“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!
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!
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.
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 . . .
. . . and this is the back (where the hinges used to be attached).
With a piece of scrap wood and some store bought legs I added a little shelf to my table, attaching it with screws.
Next was the addition of this old enamelware piece that I thought would make a great dry sink for potting.
After 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!
I 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 . . .
. . . layered on a second color . . .
. . . and then a third!
. . . all to begin the process of sanding it back so the layers of color and bare wood would show through!
That’s Cozy lounging while I’m hard at work.
On to the stripes which I painted from samples of these lovely lakeside colors!
Taping, painting, drying, taping, painting, drying, . . . etc.
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.
Once all the painting was complete I chose to deepen my colors using an Early American colored wood stain . . .
. . . and after the recommended drying time I applied three coats of spar varnish so my potting bench would stand up to Pacific Northwest weather.
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.
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!
By the way, the Queen Bee French Flea is coming up again this August.
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,
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
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.
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.
That is a wonderful use of an unwanted or discarded drop leaf table, I love the round tin. It’s perfect!
That is a gorgeous and unique potting bench. Love your creativity! Pinning.
Incredibly beautiful!!!! Just love the distressing on those legs! Functional and fabulous!
I ♥♥♥ the colors you chose for your potting bench…it looks fantastic!
This project turned out so nice! What a transformation.
Great job…it is so cute. Thanks for telling us how to do this on the Thursday Blog Hop!
Hi! Found you on Thursday Favorite Things Blog hop – love your finished project.
This is awesome!! Love what you did!
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!
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
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
What a fabulous idea and very well done! I love the colors and the details like the enameled bowl and the faucet valves.
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.
such a wonderful transformation! Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. xo
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.
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.
That is a great makeover Patti! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
This is simply amazing, Patti – gorgeous – I will be featuring your post in this week’s Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
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.
Fabulous transformation on this old table. Great job!
catching you!
gail
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
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
Oh my gosh Patti, this is so darn cute! Happy to feature you at our party this morning. Thanks so much for sharing!
So brilliant, love the colors, and the wood stain technique~and the french words, it should be on a magazine cover!
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.
Such a stunning transformation and a great tutorial.