Here in New England, Adirondack chairs have become synonymous with relaxation and a laid-back lifestyle. Plymouth Carpenter Cory Caranci has carved out a unique niche in the outdoor furniture market by handcrafting supersized Adirondack chairs for local businesses.
The owner of Caranci Construction decided to try his hand at building larger-than-life Adirondack chairs two years ago, after seeing a similar product on display at Hingham’s Derby Street Shops. Fast forward to today and Caranci now has a flourishing side business.
The Giant Adirondack Chairs Instagram feed features dozens of photographs of custom chair projects built by Caranci for local businesses. With most of his chairs measuring 10 feet tall and 4.5 feet wide, these supersized seats make a big impression on passersby and provide a fun photo op. In fact, Caranci now has social media followers who find enjoyment traveling the South Shore and Cape Cod, seeking out Giant Adirondack Chairs so they can lounge and snap photos.
In Plymouth, for example, one monumental blue Adirondack chair graces Shirley Square, nestled snugly at the intersection of Main and North Street. There’s also a vibrant yellow chair that can be spotted at the Village Landing Marketplace, and another blue chair emblazoned with a hand painted logo for Cafe Nicole, which offers fantastic views of Plymouth Harbor.
Each chair weighs approximately 500 pounds and is built on site using wide planks of wood. Caranci can customize each chair with different paint colors and business logos. His handiwork is now showcased locally outside South Shore businesses like The Well in Norwell and Dairy Twist in Pembroke. Earlier this summer he traveled all the way to Provincetown to construct a vibrant rainbow chair for the Surfside Hotel & Suites in Provincetown.
“It’s very different from building a deck in someone’s backyard, which few people get to see,” says Caranci. “It’s rewarding seeing people’s faces when they realize how big the chairs really are.” He’s also happy that Giant Adirondack Chairs are bringing a little bit of joy to the South Shore community.