My patio is very small and I don't have room for a lot of furniture but I do have a bench and table. The bench started out as a $29.99 purchase at our local Jacks store 15 years ago. It was unassembled and I had to put it together. One slat was badly warped so I took it back and they gave me a good one from another box. It is well made and has wrought iron ends and 12 sturdy wooden slats. Over the years I have used Floods Clear Wood Finish on it to protect it from sun and rain, and have had some sort of seat cushions so I don't get 'stripes' from sitting on it. I have made cushions and have purchased some. It is difficult to find ones made for a bench this size. I have had a variety of toss pillows on it, usually some I have found at Goodwill and covered to match the bench pad. You can us a regular cushion if you put it in a plastic garbage bag before putting the cover on it.
Last year I used my old blue and white stripe pad and some floral cushions. It was a comfy and homey look.
The little table is one I made myself with pressure treated lumber scraps left from when my son and I built the pergola. I had an old iron furnace grate that I painted shiny black.
This spring I noticed the bench was in need of some attention so I used gloss black Rustoleum on the ends (and the table top) and painted the slats a chocolate brown to match the trim on my town house. The bench weighs about 70 pounds and I didn't want to spray paint the ends on the patio and have the drift get on other things so I carried it to a tarp on the lawn. Yes, carried, and it is not easy to carry because of it's shape, but I made it. I guess the workouts have paid off. Of course then I had to carriy it back too. I have some new grass off the edge of my patio so I didn't want to drag it. You will notice that the last years picture shows a lack of grass there but I replanted this spring.
I am using a pale yellow floral cushion set that I bought several years ago at a Big Lots. It is showing the fading from the sun as do all the cushion sets after a summer outside. I have brown cushions on it right now that have to come in when it rains. I plan to use something else when I find some fabric that will look good with the bench pads.
I have looked at some benches like mine in home stores. The ones like mine are now 59.99 and the 29.99 ones, if you can fine them are poorly made with 4 slats for the seat and 4 for the back. I think I will keep the one I've got and take care of it.
What's old is looking new this year don't you think?
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Comments: 14
It looks fantastic! You did a great job :-) I think we often forget that we can make a big difference in the way items look with a little effort. No need to go out and buy a new item, just spruce up the one you have!
I agree Pamela and it isn't a new idea to do this. People have been doing it for centuries. I have an old quilt that is made with postage stamp size pieces. It was my grandmothrs. My mother told me they used every little scrap of fabric is those days thus the small pieces. And the used clothing no longer able to be worn by cutting pieces from the parts that were still good.
Wow, a great job!~
You did a very nice job.
Your old bench is so much better than the new ones that are poorly made. And with that new coat of paint it looks beautiful and new! I would love to find good old stuff to make new again. I just never seem to find the time to get stuff like this done, but when I can I absolutely LOVE doing it.
What a lovely place to relax and enjpy a pleasant evening or early morning! I think your bench turned out wonderful. I noticed that this year even the ones for $60 aren't as well made as they used to be.
I think it looks great! It's definitely an inspiration to spruce up some things from our house to give it a fresh look! :o)
sure looks like a great place to go out and enjoy the outdoors!
so, what time is tea? I'll stop and bring some pastries and we can sit and admire your work, It looks inviting and cozy, and I really do like that. Great job!!! and the table is totally awesome too, I love to find uses for things that are different from what they were intended for!!
Thanks Theresa. My dad didn't believe in throwing away scrap wood and I have made good use of the scrap from my pergola. I have several hanging shelves for potted plants as well as a couple of planter boxes and the frame for the table, all made for $0. I like the grate which is inset into the table frame and lifts out easily because the rain goes right through it.
nice bench thanks for sharing..
Good job. I have been wanting to make cushions for my swing, but it will be winter again before I even measure it. LOL! Just keeping the critters from the gardens and weeding is a full time job.
very pleasant atmosphere you created!!! :)
Looks very nice and relaxing.