I was very happy when I found these very old farmhouse style wooden benches in France in 2013. They were tucked against the wall and under some other things, but when I saw the bases of them I was intrigued and had to see more. I loved the shape of them and it didn't bother me that they were a bit banged up and had some paint spots on them. I knew I could use them in my home.
Last year, before we got the new king size bed, one of the benches sat at the end of our bed.
Then I wasn't using it in the master anymore so I placed it at the dining room table in place of the upholstered bench that moved to a guest room. There goes that domino thing again.
You can see what poor condition the seat was in.
I purchased one of Miss Mustard Seed's new colors in her milk paint line, bergere. I mixed it up and started painting it on.
This is what it looked like after the first coat.
After two quick coats it started doing it's thing.
It chipped and chipped some more. It was also a bit bluer than I wanted.
I mixed some Shutter Gray milk paint I had on hand with the bonding agent and brushed it over the Bergere and it peeled even more, but the blue did get toned down a bit.
I kind of like the way the layers turned out. It looks like a piece where many old layers of paint actually wore off over time and that is how it should look on a bench this old.
After sanding off all the loose paint I wiped it down with the hemp oil.
I removed the grain sack and wooden base from under the urn and thought it would just look cleaner and simpler on the table by itself.
Now the blue bench picks up the blue in the hutch.
This was a super easy update to this bench since this paint dries so quickly. I worked on this in the morning in my pj's and was finished with it way before lunch.
You can check out how I painted other pieces in this room at these links:
Table base
buffet top
hutch
buffet
Sharing here:
FNF
FFF
Met Monday
It chipped and chipped some more. It was also a bit bluer than I wanted.
I mixed some Shutter Gray milk paint I had on hand with the bonding agent and brushed it over the Bergere and it peeled even more, but the blue did get toned down a bit.
I kind of like the way the layers turned out. It looks like a piece where many old layers of paint actually wore off over time and that is how it should look on a bench this old.
After sanding off all the loose paint I wiped it down with the hemp oil.
I removed the grain sack and wooden base from under the urn and thought it would just look cleaner and simpler on the table by itself.
Now the blue bench picks up the blue in the hutch.
You can check out how I painted other pieces in this room at these links:
Table base
buffet top
hutch
buffet
Sharing here:
FNF
FFF
Met Monday
Looks fabulous in your dining room. I love the base on it and the new color is really pretty.
ReplyDeleteDarn, Kim, I wish you were my neighbor. I love your taste, and you can be so helpful to me when I'm stumped on what to put where. Once again, your changes are fantastic!!!
ReplyDeleteYour blue bench top with the old wood looks like so pretty with the blue in the armoire. I'm no decorator, but the thought came to me that if you put just a little blue paint on the rest of the bench and then took it off leaving just a tiny trace of blue on the legs and below the seat, it would look like it was authentic.
ReplyDeleteLove the change! You are so good with that paint!
ReplyDeleteLove the bench. I have to try that milk paint. I love the look!
ReplyDeletePerfect for your dining room! The color is great. Good job, Kim. Love that urn too!!!
ReplyDeleteLove that the paint that you added adds so much more character to the bench...I know you...you will probably add another layer of paint down the road ~ ~ and that would certainly lend to the look of many years of paint on that very amazing bench!
ReplyDeleteKim your bench make over is fabulous! I love your home and you decorate with such style.
ReplyDeleteLove the update! It looks great with the blue background in the hutch.
ReplyDeleteI love the new look!
ReplyDeleteLove the color...it gives your bench so much more personality!
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
Nothing I love more than a pretty and easy diy!! It looks perfect there!!
ReplyDeleteIt's perfect! Just that bit of blue makes your dining all that much more special! You always seem to know what something needs!
ReplyDeleteLove the color....it looks really pretty in your dining room!
ReplyDelete~Des
Love everything about your dining room! Haven't tried milk paint yet. love what you did with the bench.
ReplyDeleteLove the dusty blue tone it has, great way to add a little color.
ReplyDeleteLove what you did with the top of the bench.......just enough!!
ReplyDeleteGreat update Kim...love all that chippiness!
ReplyDeleteKim this turned out great!!! I wish I could get passed my fear of milk paint. I've had many tell me to go for but I'm so intimidated. Chalk paint and wax or glaze I'm fine
ReplyDeleteCindy
looks perfect in your dining room. great job! mj
ReplyDeleteI love these changes and the bench looks great! I haven't used the milk paint {yet}. My take away is the urn with the hydrangeas and antlers... just what I was looking for on my table! Never seen that combo. Wonderful!! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYour dining room is just PERFECT! Love it! The colors, everything...
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day, take care!
Titti
I love the paint on your bench and I can't wait to try the new MMS colors. You continue to inspire me. Sometimes one little change makes big impact. I love the urn on your table...and the sconces, too! Hugs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great bench and I love the layers of "aged" paint you added. Did you shop at flea markets while in France? I've been to the large one on the outskirts of Paris (can't remember the name!) only once... it was amazing!! Have a wonderful weekend! ~julie
ReplyDeleteJulie, I shopped on half a day at the Paris Flea and then went to Normandy with a group and shopped all over.
DeleteLove the new look of the bench.
ReplyDelete~Cindy
I love it Kim!! The new patina on it is perfect!
ReplyDeleteThe finish is so pretty. Like a patina it would have developed had it been painted many years ago. It looks perfect in your dining room!
ReplyDeleteI love it. I never get that much "chip" when I use the milk paint, and I end up having to work on it more. I need to practice I think.
ReplyDeleteI love how the colour goes so well with the hutch! I have an old hutch that is in a very bad state and I've been considering painting it since the wood is such in a bad state... I think your post is encouraging me to do it!
ReplyDeleteLove how it turned out, since blue is my all time favorite color for most anything
ReplyDeleteI love it! You did a great job! I've got some of MMS paint in ' tricycle' and I can't wait to transform something from ordinary to awesome!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful color Kim! Love how milk paint creates that cool chippy patina.I love using chalk paint and milk paint together.
ReplyDeleteI like the look you achieved. I like your urn with the hydrangeas and antlers- great look!
ReplyDelete