Friday, March 6, 2009

Bench from a Bed-Updated

Thank you all for participating in the Thrifty Thursday yesterday. What fun! There were some really great thrifty finds out there. I am so envious of many of you! Hate I didn't "find it first".
Oh, well, if not me, then you! Great job!

Now onto a thrifty project....

I have a thing for old doors, windows and beds. I like the solidity of them. They make a statement. It is so sad for me to go into an antique store or a thrift store and see those once loved beds (and doors) stacked up against a wall. Unloved. I get the same feeling by walking and seeing puppies at the pound. You just want to take them all home and love them.
But, realistically, I can't do that for all of them. But you can help....in the case of the pound and the beds. Adoption.

Lost? No, I am not on medication.....Stick with me.....

All those unloved beds, there is possibility and promise out there. You just have to look beyond the ugly. Beyond the scratches, the bad paint jobs and ugly decals. Those things can be sanded down, painted over or removed. Think out of the box.

Have you ever seen a bed bench? It's an actual bench made from a unloved, or even a dearly loved bed. The same can easily be made with an old door.



It is really isn't difficult, if you know a thing of two about using a powersaw and screwdriver.
Both of which I have no skill at so I am looking for a good carpenter. Know one you can loan me?
Years ago I inherited my mother's bed that she had when she was a little girl. It currently sits in my basement, awaiting to properly be loved once again.
I would LOVE to repurpose it into a bench for my mother. What a perfect Mother's Day Project. (one that I just blew if my mom happens to read today).
Want to try making a bench too? Here are the basic instructions. Just don't email me with questions....unless you can answer mine. Where can I find a good carpenter locally?

Bench from a Bed Instructions
1.Find yourself a bed (headboard and footboard)


2.Cut the FOOTBOARD in half (not the headboard, thank goodness some of you caught my typeo. I would hate for you to mess up the headboard and send me an ugly email. Don't do it! Cut the footboard in half, it will be the sides. The headboard is the back of your bench. Whew! That was close!!!)
3.Screw one of the headboard pieces to the side of the footboard.
4.Repeat with the next piece of headboard, afixing to the other side.
5.use a side rail if you have it. If not try using a 1x 6 piece of wood. Screw to the front of the footboard pieces. This will form the seat. It should be about 14-17 inches from the floor. (Depending on your size of bed, and the height of the person)
6.Take a 1x4 and screw it into the back of the 1x 6. Then take another 1x4 and screw near the bottom of the headboard. These two boards should line up together. These will hold the slating for the seat. Be sure to use a level. No one wants a slanted seat!
7.For the seat, cut 1x4 slats like the ones you used on the bottom of the bed...or you can cut a solid piece of plywood and use that to make a cushion by stapling batting and foam to the plywood. Or...purchase a cushion.


So??? You have you adopted a good bed?
Yes? Well then, at the risk of sounding like Bob Barker, please visit your local shelter and adopt a puppy. There's alot of love out there. Love back.

22 comments:

Bama Belle said...

Very cool idea! Call my hubby, is very much a carpenter! Thanks for hosting Thrifty Thursday it was a lot of fun

Keetha Broyles said...

Ann had a picture of a red bed-bench on her blog the other day, same day she had the picture of my little colorful stool. That was the first I'd heard of it.

Mari said...

What a great idea - I love these. I don't have room for a bench now but I'm remembering this one!

Jerri junque said...

We have made several of these bed/bench. We sell them right away. They are so unique. But seems my handyman has been protesting lately. You can't get good help. The call of the wild ( fishing Tournament) has been heard. So I will just stack them up and wait till there is no sports on T.V, and no hunting/ fishing season going on and I will have my handyman back.

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

I love that! What a great project. I have an old bed in the basement that I took out of neighbor's trash and it's missing the side rails. Perfectly good headboard and footboard though. I may have to try this!
~Michelle

Kristin - The Goat said...

I used to say that I HAD to buy that piece of furniture because no one would love or care for it as well as I could. I'm so glad I'm not alone in that thinking :) I can resist the puppies, but not the kittens lol

That bed/bench is totally cool! I would caution you with step one -- make sure who ever reads that - SEES the bed/bench inspiration - so they don't cut the bed in half the wrong direction. I can just see some guy saying "I don't know why you want to chop this in half, but you said so..."

There is probably a cabinet shop in your town or surrounding area that does custom work or a place that sells hardwood lumber to craftsmen - go to those places and ask if they have someone they recommend for a custom job. We found a couple of people here in jacksonville through Craigs List, but also by asking at a custom cabinet shop - the guy we talked to moonlighted on our project :)

Unknown said...

So fabulous. I am looking for an old door right now to use as a headboard. Maybe a bench willl be next!

