DIY spa bench with no sew cushion
June 14, 2009
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I do love a garage sale, don't get me wrong. I do. But I find them hard to attend with a two-year-old. He loves to drive by them to look for "choo choos," but can't stand it when I try to run up a driveway real quick. Not a fan. He must see it all first hand.
So obviously, lately it's just not something I do much.
Last week, I realized I love Thursday garage sales. First, it's the first day of the sale, and who goes to a sale on Thursday? Uh...no one. Score! Secondly, the Bub goes to daycare on that day, so Momma is free to jump in an out of the car to her heart's content. Double score!!
Last Thursday, I found this cutie little bench for five bucks:
I had been looking for something to fill a spot in our bathroom. It was perfect! (What I love most is it was made by the grandpa at the family garage sale. Hand made. Pitter pat.) At first, I was going to paint the bench out in white, and then cover the seat with foam and fabric.
I had been looking for something to fill a spot in our bathroom. It was perfect! (What I love most is it was made by the grandpa at the family garage sale. Hand made. Pitter pat.) At first, I was going to paint the bench out in white, and then cover the seat with foam and fabric. But the more I looked at it, the more I realized I didn't want to change it up as much as planned. I liked how simple it was and didn't want to mess with that. Then I knew what I wanted to do. I roughed it up a bit more by using a flathead screwdriver and a hammer:
I sanded the whole thing down, then used my walnut stain to deepen it up. Stain is extremely easy to work with -- a foam brush and a rag is all you need. Brush it on, wipe off the excess:
I finished it off with some tung oil and L.O.V.E.D it:
But it still needed something.
I sanded the whole thing down, then used my walnut stain to deepen it up. Stain is extremely easy to work with -- a foam brush and a rag is all you need. Brush it on, wipe off the excess:
I finished it off with some tung oil and L.O.V.E.D it:
But it still needed something. I got more of my shower curtain fabric and made a little cushion:
Then I added some tufting by sewing two buttons on. It was almost there...
Then I added some tufting by sewing two buttons on. It was almost there...I took a wire basket from above the kitchen cabinets and filled it with rolled up towels that were on the tub surround:
Ahhhh...yes! Love it!!!
Oh, you think I can sew a cushion?:
Hot glue baby. Who's gonna know?
Total price: $5 for the bench, $3 for the fabric and less than a buck for both buttons. (The foam was leftover from another project.)
Total price: $5 for the bench, $3 for the fabric and less than a buck for both buttons. (The foam was leftover from another project.)
I can feel the massage from here!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! you have great vision and follow through skills! Well done.
ReplyDeleteCute, cute, cute!
ReplyDeleteWonderful I love what you've done with a lowly bench and how you tweaked it up. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteSandy
Turned out great! Love the stain. . .
ReplyDeleteLove your skills Sarah.
ReplyDeleteHa! I LOVE the cushion! I never would have guessed that it wasn't perfectly measured, cut, sewn...I think my mouth *actually* dropped open when I saw the picture of the underside of it! You're my kind of DIY'er! I will be following in your footsteps on this one, for sure! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and the bench is too cute! I love it that the grandpa made it...so sweet!
~Karla @ It's The Little Things...
Ah, yeah! Oh, I am so glad that you didn't sew that cushion. I was starting to feel so intimidated. Now I just feel inspired!
ReplyDeletegood job explaining, and so simply cute!
ReplyDeletei love it!
ReplyDeletelittle benches are so sweet!!!
OK...I wish I had room in my bathroom for a little bench...
ReplyDeleteAnd the basket with towels...so cute!
You are smart, frugal, and creative...and cheeky! Love what you did!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Joni
That is my kind of sewing.
ReplyDeleteCha-ching! Very nice find. Love it's makeover.
Hot Glue? What hot Glue? Lol I woulda never known if you hadn't said it.. It looks Awesome! Great Job I love the fabric!
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome find! It fits perfectly in your bathroom and you did a great job with it.
ReplyDeleteNo way! Sarah that is way toooo cute. ~Great MM! :)
ReplyDeleteThat turned out really great!
ReplyDeleteLoved it both ways...asian spa look, and the way it ended up!
ReplyDeleteDoes your husband love coming home to a "new" house everyday?
Fabulous! I love what you did with it! I am going to try making a cushion for one of mine now, I can't sew so definately will be getting out the glue gun!
ReplyDeleteVery cute! I love the end-result. Great idea to push the cushion to the side and add the basket.
ReplyDelete-Renee
(lurker via your RSS feed)
P.S. I recommended your blog to my artsy step-mom!
Love the little cushion and basket! Great job!
