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Church Pews at Home

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Church pews at home generally conjure scenes of country cottage, shabby chic interiors for us. But what about using the often-rustic furnishing in a modern interior?

 
 

That's what we saw in this Sneak Peak of Rebekah Sigfrids' home over at Design Sponge, pictured up top. The sight of the broad, simple pew in a modern, refined interior made us rejoice! And instantly scour for more old pews used anew in homes:

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from the home of Amy Zurcher, via The Constant Gatherer

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a reclaimed pew at the dining table in this London home of artists Rob and Nicky Carter. Image: Michael Franke, via The Independent

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tying shoes in the entryway of this Swedish-style farmhouse interior. Image: Ellen McDermott via Country Living

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A church pew no more, this dining table once was in a former life. Via Completely Coastal.

Tags

Entryway, inspiration, seating - benches & stools, Bedroom, Dining Room, church pew

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Comments (18)

We had one in my childhood home in the entry way it was beautiful especially in an old spanish style home, kicking myself for not taking it!!!

I particularly like the washed distressed grey one above with the little girl.

posted by LoriSF on May 28th 2009 at 4:50pm
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I love the first one--so clean and simple. Oh, to have that much free wall space....

posted by hyzen on May 28th 2009 at 4:56pm
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I prefer to leave my lapsed catholic guilt in the church, not take it home with me.

posted by Seaside on May 28th 2009 at 5:19pm
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I have been looking for the perfect one ever since I saw that first photograph. Most of them are 7 feet plus or very "country carving" looking.

I think you could take any simple furniture and make it work in a modern home. It's all about using what you love.

posted by inkstainedwriter on May 28th 2009 at 5:20pm
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@inkstainedwriter, there is only one option: you must rob a Lutheran church.

Ahem. I'd like one, too.

posted by rosenatti on May 28th 2009 at 5:28pm
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Only for an entryway bench or something like that. I was raised Catholic and can tell you from experience that pews are definitely not comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time.

posted by slowdown on May 28th 2009 at 5:30pm
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Actually, now that I think of it, the Presbyterian church I attended as a child was a total MCM structure, built around 1960. Minimalist pews, clean lines. Hmm.

posted by rosenatti on May 28th 2009 at 5:31pm
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That house/church for sale is unreal. Here's an example of modern pews, in the Eero Saarinen-designed North Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joan_benedetti/3492180622/

posted by visualingual on May 28th 2009 at 5:36pm
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Pews Hurt.

posted by bepsf on May 28th 2009 at 7:24pm
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We've had a pew in our kitchen for many years. I do love it but I'm ready for a change. I think you featured it a few years ago here on AT.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/154572710_a1aefd9192_o.jpg

posted by little green on May 28th 2009 at 8:24pm
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reiskid: whoa... I'm in a bit of shock. For two years I lived just 3 blocks away and walked by each day to work. Too much to see it described as a HOUSE.

posted by wallace on May 29th 2009 at 12:02am
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We have pew in our bedroom it is without a doubt the most uncomfortable seat in the world. Its useful for folding and there is room for storage under the seat.

posted by hrhprincessfiona on May 29th 2009 at 2:50am
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My sister has one in her dining area. It's ideal because my nephew is always inviting friends over and they can plop down, straight from the pool, and have a snack. I think they found it on eBay for under $200.

posted by queenbee1230 on May 29th 2009 at 9:41am
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Seaside- chuckling... ditto

posted by StudioStarter on May 29th 2009 at 11:35am
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I "bought" a simple, beautiful and old 10' bench by making a donation toward the renovation of the old Czech meeting hall from whence it came ... and appeased my husband by promising we'd never scrape off the decades of gum petrified immediately under the front seat ledge. Which is actually sort of okay -- authentic, even.

posted by mycatisfattest on May 31st 2009 at 12:05pm
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I think every "piece of wood" with history is great, I just love the idea that it had a life in an entirely different context/environment. Thanks for featuring my pew table!

posted by Completely Coastal on June 11th 2009 at 2:29am
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i love using furniture with history. but as someone else said, many of them have this country-traditional carving stuff that i don't like at all. if i could find one with the wonderful simplicity as the one in the first photo, i would totally use it. great ideas!

and about that giant "house" for sale...freaky! i can see fixing up a tiny little chapel or something, but that is just weird.

posted by nikki moore - photography and vintage treasures on August 31st 2009 at 1:57pm
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