I’m sharing my latest project—a rustic garden bench! Y’all know I love to do easy projects as fill ins for the larger stuff I do. Designing my own projects and building from scratch is my favorite thing to do. When the weather is pretty and I’m able to be outside doing what I love, it just makes my heart sing!
So, while looking for my next “easy” project, I scrounged around in the garage, and this is what I came up with . . .
I have oodles of crib rails, and I was trying to figure out a way to use up some of the stuff I have in storage.
I gathered up one set of rails, some weathered wood, including 2×4’s and fence boards. I also dug out a couple of old porch spindles I got when one of my favorite Peddler’s Mall’s closed. I got a lot of these old spindles for $5. That was months ago, and I haven’t used a single one. It was a chore just finding them, and trying to pry two out of the pile. You will see later that I really should have dug a couple of more out to choose from. I didn’t get the cream of the crop.
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After a little measuring and designing the bench in my head, I cut some of the weathered 2×4’s to use as a skirt for the bench. I chose 4×4’s for the legs of my new rustic garden bench. My Kreg Jig was the perfect tool to quickly attach all of my pieces together.
I used my combination square to make sure all of the the boards were spaced the same as I secured my pocket hole screws.
It’s always a challenge getting to the the screws on the shorter sides. I used my right angle drill to secure those screws.
I clamped the crib rail to the back of the bench, and secured it with screws all along the back.
It’s looking a little funny—I’m not sure at this point that it’s going to come together.
This is the wood I used for the frame, legs and the seat.
I had to cut the spindles on an angle to get them to rest properly on the back and the seat.
I used my nail gun and Gorilla wood glue to secure the spindles. I used a large chip brush and some watered down white paint to do a wash over the bench, much like I did for my potting bench/outdoor entertainment center.
I set some flowers around it. I still love these planter koozies I made a couple of years ago. I like the way they hide the planters. Have you ever seen my repurposed floor lamp into a solar light? It looks so cute lit up at night.
So, I’m not thrilled with how the bench turned out, but for an outdoor rustic garden bench, I think it fits the bill.
gail
Sharing this project at The Vintage Inspiration Party
Love it, pinned it, scheduled a post to FB and all that before I knew it was linked at the VIP, so it’s my pick as a feature too!
Your furniture creations are always jaw dropping! You sure know how to turn a pile of scraps into something fabulous. Thanks, Gail, for sharing at Vintage Inspiration Party.
Gail! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an awesome project!!!!!
You go girl! Thanks for the inspiration!
Happy day!
karianne
I think it turned out awesome – like everything you make! Thanks for sharing it at the Vintage Inspiration Party!
Love it Gail! You are the repurposing Queen 🙂
Debbie
Gail you are an inspiration to us all and I thank-you for that. Thanks for sharing and keep on sharing, I also like the spindle’s slanted on the side.
This is so fun and different! I think it would be perfect in a garden, I think the slanted side spindles make it look super cute!
I love the pieces you used to put this together Gail. It’s a one of a kind piece, and it turned out great!
Oh, I just love this! I really like it because it’s different. We have made a few of the headboard benches, which are fine, but this has a little something different.
Cute! It would look good with a wreath hanging on the back!
You are so right Holly! I should have thought of that…. maybe if it goes to Glendale–I’ll do that.
i think you got just what you were going for a cool rustic bench xx
Love it, Gail……very nice job. Great fall setting!
Gail, I love your projects.
Dorothy,
I love that you stopped by to check out my latest project!
gail
Love it!! You inspire me with every project you post, thank you!!!!!!
Loving how you pulled all he different pieces together…kind of like a puzzle, to make this bench. I think it’s cool and it will be perfect in an outdoor garden:)