Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Vintage Bench Seat for Front Entry gets BEACHY STRIPES

Sorry I've been MIA for the past little while, but with poor little  Finn having Roseola and being SUPER fussy, I've been somewhat preoccupied! I've been craving a project, and this little bench was calling my name at the thrift shop last weekend :).


It started off like this...


I had a picture in my head of the perfect "beach chair" striped material and headed off to our local fabric store to take a look. Nothing. Not even anything remotely like what I was looking for! SO I left empty-handed and headed to the mall (Toby's request.....yes...I know....my little boy likes going to the mall! hehe) As we were leaving Old Navy (needed some onesies for Finny), I spotted this shirt........PERFECT! No....not for Dustin or my dad, or anyone to wear........the perfect stripe for my little bench seat!!!! And at $12, it was cheaper than most of the fabric I was looking at!



So....I chopped the back out of the shirt and cut a piece out of an old white towel to add a little extra padding/strength, and went to work with my staple gun...






Next step.....white paint. My old standby. I dug around some paint cans in the garage and found a bright white semi-gloss latex.....just what I was looking for! For this type of "spindly" job, I always find it's easiest to use those little foam brushes. You know....the kind you find at the dollar store for really cheap. They just seem to get in all the cracks much better than a regular paint brush, and there's no clean-up because they're pretty  much disposable. 


And here it is........a new lease on life.....looking ever so cute... and perfect for my front entry!







And you wonder why I never get anything done!......this is what was going on while I was trying to take these pictures....:)......A crazy horn-tootin', crazy-dancin' (his term), grubby-shirted toddler was all up in my business! As always. ........but I love it ;)













82 comments:

  1. You used a shirt? How creative. I love how it turned out. The old shirt must be proud to have a new home.

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  2. It looks great! What an uplift you gave it:) And about using the shirt? I sometimes use skirts to make my handbags & accessories. As long as the fabrics are right and can be washed, its great for a bag! And makes it one of a kind. Love your bench and your blog:)
    Sarah

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  3. You're so creative! I never would have thought to use a shirt. I love how it picks up the blue in the pictures above - so pretty!

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  4. You are the smartest chick on the block! Using a shirt for your fabric??? Oh my...I don't think I will be able to let this go til I can find myself a shirt AND a furniture piece to try this out on. It is beyond darling...and oh so beachy.

    Cheers~
    e

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  5. Adorable! Oh, the bench is cute too! :)

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  6. love it love it love it! you creative bargain hunter, well done! x

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  7. lovely! what a great idea to use that shirt. i bet it creates a really cool texture on the seat cover. the pics with your dancin' man are the best!!

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  8. Oh yeah...it's super cute!! I love that little piece. And i know what you mean about getting things done...yesterday I was reupholstering a chair while my 3 year old measured tables and my 8 month old ate a snack in her highchair! -shaunna :)

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  9. You are a genius! My boyfriend has tons of polo with holes in them.

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  10. Perfectly beachy! The blue in the shirt even matches the prints above! ::Jill

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  11. absolutely delightful! What a great job you did! I hopped in from Sew Much Ado and am so happy that I did! Hope to see you over at my place one day soon! until later...

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  12. First of all your bench is so pretty now, and I love how you saw the shirt and knew you could use it for the bench... brilliant! Way to think outside the box! Happy WW, Theresa

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  13. I love it all. The bench. The seat "cushion." The wall decor above it. And...you child is adorable to boot!!!

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  14. It looks great, love how you repurposed a shirt for the fabric.

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  15. Very cute! I've been searching thrift stores for a bench just like that! I'm jealous!

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  16. How ingenious! There is no way I would have thought that this was the same bench. Thank you for sharing this marvelous project on the boardwalk Bragfest! I love it!

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  17. Way to go and use your creativity with a tee shirt. It looks great.

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  18. Not only a smart idea, but what a cutie pie to use as a model in your post!

    Thanks for the inspiration!

    Alyssa
    lifeoflyssie.com

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  19. Who woulda thought?! That is so cute!
    Rene'

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  20. I love that project. What a great yard sale find!!

