{"id":34665,"date":"2025-01-18T11:54:09","date_gmt":"2025-01-18T11:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/alabama\/build-a-bench-gather-make\/"},"modified":"2025-01-18T11:54:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-18T11:54:09","slug":"build-a-bench-gather-make","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=34665","title":{"rendered":"Build a Bench – Gather & Make"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Benches can be quite versatile: Put one in front of the wood stove for cozy comfort; barricade a staircase to corral the dogs downstairs; slide one over to the dinner table to accommodate extra friends; keep one at the entryway so family can easily remove their shoes; place one near the windows for star gazing at night. Right now as I type my new bench is blocking the kitchen while we’re training the dogs it’s a no-go zone.<\/p>\n

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Staying home during Covid has given me time to research and complete projects that have been percolating over the years. A few Christmases ago I was gifted a bundle of the most beautiful fabric from a dear friend. It was woven at a women’s cooperative in Antigua where she purchased it on her travels through Guatemala. My friend knew I would love it and find the perfect project to showcase it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We had a sturdy, solid wood board left over from another project that was just begging to be made into a bench. With a little research I found that most benches measure anywhere from 12-24″ deep and 24-48″ and longer. My board was 16″ wide, and my husband cut it to 42″ for me. I ordered sturdy wrought iron legs online, and wood screws since it did not come with any.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are many very good upholstering videos on youtube with all the details and tips from seasoned professionals in the upholstering business. After watching a few I got the gist of how it is done. I opted for a good quality 3″ foam and quilt batting for my padding. I used spray adhesive, a staple gun, cordless drill, hammer, and that’s about it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For this style of bench I preferred insetting the legs a little instead of placing them flush with the edge. I asked for opinions on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0about a couple details, and received some great feedback and ideas. Thank you, friends! My scraps of leather were too thin on their own. Luckily I had an old suede skirt that I bought at a thrift shop for a Halloween costume eons ago.\u00a0 I cut wide strips of suede to use as the base and placed the thin leather strips on top. Just the look I was after, and I was able to use what I had on hand and avoid any shopping.<\/p>\n

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It feels good to finish a project that I’ve been thinking about for years, and finally utilize that gorgeous fabric so I can see and admire it every day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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