Yesterday I showed you a sneak peak of the project I have been working on this week for the American Crafter Contest at Nap Time Crafters.
As I promised, here is the tutorial for how I turned this. . . .
Trash
{old, broken headboard}
into this. . . .
Treasure
{cute little foyer bench}.
First, let me give you the story behind this trash to treasure. This was my hubby’s bed as a child. It was broken into several pieces and was collecting dust and cobwebs in the shed at my in-law’s. It was going to be tossed to the curb until I claimed it for myself because I had a vision of what to do with it. So, being the little scavenger that I am, we loaded it u in the car and hauled it home. Then it sat in my garage for a few weeks {collecting dust and cobwebs} until the American Crafter theme for round one was announced. “Trash to Treasure.” At first I panicked because I had nothing. Nothing and only three days until submission! Then a little birdie reminded me that I had this piece of trash great headboard in the garage begging to be rescued!
First, I sanded all the pieces well to rough it up for painting. I used a mid-grade grit for this because I wanted to remove the varnish. It scratched the wood a little, but I’ve learned from my experience that the paint will fill in the these scratches.
Next I primed all the pieces with water based primer.
This is where I turned it over to the hubs.
I told him what I wanted and he purchased a 2×4 piece of wood and a deck board. The 2×4 was cut into four pieces and the deck board into three. He did some sawing, some rearranging, some screwing and some gluing to create this. . .
The entire bench was created from the headboard with the exception of two 2x4s which attached the front of the bench to the back of the bench. The other wood is used below. At this point, I put two good coats of paint {Olympic Irish Cream}on the bench and deck boards.
The deck board was used for the seat.
The other two pieces of the 2×4 were attached under the first to hold the boards in place.
I then sanded random areas of the bench, allowing the wood to show through to give the bench an aged, distressed look.
It was a huge sigh of relief when I was finished, but I couldn’t have been happier! It was exactly what I had wanted!
I’m so glad I had a vision, rescued and brought back to life an old broken headboard. I am using it as a bench for my foyer. Now my kids have somewhere to sit to put on their shoes!
If you have a chance, please head over to Nap Time Crafters American Crafter Contest and cast your vote! There are some amazing projects in the competition and you have to choose three which might be difficult! If you like mine, it’s #14. I’d really appreciate your vote! Voting for round one ends tomorrow {Sunday} night at midnight, so hurry! Hope you are having a fantastic weekend!
Super unique and adorable. How do you think up such great repurpose crafts?
This is absolutely amazing! I can't imagine how you envisioned this bench from that headboard. This is beyond unique. And a special memory because it was your husband's. I voted for you! Good luck.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! I wish I would have thought to do something this Amazing with a old crib I threw away a year ago!
This project turned out amazing! I've also awarded you the Versatile Blogger Award…stop by my blog when you get a chance!
http://www.sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com
Now that's a great project!!! It is absolutely beautiful and I love that you wrote a tutorial on how to recreate the look 🙂
I'd be honored if you'd link this project up to The AFTER Party @ 3 Meadow Lake Cottage…
http://www.3meadowlakecottage.com/2011/05/after-party-and-amazing-kitchen-redo.html
~Erin
Wow, what a wonderful bench! Thank you so much for sharing! Hope your weekend is wonderful1
I LOVE this! I actually have one at home that we use at our dining table and another one that I just need to put together…my hubs isn't quite that skilled in the construction area so I am waiting for my dads help. Love how yours turned out…perfect!
Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments! I couldn't reply directly to many of you so I hope that you are reading this! You have made my day!
Jen
I am a new follower!
Wow! This is really cute. What a transformation!…Christine
I absolutely love this Jen!!! I think you did a fabulous job. Voted of course!! 🙂 🙂
Excellent!
How very cute is that!
xoxo~kathy @
Sweet Up-North Mornings…
How adorable!
OMG I love this! Its something I would have picked up in a heartbeat and did exactly what you did!
Job well done!!!
Terry
I love turning trash to treasure. This looks like a $500 Pottery Barn bench…I love this!
-Linds
Delighted Momma
This is awesome!
Wow!! Ive seen a million headboards at our Goodwill and have passed them over….not any more!! Sucha great job my dear :0) Thanks for inspiring me this AM. Hope you have a fabulous day
How sweet! I love how you turned the one piece upside down for the front of the bench. I actually did a double-take on that!
WOW I love it. It look so shabby and so darn cute, well done. winks-jen
This is fantastic! You've done a great job with it.
That is really clever! My daughter has the spindle headboard!
I am having a giveaway on my blog. A chance to win $27 store credit from Cmmoca's handmade shop to get a fabulous organizer! check it out!
http://houseonashwelllane.blogspot.com/2011/05/27-store-credit-from-cmmocas-handmade.html
That is so cute! I love pillow fabrics too!
You did a great job with the bench. Not only did you rescue trash, you kept a piece of history in the family. I'm very impressed.
I have this same head and footboard, just waiting for a makeover. I told my hubby on Saturday we should make it a bench, he looked at me like I was crazy and then I happen to see your sweet bench!! I love it! Thanks for the inspiration.
