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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

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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