Wednesday 8 May 2013

Coffee table turned bedroom bench...

I mentioned before, this  car boot sale table...


 ...was begging to be transformed into a bedroom bench. I even found an image of a spookily similar bedroom bench.



Sometimes I can see how I can beautify something so I have to buy it.

Do we need a bedroom bench? No.
Do we even have space for a bedroom bench? No.
But when my creative juices flow I do not let practicality get in the way.
(For heavens sake, I've just painted my stairs white, with two muddy pawed cats and a 6 year old.)

So that I don't end up on one of those hoarding shows, and to save my marriage, this bench was going to have to be sold. In order to appeal to the largest possible market it had be be pale and neutral.
(I'm really just excusing yet another beige and cream offering...)

I had to countersink and fill all the nasty screws that stood proud of the timber.

Before...


After...


 I sanded, primed and painted the woodwork next.
I got a big sheet of 3'' foam from Dunelm Mill. It was £20 inc delivery and I cut it to size with an electric carving knife. It worked so well! I stuck it to the table with spray adhesive. Then I put wadding over that.

(I approached our local curtain shop as I saw they sold foam cut to size but they wanted £90!)

I used some upholstery fabric that was a boot sale find to cover it. I always pick up upholstery fabrics when I see them as they are very expensive and you never know when you might have an upholstery emergency.

So here it is!




Some pretty stylin'...


...and keeping it real...

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Upholstery is a lot harder than it looks! Those corners were very tricky. But I like how it's turned out. And everyone needs a place to fling their clothes at night don't they?


blackbirdhasspoken
PJH Designs

40 comments:

  1. What, no pants?
    Lovely makeover. They did this on Superscrimpers this week, yours is nicer though. £20 on foam sounds expensive or did you have lots left over ?
    Very neat corners btw.

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    1. Thanks Fiona! Damn. I didn't think of pants! I'll have to check out Superscrimpers. I thought this was a first! Huh.
      There wasn't much foam left over but I went for the 3'' thick. It's cheaper in less thick sheets. (And apparently blue foam is better quality than yellow foam. Who knew?)

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  2. £20 for a gorgeous bench - that's a bargain! Really glad to see the 'after' shot though - I thought we were the only people who didn't put their clothes away tidily each night! Jane x

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    1. He he. I like a little real life in blogs! Too much perfection is nauseating. You certainly won't find that here! x

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  3. Oh, the dreaded corners on upholstery projects - they're always a nightmare, especially when the fabric is thick.

    You made a really neat job of it:-)

    Jackie

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  4. It looks fabulous! Excellent styling too :) xx

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    1. Thanks Katie! I'm so slack at styling. I'm too impatient. My first shots were ruined by a stray upside down shoe I hadn't even spotted. ;) xx

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  5. I too wish I had room for a bedroom bench and seeing your makeover really makes it more attainable as I have something which could be used. I will have to look out for some upholstery fabric too at the next charity shop car boot visit.

    You've made it look easy to do and an excellent job xxx

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    1. Thanks Rebecca! I suppose you could do a window seat if you've not got room for a bedroom bench? It's dead easy. Even the foam cutting was a piece of cake and that's what concerned me the most! xxx

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  6. It looks really elegant and stylish, Emma Kate! I am always so impressed with your skills. And your neatness! And after all that effort, you have to SELL? No! Please find room for it! xxxx

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    1. Thanks Curtise! Ah, maybe I can hang onto it for the dressing room I'm yet to build... one day! That will please my husband no end! xxxx

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  7. Beauty! You have such a talent, and not just for the thrifty and handy makeovers, but also for seeing the potential behind something that started out as ho-hum and transforming it into ta-dah!

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  8. I am still reeling at somebody thinking that £90 is a reasonable price to charge for a bit of flaming foam!!!!! Even £20 seems steep to me! Your bench looks lovely, though.

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    1. Thanks Caroline! It was £16 plus £4 delivery. It costs more to get to Stevenage and then I'd have had to stagger home with it so I was pleased!

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  9. It looks fab! Those corners do look very tricky - think they would put me off! Hope you get to keep hold of it :) xx

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  10. It looks fabulous you did a great job :-) dee xx

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  11. You've got to keep it Emma-Kate, it's fabulous and such a brilliant idea. xx

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    1. Thanks Loo, not quite as original as I had thought! Doh! xx

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  12. Emma, that's a great idea! And the end result is fab! I will now have to keep an eye on Gumtree for a similar coffee table. I'll tell hubby that it's all your fault for inspiring me! ;o)

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    1. Thanks Gaby! I'm in enough trouble with my own husband, let alone anyone elses!

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  13. Hi Emma Kate, I found you over at Elizabeth & Co. Your bench turned out beautifully! Truly, I wouldn't have thought to use a coffee table, but yours was perfect. Great job on the corners, they're not always easy. Bravo! Are you still going to sell it now that it turned out so well? ;)

    Debbie

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    1. I'm undecided now... it might be useful in the dressing room that doesn't exist yet but my husband might leave me... tough one... x

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  14. It looks great! Lovebthe last shot, that's exactly what would happen in our house. Another beauty :)

    Kate
    Just Pirouette and Carry On...

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  15. Oohh that material is really nice. I like how you transferred the table into a bed bench.

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  16. Ooh, wow-wee that's beautiful. I don't think you'll have any problem selling it - if you can bring yourself to part with it! I could see that in any posh stores front window. Did you staple or glue the fabric underneath? Before or after you attached the foam to the bench? Perfect corners, by the way. Antonia xx

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    1. Thanks Antonia, I glued on the foam with spray adhesive, stapled on the wadding, and then the fabric, covering the wadding. xx

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  17. An electric carving knife? Well I never - top tip!

    Your bench looks amazing - I can totally relate to that last photo too!

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    1. Thanks Liz. I was really surprised by the electric carving knife! It goes through dense foam like a hot knife through butter! In the past I have risked my digits with stanley knives...

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  18. great work lady, the corners look perfect to my eye. you should be doing this professionally!

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  19. Gorgeous transforamtion. Very inspiring! Lisa x

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  20. Wow, that is stunning!! Found you at the Op Shop Show Off through Black Bird Has Spoken :)

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  21. Wowee, what a transformation! It looks fabulous! Well done!

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  22. Love your foot of the bed bench. Gorgeous job. Thanks for joining us this week at Transformed Tuesday.

    Hugs,
    Peggy~PJH Designs

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