3-tier wood stands offer variety of uses

With the welcome arrival of late-summer weather, the sunshine is beckoning us outdoors to soak up its balmy rays. We're already chock-full of ideas for how we'd like to spend the next couple of months outside. And a crop of wood pedestal stands satisfies our craving for both alfresco entertaining and getting our green thumbs a little bit dirty.

There's a lot to adore about these handsome, tired wooden stands. But what really tugs at our design heartstrings is that these campy, sophisticated objects have versatility written all over them (think mini herb garden or a Sunday brunch centerpiece piled high with pastries and draping bunches of grapes).

For $114, the wonderfully worn 3-Tier Round Display from Mothology (mothology.com) is constructed from recycled wood. The footed piece feels grand with its generously sized shelves that progress from 20 to 28 inches. The ornate spindle through the center flatters the contour of the round tiers.

The Wooden Garden 3-Tier Stand, $89, from Pottery Barn (potterybarn.com) is carved from poplar wood. It has three hexagon-shaped shelves that range in size from 12 to 21 inches in diameter. A carved spindle topped with a handy metal loop effortlessly anchors the shelves.

Piled with growing greens or good things to eat, these wooden stands will flatter whatever occupies their shelves.

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This article appeared on page L - 5 of the San Francisco Chronicle