Old Things New

TRANSFORMED, from broken to beautiful

Navigation

Drop Leaf Table Turned Potting Bench Tutorial

by 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:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Drop Leaf to Potting Bench

Comments

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

    Reply

  11. 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. 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

  15. 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

  17. 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. 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

  21. 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

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

    Reply

Trackbacks

Leave a Reply