I got a great deal on this beat up bench. My favorite local thrift shop was having a "Name your price" sale on furniture when we popped in. I almost forgot about the bench. It was on the front porch when we came in. I was just about to get my total when I asked how much it was. I was thrilled when she told me I got to name my own price.
The metal was in great shape, the wood was saggy, but looked ok.
I asked if they would take five bucks. They did, and the bench came home with me.
I got it home, and immediately took it apart. At this point I was worried I would have to replace the seat pieces.
I got out the wire brush and scrubbed them really well. I made sure to keep them in the order they went on the bench. JUST IN CASE that might make a difference with reassembly.
You can see in this picture the metal parts are a dark green. After they dried, I painted them a glossy black. Because the lattice piece is plastic, I used Krylon Fusion for plastic on the metal and lattice pieces. I love that stuff! It goes on very evenly and dried quickly. I went back and forth on what color to do the wood. Blue ocean or cherry red.....Our house is brown brick with brown shutters. We have black metal hardware and light fixtures. I was really leaning towards the blue, but at the last minute decided to go red. There is just something about the black and red. It reminds me of the old red phone booths... which reminds me of the college my husband and I went to (they had them on campus)....which reminds me of meeting, falling in love and all that stuff....why, I don't know?
So red it became! I lined them up together (in order) and painted them all at one time. I turned them on their sides and did the same. I painted the backs of the upper bench, but not the bottom. The only reason I didn't paint the bottom of the seat is b/c I ran out of paint.
I reassembled the back piece. The lattice is actually plastic. Just in case you were wondering.
I was tempted at this point to forget the bench and just hang this (minus the seat straps) on the brick wall.....I was overruled.
I borrowed my 13 year old son to help me old the ends up while i put the back on and one seat piece. Once that was finished, I was able to put it back together by myself. And I only cut my hand once.....don't ask how because I do not know.
Here is a shot of the underside. I scooted the seat strap over just a bit to make new drilling holes. I was afraid with the age and condition of the wood, if someone plopped on it the screws may just pop out.
Both sides got tightened. Then it was finished! It is going in my front garden. It is really a flower bed, well no, a bush bed? The builder just randomly planted a bunch of bushes with no pattern or spacing. This will all be changing really soon!
So, here it is! All put together, shiny like a fire truck and waiting for someone to come take a seat. As I work on redoing the landscaping I'll post pictures of the progress. I am too embarrassed to show you the whole thing now.....it is just ugly.
I think it looks lovely! I am quite pleased with the change! One of my concerns when I bought it was if it would show from the street or not. So what do you think? I am pretty sure it will show up! Not bad for a $5.00 bench!