ReplyDeleteblessings
mary
Fabulous! The outcome is so perfect for your bathroom in every way!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I snickered at the underside too!
That swirly basket is officially married with that bench! No divorce for those two! Ever!
Donna
The bench turned out really cute!
ReplyDeleteGreat Transform ! I just found my glue gun this weekend (I forgot how dang easy it is !) I used it for my Met Monday too- on a quilt in a frame - worked like a charm.
ReplyDeleteI really thought you would paint - as you are the Queen of Paint - LOL !
Hugs ~ Kammy
So thrifty and so fab!
ReplyDeleteAmy
Gosh, that turned out so nice! Great find!
ReplyDeleteLOVE it, especially those tufted buttons! No Asian "spa" here.
ReplyDeleteI always love what you do! This one really calls to me, though! Love it! Great job.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
You are such an inspiration! Don't you just love how things we do seem to take on a life of their own. That little bench knew exactly what it wanted to be when it grew up.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all you share with all of us.
Charla
I feel the ZEN. Beautiful job ! Love the color combo. Very fresh and spa like.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on that, and it looks adorable there.
ReplyDeleteblessings,
barbara jean
Oh dear Lord! I can now throw away every single home decor magazine I own. Who needs them when all we need is your blog? Love your creativity, and I can't wait to try some of your ideas out in my own home.
ReplyDeleteYou Rock!
Bravo!
Your new fan!
Very nice. As usual. You're very talented and a wonderful source of inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY understand about the Asian spa look. Not my fave either. But your changes looked fabulous. Love that!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find! Love how it looks in your bathroom! You simply amaze me!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'm with you on the hot glue!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Come decorate my house please!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous find!
ReplyDeleteI love the bench and cover it is so inviting and the basket is super adorable too
Thanks so much for sharing your awesomeness!
You have so many awesome ideas! But I luv luve luv this one! Now to add it to my "to-do" list...oh, and to the hubby's "to-build-me" list! LOL!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is marvelous! I love your bench and that cushion just makes it! Great idea adding the little basket with towels. Great job.
ReplyDeleteNow, let's see...Swedish or Hot Stone Massage! :)
Be a sweetie,
shelia ;)
It turned out great! I never knew there was a such thing as a Thursday yard sale!
ReplyDeleteAnother amazing transformation.. ok so when do you get your own show?
ReplyDeleteStaining it looks great - I'm working on my own bench project. You work very quickly!
ReplyDelete$5? No way! I love the transformation - it's gorgeous and looks awesome in your bathroom! Great job!
ReplyDeletethe bench looks great!
ReplyDeleteI love it! You are so creative. Stop by my blog, I'm having a giveaway! www.obsessedinsanity.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Lindy
Beautiful! Once again, a wonderful transformation!
ReplyDeletePerfectly perfect for that spot and love what you did with the cushion and basket!
ReplyDeleteLove the bench! What a great garage sale find! I completely understand about garage saling with a 2 year old... I've started dragging my husband along and he hangs w/the two year old while I shop... I also like to have hubby around to talk sense into me when I find crazy things that I just have to have.
ReplyDeleteYour bench turned out great! I've got a plantstand that I made, that it seems I repaint every summer, because I just can't seem to get it right. But I think maybe I've finally found the perfect color. Maybe.
ReplyDeleteOH! I love the fabric that you covered the foam with!
ReplyDeleteThat looks so cute there, I love it!
ReplyDeleteFits perfectly in your bathroom! :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! Great job.
ReplyDeleteI just want to let you know how much I love your blog -ALOT! Im not sure my hubby does though, cause Im always getting ideas from it and changing stuff ha ha.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration!
Oh it looks great!! It fits perfectly in your bathroom
ReplyDeleteToni
If you stuck some double sided velcro underneath it won't slip....not like my kids would ever be in MY bathroom....messing up my stuff...
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT.
Fabulous find and I really like what you did with it ;o)
ReplyDeleteYou totally inspire me. I think about the projects you do, and yesterday got all get-er-done-ish and put the first coat of black on my goodwill treasure of a desk that's been waiting since December to be painted. (Run-on sentences. Yes!) So, this is the second comment I've left you. Sorry I don't take the time to leave more. But, I do send scads (love that word!) of peeps to your blog. Maybe that's a fair trade? Inspiration. Inspirational. It's like it should be in a religion category instead of decorating. =^)
ReplyDeleteLove the fabric you used to cover the pad. It made it totally spa like...very cool. It's nice to know you took the easy route and glued it. That makes me feel so much better about some of my projects.