Abbey's Road said...

I am ALL about antiques!

BTW - TAG, YOU'RE IT!

Love,
Abbey

Valarie Lea said...

Ok so I am confused!! (Its not hard to do, but I am) So the headboard becomes the arm rest and the footboard becomes the back of the bench?????? But my head board is taller than the foot board, then it will be high on the sides and low in the middle shouldn't it be low on the sides and high in the middle like OHIO. (Bad joke, sorry)

Signed

Totally confused :)

Andy Porter said...

That is adorably cute! I can't wait to try it! When you say cut the headboard in half do you mean the footboard? So darling!

Lindsey said...

Oh darling, how I love this idea!!!! Fabulous! I depend on you for my creativity;)

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

Great Idea Leigh!
I've had fun following your thrifty thursdays.

nancygrayce said...

I love those! I would have linked my little table yesterday, except the day got away from me! AND I'm not too sure I know how to do that....but I'll try someday. When I'm feeling particularly brave. But for now, I must go look for antique beds!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Hey Mrs. Nancy!I would love to have you join us for Thrifty Thursday. I post it on Wednesday night about 9, if you want to get in early so everyone can drop by your blog. To link, just type your post and publish to your blog. Then view your blog and on the thrift post you plan to run, right click on the title, then click copy. That will copy the hyperlink (a direct link to that post). Come to my blog and in the Mr. Linky "paste" that link to your post. And that's it. I hope it's understandable. You helped me so much in the drawing through words on post. I Still have the explanation you gave me and refer to it all the time. Thanks!
I cannot wait to see that table, my friend!

Abby-you should join in, would love to have you!
Bama Belle-Girl! I WILL! I was talking to my girlfriends today. We are planning a get away in April and are having a craft time. We want to paint galvanized tubs and then put on the monogrammed vinyl initials you sell. How much is the big one, like the B that you sold to me. What colors do you have? Thanks Sweet one!

Andy-Not only do I not mind that you linked to my blog, I am honored. I am glad that you found me and commented, it is my way to find great new blogs (and new friends) like you!
Thanks so much!

Thanks Mari! I want one of these so bad! Such a statement piece!

Thanks Sweet Sandi! I appreciate that! I enjoyed my trip to you sister in laws by way of you! What fun! That kitchen is to die for. Her blog is real cute!

Valarie-I wrote wrong, sorry! It was midnight...It was so late when I wrote it. Thanks so much for catching it so I could correct it. I updated to read correctly. Mucho Gracias, mi amigo!

Thanks sweet Kimm! Glad you liked it. I hope you find a good one! I have a friend who has a two hundred year old home. She told me today that she wants me to come over and pick out a door! I am so excited!

Kirby-You are not alone!!! Thanks for the info-great suggestion! You are so right about the directions. I updated to read correctly. Gosh, that would be so bad if someone did it wrong. Oh, the travesty!

Thanks Lindsey!

Oh, Michelle, if you do, be sure and let me know. I would love to see it. The directions I posted stated on it you can build it in 45 minutes. Let me know!! Cool!

Keetha- I saw that too! To cool! Almost as cool as your stool!

Oh, Jerri, I can understand. You know I love to fish. Good luck! (smile)

Linda said...

I'm lovin' this idea of yours girl! I just may have to give it a try one of these days.

Let us know if you find a good carpenter...they're so hard to come by these days!

Anonymous said...

I love-- these and I want one.that first one is awesome.I'm e-mailing you with ethe stuff i found out,ok?...Ann

Rue said...

Good morning Leigh :)

I'm sorry I haven't been by lately, but I'm crazy busy right now! The first thing I did because I had a few minutes this morning, was to pop in and visit some neglected friends :)

That bed idea is fantastic! I understand the sadness of seeing them in the store and I want to bring tham all home too LOL

Oh and I have three furry babies, two of which are adopted. I love them, but I don't think I could take any more right now ;)

Have a beautiful Sunday!!

xoxo,
rue

j said...

I have seen some of these in person and they are SO pretty! I wish I could build things!

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

I adopted an awesome bed from our local Goodwill, and still haven't made the bench that I want! Maybe I just need the Spring Fever boost. That's what I am waiting on, I am sure of it!
Thanks for reminding me to get my rear in gear.
~Misti

I can NEVER get enough of your music! AWESOME...

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

I love it...both the bed project and your shelter adoption reminder! I wonder if I'd have the guts to saw the footboard in half...I love me some old beds and am not sure I could make the cut!

"J" said...

What a GREAT idea!!!! I've never seen this done before....I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

Marie Anne said...

I DID adopt a puppy two weeks ago, so now I need to go find a bed! This is a super idea ...