In The Van is a new series about the deliveries we do ourselves.
The series exists for a plain reason. We are a small team, so there is a lot of human connection in what we do. We could automate more of it, but every time we automate a touchpoint we lose the chance to hear something useful. Getting out in the van means we meet the people buying from us and we see our pieces in real places, which is where we learn the most.
This is one of the first, and it started with a mistake.
Why we drove it up
We got a customer's first experience with Seek & Ramble wrong. That is not a nice sentence to write on our own blog, but it is the true one, and it is the reason the van went out.
The fastest way to make it right was to just fix it. So we did. We loaded the Parco Outdoor 7 Piece Dining Set in Olive into the van and took it to their winery in the Hunter Valley, unloaded it, built it, and left it standing at the end of the day.
There was a second reason, and we may as well admit it. We had wanted to shoot Parco somewhere that was not a studio for a long time. A winery in the Hunter Valley, on gravel, under trees, is a better test of an Olive finish than anything we could set up indoors. The delivery gave us the excuse.
The drive
Saturday morning, early. Coffee first, then the van loaded, then good music on and out of Sydney before the traffic worked out what was happening. Two hours north and we were there.
Two hours is not a heroic distance. It is a morning, and one we would rather spend driving than writing apologies over email.
Part 1: the drive and the arrival.
The unload and the build
We opened the cartons on the gravel under the trees.
The six chairs came out fully assembled and properly packed. That is worth saying, because it is the part people worry about with a seven piece set. Six chairs to build on site would have turned a short job into an afternoon. Instead, that was the chairs done.
The table is flat packed with minimal assembly. The steel frame attaches to the slatted top with the supplied fittings, and two people had it together in a few minutes. Two people is the honest number. A 180cm table top is not a one person carry.
Part 2: unloading, unboxing and the build.
The finished set
The thing we learned from the day was about the Olive.
In dappled light, the sort you get under trees, the Olive finish reads as a soft sage green. In open shade it goes deeper and greyer. Both of those are the same paint. If you have only seen it on a product page, you have seen one of its moods. Against gravel, sandstone, timber and greenery it sits well either way.
The set seats six, three a side. We finished, took some photos, took some video, and had a glass of wine at the table. Job done.
Part 3: the finished set under the trees.
Questions people ask about this set
Do Parco outdoor chairs need assembly?
No. The six Parco Outdoor Dining Chairs arrive fully assembled in their cartons. You unpack them and use them. They also stack, so they can be stored in a smaller footprint over winter or moved out of the way when a space needs clearing.
Does the Parco outdoor dining table need assembly?
Yes, but only a little. The Parco Outdoor 180cm Dining Table is flat packed. The steel frame attaches to the slatted top with the fittings supplied in the box. Two people can do it on site in a few minutes. We would not attempt it alone, because the top is not a one person lift.
How many people does the Parco dining set seat?
Six. The set is one Parco Outdoor 180cm Dining Table and six Parco Outdoor Dining Chairs, seated three a side on the 180cm length.
What does olive powder-coated steel look like outdoors?
It changes with the light. In dappled light the Olive finish reads as a soft sage green. In open shade it goes deeper and greyer. It sits well against gravel, sandstone, timber and greenery, which is why it suits courtyards, cellar doors and gardens more than it suits a white studio.
Is powder-coated steel outdoor furniture good for Australian weather?
Parco is triple powder-coated steel, built for Australian outdoor conditions including courtyards, cellar doors, cafe terraces, alfresco dining areas and gravel gardens. The chairs stack, so they can be moved under cover or stored when they are not in use.
Does Parco come in other colours?
Yes. The set is available in Olive and in Sand. Optional all-weather boucle cushions are sold separately if you want to soften the seats.
Specifications
- Set: Parco Outdoor 7 Piece Dining Set, one Parco Outdoor 180cm Dining Table and six Parco Outdoor Dining Chairs
- Material: triple powder-coated steel
- Finish: Olive, also available in Sand
- Seats: six
- Chairs: arrive fully assembled, stack for storage
- Table: flat packed, minimal assembly, steel frame attaches to the slatted top with supplied fittings, two people, a few minutes on site
- Cushions: optional all-weather boucle, sold separately
- Suited to: courtyards, patios, verandahs, cafe terraces, alfresco dining areas
Follow the series
Every time we deliver and set up for a customer ourselves, it goes in the van and it goes in the series. The full playlist is at youtube.com/@seekandramble under In The Van.
The set from this trip is the Parco Outdoor 7 Piece Dining Set in Olive. There is more in the full Parco Outdoor range, and the rest of our tables and chairs for outside sit in outdoor dining furniture.
If you would rather judge the Olive in person, come and see it at the studio in Kingsgrove.
Seek & Ramble is a Sydney furniture brand. Visit the studio in Kingsgrove or shop online at seekandramble.com with Australia-wide delivery.