ReplyDeleteI love the finished bench. It is very spa inspired and the buttons were a nice touch.
ReplyDeleteNever would have thought of that. Great transformation. And oh so inexpensive.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, love it....especially with the wire basket of towels. Charming.
ReplyDeleteBarb
Fantastic job! #1, the bench was a great find - #2, you made it look like a million bucks! Way to go!
ReplyDeleteLOVE it. LOVE you. Way to be.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so you totally need your own HGTV show!!
ReplyDeleteAbolutely PERFECT!!!!
ReplyDeleteGoodness sakes alive - what a fabulous make-over! I love it. Great job on the cushion.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
OMGAWD you freakin' ROCK!!
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous!
I wish I had enough space in my bathroom for something like this!!
Love it. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteYou did good. It is so cute. Love it!
ReplyDeleteVery cute and I love the cushion you made for it! We do have some people that start their sales on Friday but I've never seen one here on a Thursday!
ReplyDeleteManuela
Really Cool!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt just kept getting better and better and then I cracked UP when you flipped the cushion over. Right on. My kind of gal.
ReplyDeleteOK -- great transformation, and I LOVE the hot glued cushion cover. I once hot glued new upholstery on a Stickley rocker -- probably not smart, but 18 years later it still looks great!
ReplyDeleteGo for the effect, it works every time. Lovely bench -- and perfect in it's spot in the bath.
Cass
Very nice! The bench looks great, and a nice price. What kind of thread did you use for the buttons? I attempted to "tuft" a chair cushion and the darn buttons all fell off. So annoying. I used an upholstery thread but that obviously wasn't strong enough. Any tips?
ReplyDelete~Michelle
I never in a million years had the vision to see how cute that bench turned out to be! It is amazing how it is all in the way you accessorize a peice - luv it!!!
ReplyDeleteI know it's so nice to step out of the shower and see that cute bench waiting for you, beckoning for you to sit and relax!! Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteGeez girl, your makeover rocks!! I just found a wooden bench just like yours by my neighborhood dumpster, only mine's like 8 ft long, ok, maybe not that long. It's got a broken leg, so my Dameian is gonna fix it up and I'll paint it white probably.
ReplyDeleteTalk about making something from nothing. Great transformation. I like going to the garage sales on Thursday, too. Most people are not in thrifty mode yet. I am having a BLOGmance with your beautiful and interesting blog. Happy thrifty Monday.
ReplyDeleteThat is adorable, Sarah! What a great garage sale find for you. And I love how you finished it out.
ReplyDeleteHope your readers will come over to my Monday Thrifty party too & check out all the other great finds!
Love it!
ReplyDeleteI bow to your supremacy! Wonderfully done!
ReplyDeleteOh your bench is a delight~!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT, Love It, love it!
ReplyDeleteOoh...I wish I was as creative as you! That is too cute!
ReplyDeleteLove the redo! So spa-like! Aaaahhhh...don't forget to check out my blog for a party on Thursday! It's going to be so much fun! Whoo, hoo! Have a great Monday!
ReplyDeleteThis is just adorable. I love that you added the basket with towels. You are just so creative, you amaze me.
ReplyDeleteI am cracking up at your hot glued upholstery job. You are too funny. One day your sewing machine will thank you for learning how to use it. hee hee. But you will probably love your glue gun better still
ReplyDeleteCUTE!!! LOVE it!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is one AWESOME bench! Great Job!
ReplyDeleteThe bench looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get foam?
And yeah, I have a really hard time hitting yard sales because of my 2 yr old. :( Someday....
Another fantastic project! Well done! Love it
ReplyDeleteToo funny! I absolutely agree with you on the kid thing - they are just not the 'in and out' kind of shoppers. I love your find and the steps you took us through. But I love the back of the cushion the most!
ReplyDeleteLOL love the hot glued cushion. I fully intend to steal the hot glue and foam idea :p my kids need some comfy cushions in their window areas. I'm loving your $5 bench and pretty little cushion! Good job and a great idea!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog for the first time and I am loving it. I too get everything 2nd hand, and lots of time free as friends and family know that if they don't want it I just might take it and change it up for a new look. Therefore they no longer need to take things to the GW cause I will be over in a minute to pick it up. I think this might be a bad reputation at times they really enjoy making fun of me.
ReplyDeleteNice to know their are other girls out there. Lori
very spa like! I love it :)
ReplyDeletewow! very cool. I love that you hot glued the cushion because sure enough I was thinking to myself "I can't sew a cushion like that". :) Kelly
ReplyDeletethat bench is pretty darn cute...and so are those pears! cute cute cute!!!
ReplyDelete