When we bought this house, we knew we weren’t formal dining people. To fill the space, I moved our nice dining table to the formal dining room and picked up a small table off of craigslist for the breakfast area. Not wanting to buy eight of the same chairs, I settled for six, with the thought that I could find something unusual for other side of the dining table.
I finally decided I wanted a bench. It only took me four years to figure it out! (It’s much easier to get a client’s space together than it is my own.) I found a great French Provincial bench with a rush seat, but when I finally received the dimensions, the arms would not work with the apron of the table. They were too high-bummer! I was really disappointed-I could envision that bench near an entry way or mudroom in our future homes. I still covet that bench…maybe, I will have to design a house just around that bench, or make sure the next one has a place for it!
Being trained in interior design, I put my problem solving skills to work. Having used Ana White’s plans before for youngest son’s loft bed, I turned back to Ana, and found a great vintage church pew that I loved! It would be something unexpected…perfect, exactly what I was looking for! Look at her original, how cute is that?! I had to modify the arms to fit under the table apron, but it still cute. The bonus? The drawer in the bench gives us extra storage AND it’s the boys’ favorite place to sit during dinner; eliminating my husband’s concern that it would be uncomfortable. (By the way, I’ve sat in it and it IS pretty comfy!)
I drew up the altered plans, and made a cut list. My husband was able to get all of the pieces cut at Home Depot. It surprised me how quickly it went together. My husband is a woodworking perfectionist and takes his time to think through how things are going to go together. (I’m a throw it together kind of gal.) But, even he had the both arms done in under an hour. I wanted to try and find one piece for the seat, but husband wanted to use the Kreg pocket hole jig and use smaller pieces. It turned out great! We have used that tool so often since we got it…love that tool!
The thing that makes this bench are the little details. I just sketched out the cut on the board for my husband and he used the jig saw to cut it out. We went from utilitarian to decorative! I really liked the cup hardware pictured on Ana’s, so I found some locally and picked them up from Home Depot.
Now to paint. I’m also debating a decorative treatment playing homage to all of our different military moves. Kind of an homage to subway art? I’m still thinking on that one.
Is there a piece of furniture you have been looking at and just can’t bite the bullet because of the cost or the wrong dimensions? Check out Ana-white.com! Let me know what you think of her plans. My list grows and grows whenever I’m on her site!