I have been looking forward to spring so that I could break out my latest inspiration. About a year and half ago I read this post on Junk Market Style about how to make an old bed into a bench. With my bench on the front porch almost rotten clear through I knew that this would be my solution and started looking for an old bed that would work.
Last week at the Goodwill I cam upon this twin bed frame for all of $7.00. What a great deal, don't you think? I figured it would be perfect for my front porch project.
I started by cutting the foot board in half. Actually, I ended up taking an additional 3" off each half to make the bench more in proportion.
Before I started screwing anything together, I sanded each of the pieces to take some of the paint off so that when I gave it my finial coat of paint the wood would show through. The next step was to screw the foot board onto the headboard to create the right and left sides of the bench.
If you notice, I also shaped the foot board pieces so that they would fit better at the back and look like they were made that way. Otherwise the foot board pieces would have hit the headboard above the flat part of the legs and it just would have been weird.
I then built a box inside the bench out of 2x4's. This gave a place to attach the slats for the seat of the bench. I also painted the 2x4's and the slats with Kilz to help keep this bench from rotting as it will be outside on the front porch.
I went to our local Wal-Mart on a quest for a soft pink spray paint and found this great ballet pink. So being the spray paint artist that I am, I coated the bench with the two coast of the pink paint and when it was dry I took my handy sander to it. I love the shabby chic look that sanding off part of the paint gives.
This bench will make its debut on our front porch this Spring. I cannot wait for the pink porch. Check back here and I will have more pictures as the pink porch emerges.
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It's beautiful and I would never have picked it came from a bedhaed! So clever! Just popped over from Keeping it Simple :)
Posted by: Crafty Mummy | April 18, 2010 at 08:33 PM
SUper cute and I adore pink !
Kammy
Posted by: Kammy | April 18, 2010 at 11:21 PM
Such a creative idea. You should enter this in our contest at peppertowne.com the winner gets free advertising for one month.
Posted by: Amy Hodges | April 19, 2010 at 12:40 AM
LOVE THIS! Can't wait to see your porch. I'm sure it will be darling!!
~Liz
Posted by: Liz | April 19, 2010 at 08:16 PM
Fun! I can't believe you bought the bed set for only 7 bucks! I turned out really great :-)
Posted by: Hattie | April 19, 2010 at 09:18 PM
WOW! That's awesome - I love your PINK door too!
Posted by: Becky - Clean Mama | April 19, 2010 at 09:22 PM
WOW! That is amazing!
Hannah
Posted by: Turley Times | April 19, 2010 at 09:32 PM
love love! beautiful job!
Posted by: cafeAngelica | April 19, 2010 at 10:27 PM
I think you need your own tv show. KCPT would be a good venue. Really! You have a knack of making all these projects look so easy to accomplish. The ideas are usable, doable and inspiring.
Posted by: Sydney Martin | April 19, 2010 at 10:38 PM
This is SOOOO cute! I have always wanted to try this too. Thanks for showing me how!
Belinda
motherdaughterday.blogspot.com
Posted by: belinda s. | April 20, 2010 at 12:03 AM
Love this! Especially the color. My husband and I made one last summer. To this day it is one of my favorite make overs.
Posted by: Blanca | April 20, 2010 at 09:18 AM
I love this and your step by step makes it look so easy to do! Thank you and so glad I stopped by!!
Posted by: Sandi ~ A Cottage Muse | April 20, 2010 at 10:21 AM
I love it! I have a link party on saturdays that I would love for you to join
www.iamonly1woman.blogspot.com
Posted by: Bobbie | April 20, 2010 at 12:35 PM
I have a bed frame and if I can't make it fit in my guest room, I'm going to make it into a bench.
Posted by: Condo Blues | April 20, 2010 at 06:30 PM
That is AWESOME! You did a great job and THANK YOU for the tutorial!!!!!
Posted by: Angie | April 21, 2010 at 07:15 AM
Wow! What a great project! I love it!
Posted by: Julie | April 21, 2010 at 07:20 AM
What a cute bench! And I love that you did it using an old bed, really cool!
