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Monday, September 22, 2014

VANITY BENCH MAKEOVER


Hey everyone!  How was your weekend?  I sweated while I worked on "fall-i-fying" my porch and patio (Oklahoma hasn't read the memo that it's Fall yet), and am spending today trying to wrap up the rest of the house.  In the midst of cozying things up and spreading pumpkins around, I had time to squeeze in a quick furniture project too.


This project came out of necessity, sooner than I planned.  My Mom gave me this old bench several years ago.  It's been in the attic patiently waiting for our bathroom reno (that's still not happening yet).  Even though there's a cubby for a bench in my bathroom cabinet, I don't usually sit down to do my make-up, so I wasn't really missing anything.

Until, my girl started getting too tall for me to reach her hair to fix it (as I type that through tears...).  After she spent several hair-fixing sessions sitting on the side of the tub, it dawned on me that I needed to pull this stool out and use it!

Here it is in all of it's pre-makeover nas-ti-ness.  Yuck!  But I like the clean lines and the size was perfect for the cubby space.


I wanted to use a fabric that would work with the colors once the bathroom does eventually get re-done, so I looked through my stash and remembered that I had this Schumacher Nanjing sample that I picked up for $2 at a designer's garage sale.  The swatch was nice and big (25x25), but the dumb Schumacher samples always have grommets right in the middle of them so they can hang on a display rack.  Those holes weren't working with my plan, so I thought I'd see if I could work around them.  I figured I didn't have anything to lose...

First, I used a flat head screwdriver to pry the grommet apart, and removed it.  You can see one of the holes left behind at the tip of the pencil below.


Then, I folded the hole in half, with right sides together, and stitched around it.  I started a little above the hole right on the edge of the fold, then curved out around the hole, then back to the fold below it.


Then, I opened the fabric and pressed the seam I made down.  It's not perfect, but the holes were gone and the entire swatch was now usable.


The repaired spots still ended up close to the top and bottom edge, so at least they weren't right in the middle.  You can see one of them in the bottom right of the photo below - I think if I would have pressed it a little better those little folds wouldn't have been noticeable.  Going to get the iron now...

After removing the old red fabric from the top, I added a new thin layer of foam and wrapped it all with a new layer of batting, stapling underneath with a staple gun.  Then, I wrapped the fabric tightly around and stapled.


For the base, I used my favorites to prime and spray (color-Metallic Gold), two coats of each.


After adding a screw to each corner underneath to secure the top, it was all done!



Perfect!  Now I can reach her head!


Who knows... I like it so much I might start using it, too!

Don't forget, there are two phenomenal Fall Tours happening this week.

Start here At Home with the Barkers for the Welcome Fall Home Tour series


and here at The White Buffalo Styling Company for the Blogger Stylin' Home Tours Series.  


You'll find lots and lots of beautiful Fall Inspiration.  See you on Wednesday with my Welcome Fall Home Tour!

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Would you like to comment?

  1. Awesome little makeover! I love that fabric.

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  2. So I'm going to attempt my first DIY furniture painting as soon as we move into our new house. I have a stool that I use to put on my makeup but it's black and hasn't ever matched with anything. It doesn't have a cushion on top. When I paint, should I sand at all or just spray over it? What's the best method?

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  3. So glad that you found a way to use on of your samples (love that fabric!). I've got the same issue with my daughters' hair - my oldest is only about 4" shorter than me at this point - yikes!

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  4. I've always wanted a vanity- so girly! Love the fabric you chose!

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  5. I love a great before and after - and that fabric is awesome! Boo hoo that you needed it! :(

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  6. Looks great - and easy! I have one I use in my master bath every single day. I'm waiting until I choose a paint color for the bedroom before I redo the bench.

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  7. Love the bench and great choice of revamping it with gold and the perfect fabric.

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  8. It looks AWESOME!!! I love it! Great fabric!

    XO,

    Krista
    www.goodwillglam.com

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  9. I LOVE that fabric!! It's fab! I wish I had a place in my bathroom to sit and do my makeup. I hope you start to enjoy that "new" little spot for yourself. xox

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  10. Girl, you know I came on your site to find your cheeseburger soup recipe and then got sidetracked by this beautiful little project! That fabric is gorgeous and I love the gold frame! All kinds of pretty...now I'm off to pin that soup recipe :) lol

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  11. Our kiddos are no longer small are they?? :( Awesome before and after Jennifer!

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  12. Gorgeous Jennifer! That fabric is so pretty and hides the stitching so well - they are not even noticeable. What a great use of a sample and a fabulous before and after.

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  13. It's perfect and the placement of the stitching with this busy pattern will not show it at all!

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  14. Beautiful Jennifer! I love it. Have a great week. xo Nancy

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  15. I am in love with this bench!!! I really wish we were neighbors so we could paint, and upholster, and decorate, and chat and anything else in between! We would have lots of fun! ~Sonya

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  16. Ahhh!!! I love it! That blue fabric is great and perfect with the gold! You always knock 'em outta the park!

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  17. What a fantastic makeover! It doesn't even look like the same bench! Great job!

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  18. Great job! Love the fabric...and always the gold. :)

    xo
    Pat

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  19. Turned out great! What a transformation. I have to find a use for all of the cheap fabric samples I have laying around. Thanks for the inspiration!
    Jennifer@decoratingdelirium.com

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  20. A lovely makeover! I could not help but notice those pretty shoes. Would you please give a clue as to brand or where you got them?

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  21. What a fabulous little makeover and what a clever little trick! I would have never noticed the seams unless you pointed it out. Love that FABric!

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  22. This turned out so fabulous! That fabric is AMAZING!!!

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  23. Such a great makeover Jennifer! I love the fabric and of course the gold!!! xoxo

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  24. Love the makeover Jennifer! So gorgeous!
    Leslie
    House on the Way

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  25. I love this! So clever to get rid of the grommets!

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  26. Perfect--fabric choice and gold!

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  27. Love that fabric! It looks perfect paired with the gold!

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  28. love! Did yoy have to sand before prime?

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