Hey guys! I just finished one of my favorite DIY projects yet! I have been wanting a vintage looking bench for my entry for quite sometime and our awesome friend Ana White came to the rescue, once again!
She sent me a picture of this bench…I fell in LOVE immediately and with Ana’s Vintage DIY Bench plans, I was able to recreate this bench for only $100!
Here she is;) I am slightly in LOVE!
I will be honest and say that I was TERRIFIED to build this. I am not experienced with my router and the idea that I would have to cut the detailing on that bottom board ~ which is what makes this bench so unique and vintage looking ~ was almost enough to turn me off completely! Well, I loved it so much that I decided to give it a go and it was NOT hard at all! I will share a few steps that made it easier for me and a few pictures of my building process as well!
Again, a huge thank you to Ana White for the Vintage DIY Bench plans!
I told you I would share what I did to make cutting the detail easier for me:) I started on one end of the board and used Ana’s measurements and connected the dots.
Then I used this super, hi-tech strategy… I traced the detail from the first side on a scrap piece of printer paper, flipped it over on the other end and traced it ~ pressing down on the paper hard enough to leave an indention in the wood. I then just ran my pen over the indention and I had perfectly matching ends! I used my Dremel Trio to cut the detail but any router or jig saw will do. (A sander will be your best friend here…. it cleans up all of the imperfections;)
I cut my wood as I was building to make sure everything fit perfect! Nothing worse that having to go back and make adjustments!
Okay, this is my favorite part of the bench;) I just discovered PureBond ~ it is a Formaldehyde-free, decorative hardwood plywood that is not only better for the environment, it is BEAUTIFUL! It paints and stains better than the plywood we have built with in the past and it is very comparable in price! I was completely sold on it after seeing it in person at the Haven conference….so much so, that I returned the huge sheet of plywood I purchased before the conference, and exchanged it for PureBond! I used my Kreg Jig Rip Cut to cut it down and again, this nifty gadget is the bomb! It is inexpensive and is a great alternative to purchasing a table saw!
Here she is before paint:) Notice how pretty the birch Purebond is on the backing… beautiful even before the finish!
I used the Vaseline technique to distress this beauty! I started with 1 coat of Rust-Oleum Espresso spray paint (in satin finish).
I was so impressed at how pretty this paint was! I have never been a fan of painting wood brown (I prefer stain) However, I called Whit as soon as I used this and told her that I want to finish a piece of furniture with it now! It is so rich and the color is gorgeous!
I’ll save that for another day though because this bench is all about looking OLD!!! I used Vaseline on all of the areas I wanted distressed.
No science to this….I just went crazy:)
After the Vaseline, I sprayed 2 coats of Rust-Oleum Heirloom White spray paint, all over:)
Then sanded the edges to reveal the espresso. It takes very little to sand because the Vaseline keeps the top coat from soaking in.
I added my favorite decorative pulls ($5 from Home Depot) to the drawer and that was it!
I can’t wait to bring this beauty in and show her off in my entry:) Again, I was so intimidated to build this but I stuck to it and it was not hard at all! I have only been building furniture for 2 years and never thought I would be able to build a piece that had any kind of detail to it! If I can do it so can you! It’s all about having the right tools and if you can follow a recipe you can follow building plans! My first build ever was this Pottery Barn Inspired Storage System and it is still being enjoyed today. Here are a few other pieces of furniture I have built, for our home, in the past 2 years…. Outdoor patio furniture, side tables, storage bed, coffee table, night stands…. this is just a few (it’s addicting;). Start with something small and keep challenging yourself!
If you love my bench, I would so appreciate pins below:)
~Ashley
How did you learn to build? bought all these tols to learn, but I’m terrified! I don’t know enough, I’m starting as a beginner and I can’t find classes anywhere. I’m very discouraged, and my husband can not build anything either. I love your work!
Thank you so much Kelly! We started just like you but we didn’t have all the great tools so you are a step ahead! Don’t start with this bench. Start with a smaller project like framing a mirror for practice. Go to our wood working category in our project gallery and look for a beginner project. We guide you through the process and hopefully that will give you confidence! Go girl!!!!
Thank you Ashley! I will take a look!
I saw something similar on another site. They made one out of a small dresser and taking the top two drawers out and the top.
Beautiful piece. When I first seen it I thought that it was an old piece of furniture tuned into a bench not built from scratch. Awesome work. Don’t know which color I like best, there all beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Pinning!
Linda @ Mixedkreations.com/blog
Do you have any ideas to how i can distress, or make some white painted furniture i have, the original colour on one piece is light oak and one is dark blue and these have been painted white. i d like to have them looking old oand shabby chic but i dont want to paunt them grey or brown and then repain them white…….. surely it must be a way to do this on already white furniture?????????
you can email me on ninajeanette2 @ hotmail “dot” com
Looks wonderful and I’m inspired to build one !! Thank you for sharing !! Theresa @ Junk2jewels-diy.blogspot.com
If I wanted to do the red top coat, what would I use as a color for the undercoat?
Ashley all your pieces are AMAZING!! You are so talented!! I would like to make this, but I’m having a hard time following the directions. Any recommendations?
I’m in love with this bench and the color you painted it! I too have just started using pure bond and love the product!
Initially I though that this used to be a dresser that you converted into a bench, but then realized it was newly built. But I guess you could use a dresser. Thanks for the idea. Love it! Saw you on HomeTalk. My blog is foreverdecorating.blogspot.com
Thank you Terry! I never thought about building this out of a dresser until it was suggested!! It would be very possible and maybe cheaper!! Still love that you can achieve a vintage look from a new build:))
Sent from my iPad
I made one out of a dresser, I would like to send some pics, to show you guys, is it possible? my email is [email protected] thanks. Sergio