One of my favorite thrift store furniture transformations of all time is this bench made from a pair of broken lyre-back chairs.
And it was not my idea, nor did I do any work designing it or putting it together. No, my contributions were decorative – paint and covering the bench top (one day I may finish a tie-on cushion for it…sigh).
This was Brian’s baby from start to finish, one he’s very proud of. And well he should be – his idea got us featured on Apartment Therapy (yeah)!
And though it’s not that old, how could I do a series on transforming old things and not mention it? Here’s the how-to post for when you find your own broken chairs to turn into a bench.
You know all that fabric with French writings and images? Yeah, I was too cheap to buy the yard I needed to cover this cute French bench (look at those legs!) because I felt I spent too much for it at a thrift store – $40. Ouch. So I made script fabric myself with drop cloth and a sharpie to move this bench from the 1970′s into the new century.
I actually didn’t think it would turn out, but the more I DIY, the more I find that you just gotta try everything you think of ’cause you never know when it will be your best idea to date.
I don’t know if it qualifies as my best idea, but at least I can say it was my idea…and I do love it – even though it didn’t get featured on Apartment Therapy (boo).
This is day 20 in our series (you can click on the button to see all the posts in the category). If you’re wondering what’s up, you can read the introduction to 31 Days of Thrift Store Transformations here.
I believe a cottage can be anywhere or anything (condo, ranch, farmhouse) as long as you have a "cottage mentality" which puts people above things, celebrates imperfections, embraces simplicity, and finds joy in everyday life. Thanks for joining me!
The two chair bench is on my ‘to do’ list. I am so into benches lately. I have missed a good portion of your series so I need to go back and view the past posts. Life is too crazy at the moment. Did you get those sweet peas I sent last year to bloom for you?? I hope so. Mine did excellent again this year and I saved more seeds to put around my yard, that is a particularly hardy color and oh so fragrant.
Oh, Pamela, I’m so glad you reminded me of that! Yes – thank you they were a lovely addition to our cutting garden and when we got to enjoy those sweet peas inside.
I decorate with words and sayings so your script fabric that you made yourself really spoke to me. It was just a bonus to learn how chair backs could be made into a bench. I love these ideas. It really inspires me to look around with new eyes to see what I could transform.
Thanks, Tracy! How fun to continue your words and saying with a bench.
Love it!