I’ve made several chair benches, but really only one end of bed bench out of chairs. It was years ago, and I never really liked it very much. I believe it was too long (wide). But honestly, the one I’m sharing with you today might also be too long. In addition, I painted it black, but I’m not sure I’m loving the color.
I think y’all know I’m always open to honest feedback because I know I can trust you to be kind with your words. 
I picked up these two chairs during my Vendors’ Village Shopping Spree just so I could make another Double Chair Bench
The first step to this kind of project is to start dismantling the chair by removing the seat and investigating how the chair is assembled.
If you look closely, you will see how the chair is assembled and needs to come apart. I started by removing these screws.
You can see the joint on the right that connects the back of the chair to the side (seat).
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There are dowels connecting these two pieces. A Dremel Multi-Max makes easy work of flush cutting.
By the way-see that white truck I use to borrow? Here’s what it looks like now:
Luckily, Jamie’s dad escaped being t-boned with only a broken arm. That was at the end of February, and he still hasn’t purchased another truck, so I am down to hauling anything and everything in my SUV.
Okay, back to the tutorial of the end of the bed bench…
After removing the seat of the chair I sanded the areas to get a smooth surface for attaching the new frame to each chair back.
see below:
I use an orbital sander for these tasks.
I drilled pocket holes with my Kreg Jig in a 1×4 to use as the frame for the new chair bench.
I used a Kreg Right Angle Clamp to secure the frame and pocket hole screws to secure the joint, along with some Gorilla Wood Glue.
I used some hardwood flooring pieces for the bottom cross brace, securing it with some Simpson StrongTie wood screws—countersunk.
This is a dry fit to make sure it all came together okay. I used some free planks I picked up when I was in Nashville helping Jamie and Andy move.
I used a piece of scrap wood to space the planks, along with my adjustable combination square to make sure each plank matched the other. I secured each plant with my Ryobi nail gun.
I like to grab extra items for painting when I’m using my Homeright Finish Max. Raising the bench up on my new DIY easy sawhorses makes the job much easier.
This is after a couple coats of DIY chalky paint primer. (My favorite way to paint my projects)
I ended up doing 2 coats of chalky paint primer and three light coats of semi-gloss paint as a top coat with my Finish Max. I love how pretty the paint looks!
I staged it on my faux portable wall instead of hauling in the house to photograph it at the end of the bed.
The lower shelf offers room for storage as well as below the lower shelf.
I plan to take it to my booth at Vendors’ Village .
You have all the details, what would you have done differently?
gail
Recent comments and questions April 17, 2010
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Your bench is so awesome, how you were able to repurpose broken down chairs to wonderful end of bed bench, takes some good old imagination and common sense..
If I’d been able to do that would be proud of myself as you sure should be. You are one very crafty lady.
Would love to ask hubs to make one but he’s having hard time after a stroke(2010) being able to physically handle things and mental ability to figure out how. He lost good chunk of brain matter with his stroke but doesn’t want to think about it. He’s actually pretty lucky to have come out of it as he did so am grateful and don’t ask for too many projects .Getting old isn’t always lots of fun, duh. Enjoy seeing your wonderful projects all the time.
Hope rest of your week is great for you.
Thank you so much for your very thoughtful comment. Getting old can definitely be a challenge. I hope to stay active doing what I love because I think the longer I do it, the longer I will be able to do it. 🙂 I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I wish him the best, and he’s lucky to have you by his side!
Thanks for being a friend of MRL!
gail
Wow, I love that! I would’ve painted it a different color.. but only because black wouldn’t match in my bedroom. But cool project and very well done!
thanks so much Jen!! Since I’ll be selling it, black or white always works best. 🙂
This is super cool! I love this different take on a “two chair” bench! Way to think outside the box. Thanks so much for choosing my dresser to tv stand post to be featured. I really appreciate it.
Thanks for your kind words about my chair bench Michelle!
You’re welcome for the feature, I love a great repurposed dresser! Thanks for sharing your projects at Talk of the Town!
gail
I like it a lot and I think to improve it slightly you might consider running the seat boards the other way. That might give you a look more compatible with the more formal chair backs.
Hey Gail, I love this bench, I suppose its because I love the chairs! I’m so excited to start some painting with the awesome Homeright Finish Max Sprayer and Spray Shelter. Thank you for sharing your amazing projects.
Hi Gail!! I am loving the curvy chair backs on the sides, I think it would look so perfect at the end of a bed! I would put a colorful cushion on the top seat too, just for fun. I love it!! You are so creative!
Gail, love the bench. You are so handy with tools and paint, I’m jealous! Lol. It’s not too dark, the planks aren’t like a picnic table, it’s perfect! I would love to own this! Enjoy your blog and all your interesting projects. Rebecca
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As it is I think its very nice. I tend to agree with you that perhaps it is a bit too dark, but I tend to lean towards the light and cheery or neutral colors. And I may have even gone a little bit longer with it with those beautiful chairs and made a day bed out of it with a support in the center splitting the bottom rack into 2 shelves.. Just an idea.
I Love this project! It would be awesome with a cushion too! I’ve yet to make your recipe for primer, but know I need to! Pinning:)
I love the added shelve and the planks and the color looks marvelous another great job. And thank God you’re friends father is ok after the accident looking at the truck it looks like it could have been much worse. Take care and great work
I love the way the black paint looks. Nice finish. If you want another idea/suggestion, I would agree that the style of the harp back chairs would be better suited to a more refined look to the bench/seating component. I also feel that the design of the harp chairs is so pretty, but not visible as ends of the bench. You don’t get to enjoy their beauty from the front view as you look at the bench. Just my thoughts. I aspire to be as handy with tools as you are! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this process from beginning to end!
gail not saying your perfect but you don’t make many mistakes and i do not think you did here, black is a good color some one isgonna freak over this and cart it home with a big smile on their face xx
It’s great. I would put a big long cushion across it for comfort. What you could do is use a jigsaw to make the bottom edge of the top front cross piece curved. (Hard to explain, but from the left side up and down and up again!) That way it would match the legs a bit more.
Yes, Julie, a great idea about making it match the legs a bit more. sometimes I get lazy. 🙁
I recently re-watched A&E Pride and Prejudice and the bench made from three chairs in the Bennett’s parlor reminded me of you. I like the idea of this end-of-the-bed bench, but I think I would have liked to have seen a bit more formal look to the seat. The chair backs are curvy and old world, so the picnic bench style slats don’t quite do it for me. I’d probably cover it up with a pretty cushion and some pillows if I bought it.
I totally agree Kate, but it’s one of those cases that I used what I had. I’m not sure what I should have used. 😉
gail
I love this!
I need one of these! Love it!
Debbie
I love the harp-back chairs. I never think to use them on the ends of the bench like this. I love how this turned out!
Thanks for stopping by Suesan! I appreciate it.
gail