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Drop Leaf Table Turned Potting Bench Tutorial

April 8, 2015 by Patti 39 Comments

“I’m your favorite kid, right mom?”

I smile in amusement.

“Come on, admit it. You know I’m your favorite.”

The question my youngest daughter used to love to pressure me to answer . . . and maybe . . . even as an adult . . . still does from time-to-time.

Don’t we all want to be someone’s favorite?  I know I do!

Only a mom can understand how there can be more than one favorite . . . or God.

Today I’m sharing the Drop Leaf Table Turned Potting Bench that I painted a couple of summers ago but never got around to sharing here with you.  Of all of the furniture pieces I’ve painted I’d have to say that this shabby little potting bench is one of my favorites!

Potting Bench 012

No, I don’t have a full “before” picture (my bad) but you all know what a drop leaf table looks like anyway, right?  This was a fairly large one so I knew it would have plenty of work space as a potting bench.  But enough talk already, let’s get started with the tutorial.  If you want to skip the tutorial you can scroll right to the end for all the pretty pictures of my sweet potting bench!

Drop Leaf into Potting Bench 001

I began by unscrewing the hinges from one of the leaves while leaving the other side of the hinge connected to the table.  Then I used my saw to remove the brace that would no longer be needed to hold the leaf in the “up” position.

Drop Leaf PB 002

Next I reattached the hinges to the TOP of the table so the leaf would stand in a vertical position.  This is front of the table . . .

Drop Leaf PB 001

. . . and this is the back (where the hinges used to be attached).

Drop Leaf PB 003

With a piece of scrap wood and some store bought legs I added a little shelf to my table, attaching it with screws.

Drop Leaf PB 005

Next was the addition of this old enamelware piece that I thought would make a great dry sink for potting.

04-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 004After tracing the hole size I would need I drilled a few big holes to get my jigsaw started and went to work cutting.  For any of you fine crafters of wood, you will notice that I am NOT!  I like the construction part to be done quickly so I can get on with the painting.  So the hole looks a bit ugly here but it will be okay once I put the dry sink in!

07-06-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 006I worked on this project out on my deck overlooking the lake (this is the house where we used to live in Washington State) and found inspiration from the many colors of summer.  I began with my base color . . .

09-08-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 008. . . layered on a second color . . .

10-09-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 009. . . and then a third!

11-10-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 010 . . . all to begin the process of sanding it back so the layers of color and bare wood would show through!  

1-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 002

2-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 003

06-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 013That’s Cozy lounging while I’m hard at work.

5-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 006

On to the stripes which I painted from samples of these lovely lakeside colors!

4-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 005

Taping, painting, drying, taping, painting, drying, . . . etc.

1-Drop Leaf Potting Bench 001

More sanding to distress my piece heavily and I was ready for the addition of lettering.  A tutorial for transferring typography can be found right HERE.

4-Potting Bench After 007

2-Potting Bench Drop Leaf 002

Once all the painting was complete I chose to deepen my colors using an Early American colored wood stain . . .

cabot spar varnish

. . . and after the recommended drying time I applied three coats of spar varnish so my potting bench would stand up to Pacific Northwest weather.

Potting Bench 008

Potting Bench 011-001

Potting Bench 016-001

3-Potting Bench After 006

As you can see I added tool hangers using faucet valves.  These were around $3-4 each from the hardware store but I’ve since found some antique valves which I have stashed for the next potting bench.

Potting Bench 017-001

Potting Bench 018

1-Potting Bench After 002

 2-Potting Bench After 003

Potting Bench 012

When I look at pictures of this little potting bench it makes me feel happy as it brings back fond memories of summer on the lake.  I took this potting bench to the Queen Bee French Flea market where I ended up selling it to one of my very dearest friends!

My Summer Workshop 004

By the way, the Queen Bee French Flea is coming up again this August.

queen bee french flea 2015

Mark your calendars if you live in the area because IT. Is. Going. To. Be. Fantastic!