LOVE your bench – great job!
I LOVE THIS!!! Great job! Thanks for stopping by my blog and Im excited youre gonna share my lamp shade 🙂
Love it!! I'm really wishing we hadn't got rid of that old crib now! 🙂
http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com/
Wow that is an amazing bench! I can't believe it came from your husband's old crib. Love it!
great makeover… love it.
This is fantastic! Extreme Personal Measures featured it too! 🙂
I LOVE this! It just so happens that I have an old bed in my loft….guess what hubby will be doing this weekend?!
Thanks for the inspiration, will be following you from now on (in a totally none creepy way!!)
Rea x
Amazing! It looks perfect in your "spot" with the pillows.
New GFC follower from All Thingz Related.
What a great job, it looks amazing!!
I love what you did with your husband's old bed. How awesome to keep that memory in a completely new piece!! great job
You and your visions! This is incredible. I can't believe what you can dream up just by looking at a room or an old piece of junk. John, too! Great job!
Adorable! I just love this piece – how fun to turn it into a seat/bench!
This is beyond cute…it is amazing!!! How creative are you? Way to think outside the box…wish I had that knack. Love it!
What an amazing transformation and I love that it was your hubby's bed…great story! Well done.
Happy WOW Us Wednesday from your newest follower!
This is awesome! what a transformation!
I would love for you to share at my party : )
http://www.cherishedbliss.com/2011/05/craft-and-tell-tuesdays-no-4.html
Love this! Now I'm on the hunt! I could see one of these by my front door and in front of my spa!
Jennifer I love love love it!! Great pillows too! Martina
That is such a wonderful bench! Love what you've done with it.
Can't wait to see your next entry Jen. I've featured this post on Craft Gossip here:
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/bench-from-a-headboard/
Thanks for inspiration!
If you would like a "featured by" button, you can grab one here:
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/grab-a-craft-gossip-button/
Love this idea, like the other poster I wish I had that old crib of mine.
I also really like the bolster, would you possibly share how you made the bolster?
Thanks to all for your amazing comments! I will have a tute on the bolster soon. 🙂
Jen
This is a great idea- I just wish my husband or I were a little more carpenter handy! Although my husband is trying, he built shelves for me. I would love it if you link it to Workshop Wednesday. It would be a great addition to the party!
I love this sooo much! It really is beautiful! I am so happy to be your newest follower!
creativecarmella.blogspot.com
Cute, cute, cute – thanks for the tute! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) I see these old 'boards from time to time, but just don't have the vision. Kudos!
Wow! You did a great job and I am so impressed.
So nice to visit with you tonight.
Blessings, Amy
OK.. this is great! I'd love if you linked it up at my Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Party.
http://delightfulorder.blogspot.com/2011/05/delightfully-inspiring-thursday-party_11.html
DaNita
You have no idea how much I LOVE this bench. It is so beautiful!!!
I am a finalist in a huge room makeover giveaway. I would really appreciate it if you would take a moment and stop by and vote for me. I'm 3#. Thanks. Laura
http://vintagerevivals.blogspot.com/2011/05/top-5-plead-their-case.html
This is just fabulous. I totally LOVE it!!!
I love it so much, I pinned it AND I'm following you! 🙂
~Bec
Wow!! This is totally amazing! Something like that would super cute at the end of my bed…hmmm now I gotta go look for an old broken headboard/footboard. Thanks so much for hte inspiration!!
Thank you so much for the idea! My friend owns a daycare and is having to replace all of her cribs, because they are the drop-down now recalled design. She has been despairing of what to do with them, and how to raise the money to replace all of her cribs. This just gave me a great idea to help her out! Great tutorial!
I love this idea! I have a bed in my guest bedroom that's a good candidate for this project if I ever replace it.
Wonderful idea and I LOVE the pillows in the photo!
Cute is right! You had great vision seeing that as a hall bench. I love the distressing and the pillows look great also.
I just wanted to let you know that I am featuring this on Sassy Sanctuary today. Love it!
Wow! I have no words. Only…Congratulations!
This is absolutely fabulous. I have heard about these, but never seen one. Thanks so much for sharing the tutorial! Love it!
Rachel
xoxo
Wow, the bench turned out so well. I appreciate the tutorial…now to find an old broken crib!
Oh, my. This is amazing! I saw the tiny thumbnail and clicked over as fast as I can. The shape is perfect and so is the distressing.
LOVE!!
Ooops, I meant to write "as fast as I could".
Wow, I should really proofread my comments before I post them. 😉
Superbly gorgeous project! I have always loved spindle beds too. Really love the pillow choices as well. Stopping by via SNS link party, have a wonderful weekend, xxx tami
This is just so cute! What a great job you did on it too! I would love for you to share this at Feathered Nest Friday sometime! Well Done! 🙂
You did an amazing makeover on this bench. I have an antique Jenny Lind bed sitting in the garage that I would like to transform. Great tutorial! I'm a new follower!
~Michelle
Love this! What a perfect bench, so lovely!
