These are pics of a 'Mission Mesquite' chair I just completed (oiled, not sprayed yet). It's based pretty much on the WOOD magazine dimensions, but I've made some cosmetic changes...put a curve in the upper part of the back leg, three back splats instead of four, and the splats are bent (contoured?) to fit my back...and hopefully the backs of other people. I've made (and sold) a couple of Mission rockers already with the curved back, but with splats that just follow the curve of the upper leg, not with the contour of this chair. I may put the contour on the next one, because it makes a real difference in the 'feel' of the sit. These splats are 3/8" thick (laminated and bent dry), and offer support, but give enough to kinda fit the back. It's comfortable to me just sitting on the plywood seat...hopefully the cushion will 'bottom out' 1/2" or so above that. Dimensions are 46-1/2 high at the back, seat (inside the frame) is 17-1/4 at the front, 15-3/4 at the back, and 16-3/4 deep. The lower side stretchers are through tenoned into the legs. These, the rear stretcher, and the two back supports are pegged with dowels and covered with 1/4" square ebony plugs (proud of the surface and chamfered a bit). All edges have a 1/8" or so chamfer except the back splats...I just knocked the edges off those.
My specific concerns are that the chair may be too tall...it looks awkward to me. The WOOD design has the back support as a separate assembly...two support pieces and the splats, and a rear seat frame piece. I decided to eliminate the rear seat frame piece, and just put the lower back support piece there instead. I did this because I had existing bending jigs for the splats, and I knew they 'sat' well. It seems to have worked out, but I'm not sure I like it. Opinions on these two items are especially welcome, but I'll listen to all comments. Fire away...