A New Look for an Old Bench

I love how adding paint to a piece of furniture can give it a whole new look.  I did just that recently to a bench that I have had for years.  The plain white bench was built by one of my students back in my teaching days.  He needed a project for his woodworking class, and I drew up plans for this little bench.  I bought the wood, he built the bench, and he passed the class.  We were both happy.

 

My use of the bench is somewhat unconventional.  It sits in the corner of our mudroom and holds a lamp.

 

Since I wanted the bench to match the television armoire turned shoe cabinet, I used Annie Sloan’s chalk paint in Paris Grey.  After giving it two coats and letting it dry, I sanded it, distressed it with a hammer, and then applied wax.  I just use Johnson’s paste wax instead of the Annie Sloan brand.  It works just fine.

 

I placed it back in its original location and added a basket for gloves, keys, and phones.

 

I’m really pleased with the way it turned out.

 

I think it is distressed just enough and not too much.

 

 

Since it is the same color as the armoire shoe cabinet, the mudroom has a more cohesive look.  There are two white benches for sitting (one for Mr. Right and one for me), and there are two pieces of gray furniture.

 

Take care.