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  21. First of all that little bench seat has SO much character! And now you have made it shine with its "new shirt" hehehe... Really you did a fabulous job!
    Happy Easter

    ~Really Rainey~

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  22. You have to be kidding me!! This is not the same bench/chair????
    I love this, and of course the model is way too cute...

    Thanks for joining Get Your Crat on Thursday. Please join me next week for another wonderful party!!

    Please stop by I am having guest over and I would love for you to tell them HI!

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  23. What a pretty blue. It looks FANTASTIC!
    I see you have a little musician on your hands:o)
    Angex

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  24. Now that's a great project and the price....right up my alley. Thanks for sharing.

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  25. That is fabulous! I,too, always look at clothes like fabric! I can't stand to throw anything away and this shirt you have....is perfect!

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  26. LOVE the colours. Great thrifty project!

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  27. Fantastic idea for the fabric! I love your little bench and your cute horn tooting little guy!
    Very crafty indeed!

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  28. Great price and fabulous makeover! I love it!

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  29. I am likin' it. Who would of thought to use a shirt?

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  30. Great idea! It came out beautifully! Perfect job! So beachy! `lulu

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  31. Wow, what a difference! Thanks for joining the party! Don't forget to stop by and enter this week's giveaways!
    -Jill

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  32. WOW!

    WOW..WOW..WOW.

    I love it, love the stripes!

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  33. that looks amazing! i love the pics of your son playing in front of it, too! so cute. i love that you used an old shirt to cover it- how clever!

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  34. Boy It looks fantastic! I just love the pics of the gigglers! They are darling !!!!!
    smiles, alice

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  35. Its awesome!! I love that you repurposed and old shirt. I am all about reuse and recycle!!

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  36. Very Clever, and turned out beautiful. It makes me think I should go through my closet.:)

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  37. What a cute $15 makeover...luv the stripes! Happy Easter!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  38. Love the make-over. The colors are amazing and I love the pop of pink from the flowers. Do your kids really leave it alone?

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  39. Tracey your seat is gorgeous!! I love that you found the perfect fabric somewhere unexpected:) How cute is your horn tootin' little guy, just gorgeous:) ~ Tina x

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  40. Love it, so I glad I found you at Miss Mustard's...I've got your sister piece!.. http://thepaintedhome.blogspot.com/2010/02/cabana-stripe-for-girls.html
    newest follower!

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  41. no. freaking. way.
    like..... really?! a shirt?!
    and that bench has such marvelous details!! you, my dear, are a DIY genius. i bow down to you.....

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  42. You have an eye. I loved the bench, your photos, and the little man. :)
    Thanks for sharing. It really looks magazine ready.
    Pam @ Becolorful

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  43. Beautiful makeover! So glad I found your blog! And your model, so precious!

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  44. LOVE this, love it even more that you used a polo shirt for the upholstery. I have a whole stack in my to-refashion stash... now I just need a bench!
    we have a friday fun finds party- we'd love it if you'd link up!

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  45. The white makes it look so fresh and new, and the stripes are so beachy. A great versatile little piece.

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  46. i just found your blog and am loving your stuff! i can so identify because i am a decor loving mommy with a 1 and 2 year old. :)
    jenny
    @
    www.baileyandme2.com

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  47. how adorable is this!? I love it (and your little boy is such a cutie too)!

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  48. Om goodness--it is so beachy and beautiful. I never would have thought about using a men's polo shirt--brilliant! Thanks for linking up!

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  49. I'm featuring this project on my blog today! I hope you will check it out and grab my button!

    http://thethriftress.blogspot.com/2010/04/friday-im-in-love2.html
    Sarah

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  50. Your little stool looks fantastic! I would never have thought to use a shirt. Such a pretty blue too!!

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  51. Love it! So fresh and thrifty of you!
    Shelley

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  52. Super cute!
    I never would have thought of using a shirt for material!!! Great idea!

