:52 AM UTC-4, Sonny wrote:
On Sunday, September 30, 2018 at 8:27:57 PM UTC-5, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Sunday, September 30, 2018 at 9:07:20 PM UTC-4, Sonny wrote:
On Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 11:06:55 AM UTC-5, DerbyDad03 wrote:

Am I nuts to be wondering if ...

No, you're not nuts, but your thinking is in the wrong direction.

Maybe with 2-3 adults it will flex on it's own even if fully glued and
bolted, but what if only one person is sitting on it?

Screw that idea. That ain't reality.

Am I, as usual, overthinking a simple project?

Yes. Don't alter the basic design of the bench in your pic, but improvise, here and there, and make yours better, than what's in that pic. The basic form/design will remain the same, but tweak some elements of the design, for a different purpose than sitting flat on the floor. Don't worry about it sitting flat on the floor.

Your daughter and her friends will be aware of the floor or furniture issue, and they don't care about that. Those issues can't be changed. Only some unknown SOB will walk in to someone's home and complain about someone's furniture or floor. In turn, your daughter should tell them to sit on the GD floor... or leave!

Okay, your daughter wants that bench! Really? Might she want it better, but not realize it. *I don't know, but might she want something very similar to it. You've shown us, before, that she has a distinct taste for rustic furniture, so she just might want something exactly like that, but I'm suspecting a slight improvement would be more desirable. Soooo.....

I'll go out on a limb with some bold(?) suggestions....
I just got back from a week's vacation (it's 8 PM, now, a little late in the evening), so I need a little more time for explanations and to gather some pics. I have several similar benches that I think would help with your decision.... and with some design element alterations to your linked bench. I think your daughter may like some of these altered design elements, while keeping in mind she likes (and wants to maintain?) the basic plain-Jane look and basic design of the bench.

Personally, I can see the bench in that link has an issue, or two, that are not desirable.... especially for a dining table bench.

I'll post, again, tomorrow.

Sonny

Thanks.

It might help to know that the bench is going to be used with this table,
but *not* with these chairs.

https://i.imgur.com/4cXunvr.jpg

I had forgotten about that table, but I did have a table in mind. I had vaguely recalled a previous table, I think one she had in a previous apartment (with a roommate?).... and, I think, THAT half-ownership was sold to the roommate? I couldn't recall, for sure, if it was sold or she kept it. All in all, I had a rustic table in mind, to mate with the bench. Your linked bench didn't fit my mind's table scenario. The linked bench is too "picnic table-like. The dining bench, I'm thinking, needs a little softer touch, a little more feminine touch.... and the dainty nicely painted chairs show that softer touch, I had in mind. The linked bench needs a softer touch, to some design elements.

The chairs that she just refinished are these:

https://i.imgur.com/0IgzzQW.jpg

Her plan is to paint the bench, probably to match the green chairs (?) but
painted in any case.

A possible option, along with painting the chairs, is to paint the bench a two tone color. Her table has a painted base, whereas the aged top is clear coated. The bench base could be painted and the seat clear coated.

Rather than stain the bench seat top (for an aged look), it could be faux weathered (faux aging), then clear coated. To faux weather the top, dissolve some steel wool in vinegar, then "paint" that solution onto the seat. It will faux weather the wood, nicely, possibly better matching with the aged dining table's top. About the only other way to, somewhat, "age" a piece is to fume it.

*It may be "too much"(?), to have both the table and bench be two toned, that way. That may be a too conflicting/busy of a decor option. Those girls have better decor sense, than I do, so this two toned decor option may not suit her ideas, may not be suitable for the room's decor. Just thought I'd mention it. I often get mind-wondering ideas, like this, exploring different options. Tweaking some design elements may be agreeable to her, but sometimes I get over zealous with ideas.

Sonny

Thanks for all that. I think. ;-)

Yesterday you mentioned some design issues with that bench and that you might
have some "better" ideas. Are those ideas still forthcoming? How do I make
that bench more "feminine"?

BTW...the earlier thread about that table questioned whether or not it was
worth $400. In the end, my daughter bought it from her roommate for $325.
She didn't buy the chairs and that's how we got to where we are now.

Finally, if you get a chance, take a look at my Wendell Castle post from the
other day. When the show airs in your area, you should watch it. The whole
concept of furniture design (and manufacture) ties these 2 threads together
nicely.