I hope my potting bench brought a smile to your face and reminded those of you still feelin’ the cold that Spring is right around the corner!  Love you guys and I hope you know that you are ALL my favorites!

Blessings,

My Signature-001

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
 UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive,
ThreeMangoSeeds,  NiftyThriftyThings,
SilverPenniesSundays, SundaySoiree, SundaysAtHome
Monday:
 IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor,  ModVintageLife,  TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns, WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, HuckleberryLove, CarrieThisHome, Dwellings, AnExtraordinaryDay,
InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, RedheadCanDecorate
Tuesday:
HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse,  NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,NotJustAHousewife, 
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
TwirlAndTakeABow, TheWinthropChronicles, 7Alive,  Maison de Pax, VintageInspirationParty
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, IvyAndElephants,  DIYByDesign, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove,
SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond, Fishtail Cottage,  TheCityFarmhouse,
BeyondThePicketFence, TheBlissfulBee, Posed Perfection, Inspiration2
Thursday:
NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife, AKAWeekendRetreat,
KatherinesCorner, PrettyPreppyParty
Friday:
FrenchCountryCottage, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme,  TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,
 DIYVintageChic,
ShabbyliciousFriday
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal,
OneMoreTimeEvents,  SayG’DaySaturday,  SaturdaySparks,
TheInspirationGallery
Drop Leaf to Potting Bench
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Filed Under: Antiques and Collectibles, DIY, Flowers, Furniture Painting, furniture restoration, Gardening, Lakeside Living, Old Junk Transformations, Re-purposing, Spring, Tutorial Tagged With: DIY, Furniture Painting, Gardening, Lakeside living, old junk transformations, Potting BenchTutorial, re-purposing, Spring

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Comments

  1. Sharon H says

    April 8, 2015 at 12:13 pm

    Awww, Patti……I knew “I” was your favorite!! LOL

    love that adorable transformation you did on that table! I’m not sure I could do that to a sweet, drop-leaf table, though.

    Reply
  2. Yvonne says

    April 8, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    Cute! Now I am missing my big deck. My new deck is tiny. Maybe I could find a space for something like this under the deck.

    Reply
  3. Heather C says

    April 8, 2015 at 7:57 pm

    That is a wonderful use of an unwanted or discarded drop leaf table, I love the round tin. It’s perfect!

    Reply
  4. Virginia says

    April 8, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    That is a gorgeous and unique potting bench. Love your creativity! Pinning.

    Reply
  5. Audra @ Renewed Projects says

    April 8, 2015 at 9:14 pm

    Incredibly beautiful!!!! Just love the distressing on those legs! Functional and fabulous!

    Reply
  6. Marigene says

    April 9, 2015 at 12:20 am

    I ♥♥♥ the colors you chose for your potting bench…it looks fantastic!

    Reply
  7. Brenda says

    April 9, 2015 at 12:46 am

    This project turned out so nice! What a transformation.

    Reply
  8. Pam@over50feeling40 says

    April 9, 2015 at 11:06 am

    Great job…it is so cute. Thanks for telling us how to do this on the Thursday Blog Hop!

    Reply
  9. Lisa J says

    April 9, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    Hi! Found you on Thursday Favorite Things Blog hop – love your finished project.

    Reply
  10. Cheryl says

    April 9, 2015 at 11:17 pm

    This is awesome!! Love what you did!

    Reply
  11. Rhonda says

    April 10, 2015 at 9:08 am

    My first visit to your blog, I found you on MMS, and I had to pop in and tell you what a clever idea on how to repurpose a drop leaf table! Genius, and I love how you painted it as well!! Love!

