bench

DIY Headboard Bench

Headboard bench post updated from May 2011.

This headboard started out in life as a rejected bunk bed headboard found in a dumpster. My BFF, not too long ago, worked for an upscale furniture store, and when she saw what they were throwing away, she jumped right in and fished it out for me. (I don’t know if she actually had to scrounged through the garbage to get it out, but she would have!) .

I first used it as a twin headboard for my son when he got his “big boy” bed. I hung on to it for many years after he outgrew it because you just never know when you might want to have an overlooked, discarded, garbage bound headboard in your possession.

And what do you know? I had a headboard on hand when I wanted to make a headboard bench! HA!

Here’s how I made the bench…

Using 1 x 4′s, I build a the sides and front of the bench and attached it to the headboard with wood glue and L-Brackets. And as you can see, I used tape to clamp the pieces together while the glue dries. Real clamps would have been ideal… but you make do with what you have. : )

I bought the legs from Lowes and attached them with wood glue and screws. I had to haul the bench into the house because my garage floor is not level! Couldn’t figure out why my bench was teetering. I’m going to have to do something about that unlevel floor. I’m not sure my hubby will be happy with me turning the Sunroom into a workshop.

The seat was made from 3 pieces of 1 x 6 wood. I counter sunk the screws and puttied and sanded the wood smooth.

I primed and painted the bench with a brush. I’m sure spray paint would have worked great, but I used what I had on hand. The edges were lightly sanded for a distressed look. Now this old headboard has a new useful life as a bench and a new home in the foyer!

This may have been one of my favorite projects so far. (And it doesn’t hurt that my dad was very impressed with it. Still means a lot even when you’re not a little girl anymore!) : )

By Laurie|April 1st, 2013|DIY (you can do it!)|4 Comments

Entryway Ideas

Because I’m me, I am always changing something in my house. (It’s a sickness, I think.) My current obsession is doing something with my front door entryway. It has had two different benches, two different tables and now it’s currently empty. Why you ask? Because the first bench I bought quickly lost my interest. The second bench I made, but I have since put it outside on my front porch. The first table I had, I traded it for a friend’s table, which I then refinished. It looked lovely in the entryway, but it was still not quite the look I wanted. Now that table is living in the nook of the den’s window. It’s happy there, I think.

I can hardly keep up with myself, so I apologize if your head is spinning. My Hubby can’t keep up with me either. His only hope is that the couch is still where he left it in the morning so he knows where to sit down when he comes home in the evening. So far, he hasn’t landed on the floor.

Anyhoo, now the entryway is completely devoid of anything except two screws in the wall. Not very inviting. Check it out…

My Sad, Sad Entryway!

I did what any obsessed girl would do… I scoured Pinterest and the internet for some ideas and inspirations. Check out what I have found. See anything that may look fabulous in your house??

After seeing the picture of my desolate entryway and viewing the pictures below, feel free to offer your suggestions! Please? Pretty Please?

Beautiful tile work at the door elevates the space. (marthastewart.com)

I like this one because it’s simple. I have oodles of “builders” bathroom mirror I took down and stored away. Awful looking things they are! But I could get some chunky wood, beat the heck out of it, stain it and make a custom framed mirror that looks similar to this one.

This one is lovely. Makes me want to stain my railings! I like the wainscoting/board and batting on the wall.

I never thought to hang curtains on the front door! I like it. Maybe just some simple white ones. It makes the entryway look cozy.

Board and Batting. I love it! I have a two-story entryway though. Not sure how high I should go with it.

More curtains! It just looks sweet! And those dark railings again. Is it a sign? My next project I wonder? I adore the horizontal wood planked walls too.

Now this I love!! Look at the cool wood on the wall! Not quite the style of my house, but I might have to find a wall somewhere and do this. LOVE!

Fancier than my house, but again, just a simple mirror may just do the trick.

This looks inviting with the long narrow table and the collage of framed pictures on the wall. Beautiful.

Well, that’s it folks. Opinions are welcome! What is your favorite?

A Great Entryway : Style and Function. (haleytice.com)
The Evolution of an Entryway Part 1 – A Place to Hang Your Hat and Keys (diypassion.wordpress.com)
Fabulous Foyers To Come Home To (furnitureconnexion.wordpress.com)
An Entryway Almost Complete (seriouslysassymama.com)

By Laurie|September 28th, 2012|DIY Decor, FYI (ideas & info)|16 Comments

Headboard Bench

Good morning! Today I’m reblogging the very first post I did more than a year ago. This is probably one of my favoritest projects to far. The headboard bench has been everywhere in my house since then, and now finally, it think it has found a permanent home on my recently updated porch. (When I say “permanent” that means maybe for the next six months or so!)

I have a couple more project in the works. We are having a “family weekend” this weekend, so they won’t be completed until next week. The project that’s really putting a pep in my step is updating my fireplace. I’m going to create an architectural backsplash (for lack of a better word) on the wall above the mantel, similar to the picture below. Woohoo! I love working with wood and power tools!

My next project!!

HEADBOARD BENCH (revisited)

(from May 2, 2011) This headboard started out in life as a rejected bunk bed headboard found in a dumpster. I first used it as a twin headboard for my son when he got his first “big boy” bed. (Shhh… that was many moons ago!)

headboard bench

The seat was made from 3 pieces of 1 x 6 wood. I counter sunk the screws and puttied and sanded the wood smooth.

This may have been one of my favorite projects so far. (And it doesn’t hurt that my dad was very impressed with it. Still means a lot even when you’re not a little girl anymore!) : )