Industrial and schoolhouse chic are definitely making the rounds these days, and I really love mixing the two. You still get the feeling of nostalgia and coziness with a hard edged urban twist. I have been decorating the farmhouse in this style with a modern twist for good measure. I had been going back and forth with getting a bench for our breakfast nook for two months and really didn't see anything that caught my attention, so I decided to make my own. It took minimal effort and I got exactly what I was looking for, win-win situation. Wanna make a bench of your own? Here's how...
You Will Need:
- safety wear (goggles, dust mask and gloves)
- a scrap piece of lumber
- sand paper (medium/#80 and fine/ #120 grit) by hand or for your sander
- stain and a disposable cloth or brush
- varnish
- legs, screws, and washers
How To:
- Find a piece of scrap lumber that you like. I got mine in the clearance bin at my local lumber store. It was the look I wanted, and she just had to come home with me.
- Cut down to size if need be. Then sand down all sides and edges of the wood with your medium grit paper. Mine was in rough shape, so I had to sand it quite a bit to get it smooth. I also rounded all of the edges. Then I ran over it a few times with my fine grit paper. Make sure there are no areas that could give potential splinters later on.
- It's best to do these next two steps outside or in a garage with ventilation for they are toxic. Choose a stain color and start staining. I used a combo of pine and walnut from OSMO. I prefer to rub it in with a cloth, but you can use either a brush or a cloth to apply your stain. I had set up the wood on two sawhorses, so I could easily flip it over to get the underside. I went through five rounds of staining.
- Next comes your sealing varnish. I used Behlan's Salad Bowl Finish. Brush on a few coats and let dry for a day or two.
- In the meantime begin searching for your bench legs. You can find legs in a thrift store, have some fabricated, or oder some pre-made online. I got mine from Modern Legs on etsy.
- Measure where your legs will go, mark them, and screw them in with a washer in between. Now you are ready to find your new bench's perfect home and enjoy the well deserved fruits of your labor.
More Posts on the Kitchen Renovation:
- How To: Build a Butcher Block Top
- Before {and} After: the Breakfast Nook
- How To: Make This Industrial Schoolhouse Bench
Images: alysha findley
