Fan-tastic: Bench Makeover

By Kate Riley September 8, 2010

Greetings friends, how’s your Wednesday this fine September?  I just adore September, do you?   Both my birthday and my anniversary take place in this glorious month ~ only May and October can compete in my book. 

I was picking my kids up from school yesterday, and a gust of wind was blowing.  Leaves were twirling in the breeze having just fallen off the trees, and I caught just the hint of autumn in the air.  It’s still warm as can be, but I noticed that the leaves around here are just starting to turn.

     

Don’t you love that feeling?  That moment when you feel the seasons changing.  That smell in the air, that moment in time that only happens once a year.  I treasure it.  I take a deep breath and try to make a memory.   *sigh*   

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I spent yesterday purging a bin filled with over 50 magazines . .  very old publications of BH&G, Country Living, Traditional Home, and Martha ~ all my favorites.  But only after I ripped out all the articles I found to be inspiring! 

I lugged at least 20 pounds of old paper to the recycling bin, and that felt sooooo great!  Now I’m inspired to style a fall mantel, but I’m convinced more than ever that I can make it happen mostly with what I already have in my yard, plus what I presently possess in my autumn stash from years past.  This year’s fall décor will be very simple indeed.

But today, as part of the Fantastic Feature series, I am so pleased to share Kristin’s beautiful bench makeover!  You all know I’m a fawning fool for a distressed Frenchy antiqued piece (soooo my style) and this bench surely fits the bill.   Today, in the spotlight is Kristin from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia.  

 

kristens bench after

 

Love this look!

 

Here’s her Before:

bench before

 

During:

during

 

and After:

kristens after

Gorgeous!

 

Hop on over and take a peek at Kristin’s very inspiring makeover.  She tells the whole story in two posts where she firsts paints her bench ~ ‘Heirloom White’ baby!   Then take a peek at this post where she reupholsters the bench for this amazing finished look. 

Fabulous inspiration, thanks so much Kristin!

 

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40 comments

  1. Thanks for another inspiring post! Your mention of falling leaves prompted a lovely memory of the years I lived in northern Virginia and the beautiful colors of the autumn leaves as they danced in the wind! Once they fell, they would cartwheel down the street and collapse in a glowing heap at the bottom of the hill. I miss experiencing autumn. (I live in north Texas now and have only about 2 weeks of fall in November before winter barrels in.)
    By the way, I love, love, love, your Print Friendly function! That makes it so much easier to save your posts for later reference. Thank you!

  2. Hi Kate! Thanks for all your kind words and the nice write up on the bench!
    I love when the season start to change, Oct is my favorite month. There is sure a chill in the air this week when I walk the kids to school. I love it!
    Have a great day!
    Kristin xoxo

  3. Happy Birthday!!–My birthday is Sept. 12th–I love Sept. it’s the month that here in the south we usually start getting less humidity and lower temps. Well this week the highs will be in the low to mid 90’s, but at least the mornings are cool enough for me to sit on the back porch, drink my morning coffee and check out my favorite blogs!! Lovein’ the bench makeover.

  4. Kate, this bench is fabulous, what an amazing makeover!!

    I have a New Giveaway from the French Basketeer I think you will love!

    Karena
    Art by Karena

  5. very nice re-do…but I’m wondering why you didn’t donate the magazines to your local school or even put out on freecycle?? Kids can use for different art projects even if you kept some of the pages.

  6. Hi Kate, you’re right about the donation! Off to fish some out and bring them to the local school ~ Thanks for the reminder that even discarded magazines have value!

  7. Fall is my favorite time of year even though my birthday is in winter. Did you make the leaves wind chime? It is really cute.

  8. I love to see fabulous makeover before and after pics. Thanks for sharing! This bench is beautiful! Have a lovely September day…I so agree with this being one of the best months of the year!

    Brandi

  9. Very nice transformation, but I have to admit that I the before is more my style. However, I have an old painted bench that would really look great if given this makeover!!

    :)
    ButterYum

  10. I am Njoying this beautiful September weather! The bench is Gorg! Yeah Kristin :)!

  11. Love the bench….Thank you for sharing. I miss fall; but I do love September! It is spring here and while it’s the opposite of the US; I suppose it feels the same in many ways. The first breath of the season to come while saying goodbye to the season just spent, etc…

  12. LOVE it!!! I’ll be so happy when Jim and I have been together long enough that I’m not afraid to paint everything I want to paint!!!

  13. Thanks for sharing another wonderful post Kate!! You said just right…fall is in the air!! …and for some reason I really get the “decorating bug” this time of year!! Thanks for introducing me to another wonderful blogg! Enjoy the Leaves….

  14. I’m really interested in the hanging fall leaves, which appears to be like a mobile in the fashion of
    chimes (likely wihtout the chiming). Did you make it? Purcuase? Please tell. ;-)

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