Sunday, May 22, 2011

Bench Makeover

I wanted to share a bench makeover that I have been working on
for the last week.  I found this bench at a yard sale and it had such 
good bones I couldn't resist it.  Here is the before picture.


I'm trying to teach myself some new distressing techniques and it's
mostly trial and error.  I painted the bench black, but wanted several
colors to show through after distressing.  If anyone has any tips, I 
sure could use them.  It came out okay, but not totally as I had envisioned.  
I based the underneath colors on this chicken fabric I found at Hobby Lobby
and made pillows out of it.


Here is the bench in its finished form.


Here is a closeup (not a very good picture) or the distressing.  I
used red, gold and olive green underneath the black.


The most exciting part of this bench for me was teaching myself how to
make double welting.  I picked three other fabrics for the cushion of
this bench before settling on this nubby cranberry fabric and the
double welting enhances it tremendously.


I found these two chicken prints at the thrift store and bought them to go
along with the bench.  I used the same distressing technique on the frames.
Sorry for the shadow line going right through the pictures.




Here they are all together before going off to the store.


While at the flea market over the weekend, I found this lovely tray
with chickens on it and couldn't resist picking it up for the shop display.
It wasn't a price at which I could make a profit, but it went so
nicely with everything else, that I bought it anyways.  It was being 
sold by a local lady with a store in town and I try to support my fellow
entrepreneurs who are trying to make a living at what they love and are good at.


I love this tray with its subtle French postal markings in the background that
it could almost convince me to start decorating with chickens.
I find it more fun to take a vignette of things to the store than
just one piece of refinished furniture.  My next two projects are
wicker and following that will be a garden vignette.  I'm trying to
turn out at least one piece of furniture a week for the store and after
a fun weekend at the Springfield, Ohio Extravaganza flea market, I
have a garage full of furniture to work on.
~
Linking with
~
Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
~
Life Made Lovely for Life Made Lovely Mondays
~
The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Mondays
~
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
 

16 comments:

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love the bench and the chicken prints. Your bench turned out fantastic. The double welting is wonderful and makes all the difference. I totally adore that tray. It is fantastic. I would love that piece. Hugs, Marty

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

Love your bench, it looks GREAT! Your prints are perfect...love chicks & roosters!
Blessings,
Cindy

Anonymous said...

Cindy the bench is so unique and lovely!! I don't think I have seen one quite like it with it subtle curves.

I have no idea about distressing furniture but I bet Miss Mustard Seed has a tute or some ideas that you could use.

Any success finding any other furniture this weekend? No sales here though with the retreat it would have been hard getting to them!

Guess what I'm doing tomorrow? Helping a friend with their Alpaca sheering!! It sounds like it is a lot of hard work but will be fun to be part of this I think plus we will bring the truck for a load of alpaca poop for the garden! The stuff is liquid gold!!

bee blessed
mary

Vintage Restyled said...

The double welting is amazing! It makes the bench! Wish I had some painting tips, although I think it looks great!

Atticmag said...

The bench looks great. You didn't do too much or too little. I don't think you need any distressing directions at all. And the upholstery is perfect with the accessories. Enjoy it!

Unknown said...

i love roosters too!

abeachcottage said...

You did a great job with the distressing, the bench is lovely. How cute are those chicken prints :)

Gone Country said...

I love every piece! I have a chicken or rooster of some sort in every room in my house! Love them! Such great finds!

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

Good job on the bench and I have to say I LOVE the chicken tray! That's a great find!~Hugs, Patti

Charlene said...

WOW! What a difference!!!! And I too love the tray you showed in that last photo!

This is my first Show Off Your Cottage Monday & I hope to join in again soon! Charlene

Mary said...

I love the chickens and the way that you distressed the bench! Thank you for sharing it on Masterpiece Monday. Have a great week, Mary :O)

Debbie said...

The bench looks wonderful, and I love the chicken tray too.

Melanie said...

I love what you did with the bench - the distressing technique with the various colors underneath, turned out great. And I am totally crushing on that chicken tray!

Pam Kessler said...

There's the bench. That turned out cute! I am impressed with the double welting. It was great to get to talk to you today. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Stitchfork said...

Love the bench and I can hear the rooster across the street right now!
xo Cathy

Gail said...

Looks perfect, especially like the welting. Your first attempt at double welting, amazing.

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