    Reply
  12. Jann olson says

    April 10, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    Patti, such a clever idea. I love it! The hose knobs to hang things are so cute! The flea market sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply
  13. Cecilia MyThriftStoreAddiction says

    April 10, 2015 at 8:25 pm

    Hello, visiting from Catch as Catch Can! I love everything about this from your repurpose to the the fabulous colors! My grown girls say that to me all the time 😉 Blessings, Cecilia

    Reply
  14. Julia - Vintage with Laces says

    April 11, 2015 at 12:52 am

    What a fabulous idea and very well done! I love the colors and the details like the enameled bowl and the faucet valves.

    Reply
  15. Kari-Anne says

    April 11, 2015 at 2:04 pm

    This is simply amazing. I’ve seen many redone and repurposed projects, but this one is a whole new level of transformation! I would of never thought to add the shelf and reverse the drop leaf. Thank-you for your inspiration.

    Reply
  16. Katherines Corner says

    April 11, 2015 at 11:21 pm

    such a wonderful transformation! Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. xo

    Reply
  17. Carol Cook says

    April 13, 2015 at 12:20 pm

    My hand is well enough that I can easily scroll through blogs and actually leave responses.

    The recipe for you salad looks yummy and I am trying to whittle away a few pounds before I head up north to shop with my daughter for a Mother of the Groom dress.

    I absolutely love the potting table and wish I had room to cut a whole in the top of mine to put in a bowl. I will copy your idea for cute hooks to hang my tools. Now I see how tacky my plain old nails look.

    Reply
  18. Pamela Smith says

    April 14, 2015 at 10:10 am

    Great colors! and the setting is beautiful! I made a potting table out of old pickets. There are just so many possibilities out there! Thank you for sharing your idea. I am visiting fro Share It today.

    Reply
  19. Sherry says

    April 14, 2015 at 1:19 pm

    That is a great makeover Patti! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

    Reply
  20. Kathy says

    April 15, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    This is simply amazing, Patti – gorgeous – I will be featuring your post in this week’s Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

    Reply
  21. Life Images by Jill says

    April 15, 2015 at 10:19 pm

    What a gorgeous potting bench. I am so glad that one of your friends bought it. Thank you for the great tutorial. I am going to mark this so I can come back, as I have a little project to do at home and I didn’t even know where to start. Thank you so much.
    Have a wonderful weekend ahead. I am joining you over at What’s it Wednesday.

    Reply
  22. gail says

    April 16, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    Fabulous transformation on this old table. Great job!

    catching you!
    gail

    Reply
  23. Mila says

    April 17, 2015 at 9:01 am

    Color is amazing! Real eye candy!
    I hope you’ll find the time to link up with us this week:
    http://milaslittlethings.com/2015/04/idea-box-thursday-link-party-6.html

    xx
    Mila

    Reply
  24. Pat says

    April 17, 2015 at 10:11 pm

    Patti,
    Absolutely a d o r a b l e drop leaf table turned potting bench, dear friend!!!
    Love the explanation of the process and the finished product!!!
    Have a wonderful weekend ahead!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

    Reply
  25. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    April 21, 2015 at 8:02 am

    Oh my gosh Patti, this is so darn cute! Happy to feature you at our party this morning. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  26. Jenna says

    April 22, 2015 at 8:08 am

    So brilliant, love the colors, and the wood stain technique~and the french words, it should be on a magazine cover!

    Reply
  27. Tabatha says

    April 27, 2015 at 12:52 pm

    Perfect. I love the details, from the added shelf to the bowl and even the tap on the under side. Thank you for sharing your creation.

    Reply
  28. Jennifer Smith says

    June 25, 2015 at 10:06 am

    Such a stunning transformation and a great tutorial.

    Reply

Trackbacks

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OldThingsNew

I am Perfectly Imperfect Patti, daughter of the King, wife to the amazing Mr. OTN, mom to two grown daughters, a great son-in-law, and companion to two spoiled dogs. At Old Things New I share DIY’s, budget friendly home transformations, as well as posts about how God transforms our souls. I myself have been made new and I love to share what I’ve learned through WRITING and SPEAKING. To view a short Vimeo of “Our Story” (Mr. OTN and I) please follow the link at the top of the page.

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