$1 Garage Sale Bench Revamp

I like to call this project my $1 garage sale bench revamp. Yup, I got a small wood bench for $1 at a garage sale the first summer we lived in our house. Score!

There was a reason she was only $1.  (Yes, this bench is a she. Something about the legs to me says "classy lady.")

Imagine hideous disintegrating green boucle fabric, wood that was stained a horrible shade of cherry and, even better, turquoise paint splatters.  Basically she was a DIYers dream:  lots of potential and a dirt cheap price.  Am I right?

Of course, you will notice I said you would need to "imagine" her in all the bad fabric, ugly stain and paint splattered glory because, after almost 3 years, I can't find any before photos.  I was totally convinced I knew where those photos were on my computer but, after almost an hour of searching, and muttering things like "Oh, I know where it must be" and "what was I thinking, it must be in this folder" out loud to myself, I was totally wrong.

Hopefully the after will make up for it!

Here she is in her new and improved - never to be stuck in the basement for three years again - glory!

First, she got good sanding and then a restain using the same espresso stain I used for my CL couch table revamp. 

A couple coats of poly and a new seat base and I was ready for the next step.

Next up, new foam and batting.

Finally, I covered her with new and fabulous fabric.

And I was done.

Doesn't she look lovely?

I love that I can use it as either extra seating or, if used with a tray, as a coffee table.  Don't you love things that can be dual purpose? Me too.

Of course now I need to do a tray makeover to coordinate with the fabric.  Of course, I am so upset that I have another project! :-) 

Slowly but surely the living room is starting to come together.  The marble coffee table got a repaint, the DIY chalk paint table is done and now the bench/table is complete. At this rate, it will only be another 3 years until the living room is done!

Total cost of the project:

$ 1.00 Bench

$ 0.00 Stain - already had

$ 0.00 batting - already had

$ 8.00 2" foam - purchased at Joann's with a coupon

$ 7.00 fabric  - purchased at Joann's from the remnant section (The entire piece was about $15.00 but I used less than half)

$16.00 Total - Not too shabby!

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