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Northwest #10: Jean's Reupholstered Bench

Name: Jean
Location: San Francisco
Time: The upholstering took several evenings. The painting took about 1.5 hours total, without counting time for paint to dry; it was oil based.
Cost: I spent under $50 for this project, including the cost of the bench originally and the fabric.

 
 
1-31-jean1.jpg
BEFORE

Tell us the tools and resources you used for the project:
I used:

  • Glazing liquid
  • Good stain for tint
  • Rags
  • Paint brush
  • Screwdriver
  • Rubber mallet
  • Staple guns
  • Pliers
  • Scissors
  • Box cutter

  • I bought the original bench on eBay, as well as the fabric.
  • I already owned the painting supplies.
  • I bought upholstery tacks at hardware store and trim (called scrim I think) to cover the staples at Britex fabrics.

    1-31-jean2.jpg
    DURING

    Share step-by-step instructions for how you completed the project:

  • I bought this new inexpensive bench on eBay but I did not like the fabric or the light color of the wood.
  • I bought a yard of plush fabric with a simple leopard pattern on eBay. When it arrived I could smell that it had been in a home with smokers so I had to hang the fabric outside on some windy days to get rid of the smell but it worked.
  • First I took off the old upholstery tacks and gold scrim that had been on the original bench.
  • I measured the length of the scrim in order to get the right amount of new scrim. I decided to leave the lightweight fabric already on the bench and just cover over it, rather than remove all the staples, as there were many.
  • The legs on the bench come off so I removed them and brought the bench downstairs to darken the wood.
  • I should have lightly sanded the wood but I did not. I mixed up the glazing liquid and some dark wood stain. I applied the glaze but after one coat I realized I wanted it darker so I applied two more coats, letting it dry in between.
  • Then I cut a piece of the fabric large enough with some extra, to cover the bench.
  • I began stapling all around the top, beginning with opposite sides, stretching the fabric as best I could. Sometimes the staple would not attach due to the original staples underneath but I managed to find a good place for the staples eventually.
  • Then I trimmed the fabric to just below the staples with scissors and box cutters.
  • I applied the new scrim with black upholstery tacks. I used black instead of the more traditional 'brass' look ones because I was not sure if I could maintain a perfectly straight line of tacks and I thought the black on the black scrim would be less obvious. I used a rubber mallet to tap in the tacks which I covered with cardboard in order to keep the black finish on the tacks from chipping off. I used fewer tacks than the original bench. At the corners I folded in the fabric just as the fabric underneath was folded.
  • Then I screwed in the legs and voila, my new bench.

    1-31-jean3.jpg
    AFTER

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    Jan Jumpstart 2008 - Northwest, How To...

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    Comments (10)

    It looked great before as is...

    posted by callbob on 2008-01-31 12:26:54
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    to be honest, I think I liked it better before =\

    posted by tofu_boy on 2008-01-31 12:43:14
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    Nice job! Now where did you get that beautiful rug?

    posted by Dani on 2008-01-31 12:56:53
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    The before picture is set better....less clutter, and a better angle. I think more people would like it if the photography was better.

    posted by casandra on 2008-01-31 13:32:27
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    I've since decided to paint the bench a dark brown or black. The glaze didn't really work that well. I was sort of puttering around without any real conviction.

    It was fun to enter. It was spur of the moment. My photography skills are limited and I did not spend a lot of time 'composing' my pictures.

    I do love the new fabric on the bench, FWIW.

    The rug was a wonderful garage sale find.

    posted by jtsegal on 2008-01-31 13:39:48
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    better b4

    posted by superrenee on 2008-01-31 14:39:27
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    The photography is fine. You made that bench really cute!

    posted by CapitolHille on 2008-01-31 14:47:15
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    It is really hard for me to comment just on the bench because the room looks totally different in the two sets of photos.

    I like the redone bench but would paint the legs darker

    posted by mistresstina on 2008-01-31 15:05:46
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    Yes, whole bedroom is a work in progress, different furniture, bedding, headboard, etc. That was the only before picture I had. Should have taken the bench only.

    Still working on bedroom. Should be ready in a few more months!

    But then life is a work in progress, no?

    posted by jtsegal on 2008-01-31 15:51:16
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    Great job! Looks like an antique. Try adding a gold fringe for that final touch. ;)

    posted by Steve02 on 2008-02-10 21:46:55
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