Posted by: Sixtyfifthavenue | April 21, 2010 at 12:11 PM
What a great idea! I love it! I have a wrought iron frame that I keep thinking would make a great outdoor bench. I'm so not good with constructing things, though. Can you cut through wrought iron? Lol.
Posted by: Lei | April 21, 2010 at 04:46 PM
I had a glitch. Sorry if this posts twice.
This is so sweet. I love the shabby chic finish too! Pink is also my favorite color. Thanks for linking up to my blog party.
Michelle
from Trash To Treasure Decorating
Posted by: Michelle Rayburn | April 21, 2010 at 04:54 PM
The bench turned out great. The door looks awesome as well. Can't wait to see the Pink Porch completed. Lori
Posted by: Lori | April 21, 2010 at 08:39 PM
I have seen this done before, and it is amazing. You did a fabulous job! LOVE it!
Posted by: Shannon | April 21, 2010 at 11:00 PM
awesome & truly creative. Best bench I have seen in ages!
Posted by: Cathy M~ | April 22, 2010 at 07:06 AM
Yours looks way cuter than mine, but I guess it would since I bought mine from "Corky." So what do you think you could do with a little bike I need to spice up for Sister?!
Posted by: Sheri | April 22, 2010 at 12:10 PM
What a wonderful project! I just popped over from Trash to Treasure Decorating when I saw the cute Pink Bench Button... Wonderful job and the color is charming! I feature trash to treasure hand painted furniture projects once weekly for the Creative Recycling Blog challenge I just started! Pop over sometime and take a peak... in the mean time, keep those creative juices going!
Dandelion Wishes,
Deb~
Posted by: Debbie | April 22, 2010 at 05:46 PM
ps. let me know if you would like me to add this project with a link to your site! I just love it!
I would love to share it with others! I'm keeping a running list of folks who are playing!
Dandelion Wishes,
Deb~
Posted by: Debbie | April 22, 2010 at 05:48 PM
Hi Judy!
Thanks so much for popping over and joining us in the Creative Recycling Blog Challenge. I've added your link here
http://www.deborahjeansdandelionhouse.com/p/creative-recycling-blog-challenge.html
I can't wait for others to see your lovely bench!
Feel free to grab my creative recycling button from my home page and include it in any future posts you would like to enter! It's that easy!
Dandelion Wishes,
Deb~
Posted by: Debbie | April 22, 2010 at 07:38 PM
If you've ever visited my page you know I am a HUGE fan of headboard benches! You did a great job! I love the way this one turned out.
visiting from Becca's!
gail
Posted by: gail | April 23, 2010 at 01:11 PM
This is simply darling! Love the color, Love the shape! Stop by the Sunday Showcase Party if you get a chance ~ Hope you are enjoying your weekend! This turned out super cute!
Posted by: Stephanie Lynn | April 24, 2010 at 09:10 PM
This is gorgeous! You did a fantastic job! I'm including it in my DIY Project Parade highlights (feel free to grab the I'm Featured" button from my blog)! Thank you so much for sharing your creativity! :)
Posted by: Roeshel | April 25, 2010 at 08:23 PM
This is seriously gorgeous. Grea job!
Posted by: jan | April 26, 2010 at 10:24 AM
That is so completely cute. I showed Husband and he loved it. I guess I will be looking for a cute bed frame now ;)
Posted by: TammyM | April 26, 2010 at 07:58 PM
What a great idea. I love it!! Turned out so cute. Thanks for sharing at 'Look at me, I'm SO Crafty!' at Fun to Craft.
Posted by: Stacey @ Fun to Craft | April 28, 2010 at 09:00 AM
Awesome transformation!! I am using this as an inspiration for re purposing a sleigh bed and chest of drawers with the same application. I was wondering what kind of sanding technique you use? I began using my electric square sander but was turning out as vintage dramatic as i wanted. Need help! Thanks from West Texas. (lacyfamily_est.2006@yahoo.com)
Posted by: Lacyfamily Est 2006 | August 26, 2010 at 01:05 PM