Have you ever considered bench seating???

I had never thought about bench seating... or at not seriously until I came across an old piano bench at a thrift shop.

And I knew I was in love with the idea.

I am all for miss matching chairs around a dining table so why not add a miss matching distressed bench to the mix?

This is how much bench turned out

not perfect....

but like I always say---

my projects NEVER are!

(that may be why I am so hesitant to open an etsy shop---

what if someone was disappointed with something I made because it wasn't perfect?)

Anyways---back from that tangent.

This is what the bench started out as.

A good old fashioned piano bench.

(an extra bonus to using a piano bench is the storage under the lid!)

Sorry about the before.

Considering how excited I get to paint a treasure like this when I find it, I just feel luck that I have a before picture at all!

This time around I used duck egg blue chalk paint.

After I painted the whole bench I distressed it up to enhance all of the details.

And then I added my wording.

I cut my wording with my Silhouette onto sticky vinyl and then placed the outline onto the bench.

Then I blotted the paint on over top.

The only advice I really have here is don't try to use real brush strokes or you will get lots of paint under your vinyl and the words will look sloppy.

Then you need to wait awhile before you remove the vinyl outline or you will get a sloppy look like you see on the "o" of you.  

I have many wonderful qualities (at least that is what hubs says) but patients sure isn't one of them!

And lets face it I love anything that looks a little chip-y and not perfect so I actually kind of love that it looks like that.

My impatience payed off!

I love this look and I am pretty sure I will be grabbing up future piano benches I find at garage sales and thrift stores again!  I could totally see these being great for little people someday!

:o)

Ohh and before I forget, I sealed and finished the piece with wax.  

I wanted it to be super durable and washable since it is in the kitchen!

What do you think?

Would you consider bench seating?

_______

And on a side note, it would mean the world to me if you wanted to be part of my giveaway with Ginger from Literally Inspired----click here to enter.

Anddd I am linking up to some of these amazing parties---please check them out, you are sure to be inspired!