You should make a shutter garden bench ! What? Don't have a shutter? No problem! You can use bi-fold doors in place of shutters. I do it for a lot of my "shutter projects".
Chippy Shutter Shelf
Earlier in the week I made this cute shutter shelf out of a repurposed shutter. No sooner than I got it made, I thought to myself “gee, this would look great with legs.” But it was too late. I would have had to put the legs on before I attached the two pieces together.
Shutter Garden Bench
So, today I'm going to show you how to build this cute garden plant bench.
Using bi-fold Doors for Shutter Garden Bench
I had these bi-folding doors in the shed. NO, I did not paint them, that is the way I found them. I cut them on the table saw. To get the right look, I had to use the same piece from each one.
Making Legs for Garden Bench
Rummaging through the shed, I found some porch spindles. I decided to cut out part of the top of the leg, thinking it might make it a little more sturdy. After I cut the first one, it was used it to draw a pattern on the other 3 pieces.
Cut Notches with a Jigsaw
My jigsaw made cutting the notches fairly easy.
I used screws to attach the legs on the top. Then, I used my nail gun to shoot some nails in the front of the leg of the shutter garden bench.
Attach Back to the Shutter Garden Bench
I then turned it upside down and attached the other shutter to make a back for my new bench.
Plan B on the Legs
The legs ended up being long enough for me to cut the little square “feet” off. Don't you like the shutter garden bench a lot better with the feet cut off?
Isn’t it cute? That paint job is perfect for a garden bench. I can’t imagine me having these doors in my house though.
You may notice I used the other two pieces leftover from my crib parts table.
Here is the shutter garden bench sitting in my front yard. I currently have no potted plants/flowers. I’m hoping to get some for mother’s day.
I didn’t paint anything on this bench. I may not even seal it. If it gets weathered, all the better.
The brace on the right is a little chewed up. It got away from me on the compound miter saw. The saw blade chewed it up, and spit it out! It threw it so far in the garage it took me a minute or so to even locate it. I’ve never had a piece of wood get away from me on the miter saw before. I’m assuming it has something to do with it not sitting flush on the saw due to it’s round shape. I sanded it, and decided to use it anyway. Let this be a reminder to respect power tools!
This is how it looks in the back.
Too cute, huh?
Look what Dawn said in her comment about the “chippy shutter shelf”
Dawn said...
Oh what a cool piece! When the shelf is on the bottom, it makes me want to see it with table legs on it, as an entry table, decorative potting bench, or smaller sofa table. So cute! Oh, and when the shelf is on top, it looks like an adorable wall shelf to hang - anywhere!
Wow, love pieces with such variable use applications, too much fun!
Little did she know that I had already made this!
Did You Know?
If you follow me on facebook or twitter, you know I got in a fight on Wednesday. This is the culprit:
awww look at louie hanging out in the background!
I was stomping on the dead parts of this limb, breaking off the branches. Then I rolled it over to get some leverage, stomped as hard as I could. It rolled back and smacked me right up side the head! Rattled my brains, and caused and instant headache.
Do you see how fortunate I was? This limb has been hanging for almost 2 years (since Ike blew through here). It was dangling directly over 3 lines. Power, cable and telephone. When it fell, it shook the house. BUT, it didn’t take down any of the lines. So, it’s a good news bad news story. 😉
gail
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Phyllis
This is such a fantastic idea! I purchased a pair of mini shutters last fall and have been trying to figure out something really creative to do with them. Now i know! Thanks for the inspiration š
Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence
That patina is divine--what an adorable little bench--thanks so much for linking up Gail!
Kendra
Lovin' it! Very cute!
Meg
Adorable. I say let it get weathered! You have a great talent with wood! š I need a miter saw!!!
Barbara Jean
That is all tooo cute!!
And how creative. Guess you know I've got several sets of those doors in my garage. (I have several sets of everything in my garage!!)
Now to find some time. Anyone got any they want to share?? =)
ha!! What am i thinking??
Thanks for your visit to myu place and sweet note.
See you tomorrow, and thanks!!
blessings
barbara jean
Patti
I love it! I have a few shutters, I don't know if I can make it look that good.
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage
Gorgeous!!!! I think it looks great!!!
Candace@craftysisters-nc
Great idea to use it for a bench. Very cute! The color of the shutter is great! Another great project!
Debilou~Mississippi Mama
Hi, Gail
I think i like the bench even better than the shelf,, it'll be even more beautiful a little weathered. So glad the limb didnt take down your power lines. I'm having a little giveaway if you'd like to hop over and join.
De Javu Crafts
i am all about benches these days, i love yours! CUTE! stop by some time to check mine out!dejavucrafts.blogspot.com
Mardell
I love it!! You did a fantastic job ~ I like it w/o the feet, too. :o)
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Dawn
Oh my stars, that is so much better than my feeble imagination allowed for! I love the notched legs! The patina is amazing, I'm so glad you didn't touch it. So darn cute, it looks so cute out in the yard with plants - I really like this one!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
what was funny was that when i saw your project with the shelf i was so excited because i had made a table a few weeks back with a shutter and i still have the mate, so i thought, oooh- i could make a long shelf with it! but i love the bench, too! i still love the shelf idea, but it's so perfect to sit outside as a nice welcome to friends and visitors, birds and squirrels and fairies of course!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
what was funny was that when i saw your project with the shelf i was so excited because i had made a table a few weeks back with a shutter and i still have the mate, so i thought, oooh- i could make a long shelf with it! but i love the bench, too! i still love the shelf idea, but it's so perfect to sit outside as a nice welcome to friends and visitors, birds and squirrels and fairies of course!
Vivian
Now that is one great project! I never would have thought to do that.
Rose
That little potting table is sooo cute gail! I love the color, how lucky for you to not have to do any painting!
Nice job notching the legs to fit. I'll have to try that one.
Ouchy on both the tree and the saw!
You be careful girl!
Be well my friend,
Rose