bench beautification part 2.

the bench is back (i like to sing that phrase to this tune). after introducing you to my ugly little friend last week, i finally got around to finishing her makeover yesterday. and i have to admit, the results would make the butter faces of the swan jealous. alright, i'll quit with the hyperlinks.

after giving the cushions a week to air out in the garage (and borrowing my neighbor's steam cleaner), all traces of urine and rot disappeared. thank goodness. that would have been a deal breaker.

the next step in the process was to spruce up the bench's frame with a few coats of spray paint.

i went with catalina mist. side note--when i bought this color i thought it was really weird to name a spray paint color after south central los angeles. only later did i realize i was confusing 'catalina' with 'compton.' as in straightoutta compton. not the same thing.

while the frame was drying, i worked on reupholstering the cushions.

and watched a few episodes of the vampire diaries. i can feel you judging me. yeah yeah yeah, i know, 1992 called and wants its television set back.

most people probably would have used a cute decor weight fabric for this project. but most people aren't as cheap as me, so i used a canvas painter's drop cloth. i had a lowe's 10$ off coupon, which means it cost me all of zero dollars.

this cloth was a good option because it was big enough to cover both cushions with plenty of room to spare.

i used the old, grody fabric as a template to get the size just right. i was so excited to throw the old stuff away as soon as this step was over.

next, i ironed the fabric to get rid of all the creases. i looooooathe ironing.

next, i lined up the cushion on the fabric. just in case this photo wasn't obvious.

using a staple gun, i secured the fabric every few inches or so.

the corners are the trickiest part (apparently not as tricky as maintaining a manicure), but i just tucked and folded the fabric until i got a nice clean fold.

like so.

she's looking better already.

using painter's tape, i created vertical stripes on the cushions. if you're a perfectionist, you'll measure the spaces. if you're me, you'll just wing it.

by this time, the spray paint had dried and i could screw the cushions to the frame.

time to paint. i used this flat, white latex paint. it's the small size...what is that, a pint? quart? all i remember is 'a pint's a pound the world around,' but somehow i don't think that applies.

i learned quickly that fabric is much more absorbent than, say, a wall. apply the paint liberally.

because i have the patience of a three-year-old, i peeled the tape off while the paint was still wet. i let her dry overnight and was quite pleased with the result. i was afraid that the paint would crack, but i sat on it all morning long without a crack in sight.


i'm glad i went with a drop cloth because i'm not that attached to it. don't get me wrong, i love how it turned out, but i realize that i'll be eating all of my meals on this bench, so if it gets stained somewhere down the road it won't break my heart to have to reupholster it. or if i stumble upon a fabric that i can't live without in the future, i can easily put it on the bench.

knowwhatimean?

come rest your rump on my bench. admission is free.