Simply BEAUTIFUL!
It was just wonderfuelLOVELY…
hugshugs
This is so cute! I have an old twin iron bed, I wonder if I could do something similar with that?
Thanks for the inspiration, Marcia
This is so creative. It turned out fantastic…love the distressing. I'll be voting for you 🙂
Love this idea. I need to pull out our old crib and do the same.
It looks great.
Ruth
Wow! That is amazing. I just love that you took something from your husband's childhood and made a family heirloom out of it! And it is just simply adorable. I can't tell you how much I love it!
That is so amazing! I adore it! I need to try this! so clever and awesome!
Stacey of Embracing Change
Wow… you are seriously talented!
Your bench is beautiful. I love projects that take something and make it into something else.
oh I loooooove this!
brilliant my dear! thanks so much for partying with whipperberry!!
kisses
I love this! I'd like to invite you to post it on Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage. The link will be up all week, I hope you can join in. Have a nice week, Mary :O)
I love this piece. I just wanted to let you know I featured it on my blog.
http://corner–house.blogspot.com/2011/05/awesome-furniture.html
this is one of my all time favorite projects…it is great and how nice to use something from your hubby's childhood….following now…come and visit me too…xo, Mariaelena
over the top wonderful, so glad to have found your blog
I have one in the works and I am now needing to sand and paint.
Hello, Jen! I just featured this post on my blog today. Here is the link:
http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/2011/05/wednesdays-wowzers-beating-postvacation.html
Thanks for inspiring!
~Alison
This looks absolutely a-ma-zing!!! I love that the headboard truly was trash too, and now it is just plain wonderful!
I would love to have you come do a guest post about this at Remodelaholic if you are interested please let me know (via email you can just respond to this comment) and I will get you the details!
The bench is darling! I am in awe of the true trash to treasure you have created. I also LOVE the toile fabric you used. I have lots of that fabric. It makes the bench even more lovely.
Cheers~
e
that looks gorgeous! i have a bed like that and you are giving me ideas!
Oh, I'm so glad I saw this! I bought a twin spindled headboard and foot-board just like this several months ago. I haven't been sure of what to do with it until now. I really need seating on my front porch and I wanted something sweet and cottage-ish. This is perfect! We're already painting furniture this weekend so we'll just have to add this to the list of things to do.
Thanks for posting this and sharing how you did it.
SO SO creative! Am pinning immediately, in case I move out of my little apartment one day & run into a spindly headboard!
-caroline @ c.w.frosting
I know I'm late, but this is the most awesome re-do EVER! I love it!
WOW, this is soooooo gorgeous……just discovered your blog & I love it.
Kim
Oh mY goodness! I LOVE this! I have been wanting a bench for my porch! I am totally making one of these!! Thanks so much! Brilliant!! STumbled this for you!
Wow, this is amazing! I love it 🙂
Saw this over on Somewhat Simple and had to come tell you how much I LOVE it!!!! So beautiful. Featuring tomorrow on Sew Dang Cute.
I love this! So cute and what a great way to upcycle an old crib!
This is sooo cute and I love that it has sentimental value. I made off with a crib a client wanted me to take to the dump (I think they got pretty used to me saying, "Do you mind if I just keep it instead?") and it's been in our garage for almost a year now. This might be just the project for me. Love it, so cute, thanks for the inspiration!!
I hopped over from Home Stories A to Z where you linked your garage sale dresser.
I've been perusing your site and love your projects!
I'm working on a series highlighting things that people have transformed from old to new. Would love to include this headboard turned bench and link back to your tutorial if that's ok!
Jen, this is by far the nicest headboard bench I've seen. I've been wanting to make one and yours, no doubt, is the tutorial I'm going to follow. Many thanks!
Jenn
BTW, I voted for you!
Oi Jen que linda sua transformação, fiquei com muita vontade de fazer uma igual pra mim. Coloquei sua postagem no meu blog com o link para você espero que não se incomode.
Grande beijo.
Me encantó!! hermosa transformación, ESPECTACULAR!!!
Saludos
Cecilia
Hi, friend! You've got so much creativity in your blog and I'm admiring all your creative posts. Can you please share them with us at the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop? Hope to see you there at the party 🙂
Hello fellow DIYer!
I have this pic in my Pinterest page. HOw do I subscribe to your blog by email??
Hi Jen! New follower and fan here. Beautiful, beautiful bench!
Oooooh, I am so sick now after finding this sight via Pintrist, someone posted your website probably on accident as they would have meant to post a pic of what they were talking about and well….I figured one more site it’s almost midnight…. Anyway when I seen the pallet dresser and I knew I had to find out what else you’ve done I almost cried seeing this. We just gave up a beautiful Amylynn crib in amazing shape because we couldn’t give it to any organization….needless to say I’ve always wanted one of these benches 🙁 🙁 🙁 ooooh darn… Beautiful by the way!!
Wow this is just fantastic…thanks for the inspiration!
Hey Jen! Do you have any advice for using just a head board (no foot board) and how to approach that construction?
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