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One Room Challenge Week Five: Wood Bench Makeover

DIY Projects· Furniture· One Room Challenge· Renovations· The Guest Bedroom #2

1 Nov

Hello!

It’s week FIVE, friends. Where in the heck has all the time gone? I feel like it was just yesterday that we were talking about the bedroom plans and showing off what we wanted to do with the space.

And now it’s week five and we’re so close to that finish line!

Last week there was an announcement from Linda (the one in charge of this awesome challenge) at Calling it Home and the ORC is being extended one week. Given my minor OCD when it comes to planning and not doing too well with change, I took the news better than expected 😉 And the extension has been a blessing in disguise, so thank you, Linda!

Cozy nook seating corner

We were going to show off the closet today but given the extension, we’re pushing that back to next week and instead are sharing a quick and easy bench makeover along with the some bits of the cozy reading nook.

First, the bench.

I found this beauty at a garage sale for a whopping $10. Obviously it was just begging me to take it home.

The top had some pretty major water damage and since we have so much wood already in the room, I opted to paint it.

The color is an experiment that I threw together with paint we already had on hand. There was about 1/4 of green paint left over from the kitchen island update so I mixed that together with white primer and ta-da, it turned out! The color matched the green patterned sheets almost perfectly; needless to say I was pretty happy 🙂

I put on three coats of paint and went back and forth on whether or not to distress, antique or leave alone.

Surprisingly, I didn’t want to just leave it. Too boring! And we already had distressed nightstands. No, you can never have too much distressing, but I decided to go with an antiqued look.

For the dark wax I used DecoArt Creme Wax in Deep Brown and buffed it on with this antiquing brush.

I wasn’t in LOVE with it, so I went back over the whole piece with DecoArt Creme Wax in Transparent to soften the brown a bit, which turned out great.

cozy nook seating area

Now, for the cozy seating nook. 

I went back and forth on whether to put the bench in front of the bed or next to the chair. I really liked the mini ladder as the side table next to the chair, but it also looked too bare on the wall without something longer.

Spoiler alert, I swapped out the ladder for the bench and love it!

Since this is guest room, I put together a galvanized tray filled with some necessities [Q-tips, deoderant, bobby pins, hair binders, etc.].

Put out some great reading material [who can say no to Magnolia Magazine?].

And of course, added some more greenery, because you can never have too much, right?!

SO WHAT’S LEFT ON THE LIST?

Install plywood flooring
Paint the walls
Put together the bed
Make/find nigtstands
Make a bookshelf
Install closet shelving and storage
Make the picture ledge
Find/make light fixtures
Find/make wall decor
Put together the seating corner
Make over the wood bench
Install closet doors
Install room door


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Related posts:

One Room Challenge Week One: Rustic Farmhouse Bedroom Plans rustic industrial guest bedroom decorOne Room Challenge Week Seven: Rustic Industrial Guest Bedroom Final Reveal One Room Challenge Week Three: How to Install a Barn Wood Wall rustic farmhouse guest bedroomOne Room Challenge Week Three: The Bed, Bedding & Nightstands

18 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. moois van me says

    November 1, 2017 at 6:22 am

    Great make over!

    Reply
    • North Country Nest says

      November 1, 2017 at 7:44 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Susie says

    November 2, 2017 at 5:11 am

    Hey Miss Kelly! What a great score! That chest is amazing. Great color, too. I’d love to spend an afternoon in the reading nook with good coffee and a Magnolia magazine. #soundslikeheaven Can’t wait to see more of your vision coming together!! XOXO ~~Susie from The Chelsea Project

    Reply
    • North Country Nest says

      November 6, 2017 at 7:18 am

      Oh my gosh, you’re speakin’ my language, Susie! Thanks for all the kind words and stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  3. Emy says

    November 2, 2017 at 8:22 am

    Love that bench! The paint color you chose is so pretty!!

    Reply
    • North Country Nest says

      November 6, 2017 at 7:18 am

      Thank you so much, Emy!

      Reply
  4. mary says

    November 2, 2017 at 10:05 am

    That bench turned out fabulous! I need to keep my eye out at thrift stores for one like this!

    Reply
    • North Country Nest says

      November 6, 2017 at 7:18 am

      Yes, you do, Mary! Can’t beat those thrift store finds 🙂

      Reply
  5. Sherry Cole says

    November 2, 2017 at 2:49 pm

    That bench is definitely a score and a fabulous price. You have transformed it beautifully! I also love your flooring!

    Reply
    • North Country Nest says

      November 6, 2017 at 7:19 am

      Thank you, Sherry! The floor is my favorite part, too 🙂

      Reply
  6. Jessica says

    November 3, 2017 at 1:28 pm

    That bench turned out great! I’m really loving green lately. I’m working on some green bedside tables that are a pretty similar shade.

    Reply
    • North Country Nest says

      November 6, 2017 at 7:19 am

      Yes, green is calling my name lately! Can’t wait to see your bedside tables – I am sure they’ll turn out fantastic!

      Reply
  7. Libbie says

    November 6, 2017 at 6:41 am

    You can never go wrong with a thrifted bench and your is gorgeous!

    Reply
    • North Country Nest says

      November 6, 2017 at 7:20 am

      Oh, I totally agree that you can’t go wrong. Thanks for the kind words and stopping by!! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Susanne says

    November 8, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    What great find!! I love the color and what a wonderful host to add those little extras for your guest. I can’t wait to see the final reveal!!

    Reply
  9. Dannyelle says

    November 8, 2017 at 10:32 pm

    Looks like such a cozy spot already. I love a good garage sale find, great makeover!

    Reply
  10. Jessica | Petal + Ply says

    November 8, 2017 at 11:28 pm

    What a deal!!! Love the beautiful color you painted the chest too!

    Reply
  11. Ariel says

    November 9, 2017 at 8:47 am

    looking cute! love the shade of green/blue

    Reply

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We’re Brett and Kelly! A husband and wife team tackling our first complete home renovation. We love all things DIY, our two furbabes and lazy summer days out on the lake. Our mission? To share the journey of turning a house into a home.

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