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  53. Simple Adorable!! LOVE LOVE LOVE... you did a great job. Thanks for sharing at the POPP.

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  54. Saw you on the POPP. Who would've thought to use a t-shirt. It's so clever and cute.

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  55. Seee, that's what I'm talkin bout! Fabric is just so darn expensive, ya know? Great eye, sweetie.
    -stop by for my giveaway!

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  56. You sure have a darling little crazy dancin' little guy! You did an amazing job on the stool and with a t-shirt, now that's using your head! It looks GREAT!! hugs, Cindy S PS It's so nice to find another Canadian blogger!

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  57. I love how the bench turned out. I have to say, you scared me when I saw that you were going to use the shirt to recover it. But it turned out fabulous!

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  58. First of all, your model is a riot. I have a three year old boy and he is always sneaking in my blog pictures. Second, I love the style of that bench. It has a gorgeous shape. It looks so great in the white and using a shirt was very thrifty of you. It all came together brilliantly.

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  59. Fun blog! I've had a lovely time going back through your posts. Love all the great thrift store finds, too! Nicely done!

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  60. Hi Tracey! So glad you found me and now I'll be following you as well. What a coincidence! And we have very similar taste!
    I hope you guys had an awesome Easter!
    I'm about to finish a bathroom makeover! It's alwyas wonderful to meet new creative people!
    See you soon,
    Li XOxo

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  61. hey, looks great...and you must tell me how to make the photos so big!
    that too looks great...!
    i am feeling better, yes, finally!!
    talk soon!
    xoxo

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  62. you are truly so talented!

    LOVE this bench!

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  63. It looks great! Using the shirt was such a good idea!

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  64. This bench is fabulous and your photography is stunning. Bravo!!

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  65. this is super cute... what a great idea!

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  66. I'm totally in LOVE with that bench! And it looks ahhhmazing in your foyer with those prints! I got so tickled by your handsome little man hopping into the photos! I always have someone getting in front of my lens when I'm shooting something for my blog but they have four legs and fur, but they are just as boisterous! So GREAT to share Maria's blog post with you over at Dreamy Whites, congratulations!

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  67. This is genius! I found you through the Make New Friends Friday at Barnes Yard. I'm following along.

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  68. this is darling! I am featuring this on my sidebar all day today (saturday!) Thanks for the inspiration!

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  69. I LOVE what you did with the bench! So funny. I have a silohuette of my little boy on my wall and i used the same paper you did on your wall! I LOVE that print!

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  70. That is just fantastic! I love it! What a great idea, using a shirt. It looks beautiful :)

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  71. Very sweet little number but I have to say that my favorite part of the post is the crazy little guy who is blowing in your face (first shot of him) absolutely adorable...

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  72. What? It's awesome!

    The DIY label gets me every time. ;) I'm catching up and would love to feature your projects. Let me know if you're interested in 'showing off'.

    :)
    Roeshel

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  73. FABULOUS!!!
    God's blessings,
    Sarah :D

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  74. Very creative and inspiring, you make me want to search for things in my house to give a makeover to :D. Aslo, the plant thats in the pictures is it real? Where did you get it from?!?

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  75. OMG I love how you used a shirt to redo it!! It came out perfect!! I would love to paint my bedroom that light blue wall color!!
    ~Lisa~
    http://thislittleshabbychicvegangirl.blogspot.com/

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  76. Thank you for sharing your incredible makeover, and I'm looking forward to more of your creative endeavors. For those interested in discounts on home improvement supplies, "promocodehq" might be a valuable resource.

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  77. Your vintage bench seat transformation is truly impressive! The way you've breathed new life into it is not only creative but also inspiring for those of us who love DIY projects. The detailed process you've shared is incredibly helpful.
    frugalishness

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  79. And for those seeking a similar flair in their wardrobe, have you ever wondered 'https://usepromos.com/how-much-does-platos-closet-pay-for-clothes/'? It's a thoughtful consideration for a vintage-inspired wardrobe update."

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Thank you so much for your comments! I love reading every single one :)

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