In the Cheap Seats...
holes with joint compound and sanded it smooth so that the holes would never show after the piece was painted. I sanded the legs and sides a bit because they did have some sort of protective covering on them at one time, and I primed it all with Zinsser's primer.
I used some leftover paint again to paint the table. It was a flat latex harvest gold color, and I applied two coats. Then I wiped the piece with House Beautiful Interior Stain & Poly in Classic Oak. Choose any paint color you prefer, and almost any stain you have will work. I was happy with the antique look my paint and stain colors gave to the table, but it's your choice.
For the seat, I padded the table top well, this time with old towels, I think, but again, you can use you what you have or purchase some batting from your fabric store. Then I simply stretched my top fabric over the padding and secured it under the lip of the table top with a staple gun.
Now the table that was more than ready for the garbage can is a comfy bench that shows its age well. It was a quick, inexpensive project.
Makeover Number 3:
The final photos show another old bench that was suitable only for outdoor use. Now, it's
a handy bench or table for children.
The bench was handmade, and I wanted to keep some of that age in its recycling so I used just a washing technique for the paint. I first painted the bench with more leftover paint, this time red. Then I used a solution of about two-thirds white paint and one-third water to wash over the red paint. I applied the paint mixture with a cloth and rubbed it in well and wiped away the excess. The result was a look of warm, fading paint.
Because this bench was just the right size for kids to play on or use as a table top, I only padded the top lightly, maybe about an inch. Then I used a strong denim fabric to cover the top as well as one of the braces underneath, just for fun. I used a staple gun again to hold the fabric in place, and in almost no time at all, the workshop bench had become a useful, attractive addition to a child's room or playhouse.
These kinds of projects are so quick and easy, and the options are endless. With these pieces, you can use almost any kind of leftover paint and
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