You know how sometimes you look at a piece of furniture
and instantly imagine what it could look like with a little paint or new fabric?
In your mind you see it wearing the perfect color paint.
with the perfect fabric to compliment it.
This super long bench was something that I didn’t intend to buy
when I went to look at a little dainty china cabinet.
But the guy selling had a whole shed filled with gorgeous stuff that I thought I needed to rescue.
I walked past the bench stacked on top of another bench and was intrigued by the frame.
It was wearing an 80’s peach fabric~ with no button tufts~ so it was quite plain
but at the time but I really loved the size and the carved details and thought it had potential.
I asked how much- he said $35.
I said load it up.
🙂
I thought I might paint the frame at some point but haven’t done it.
This bench is probably from around the 1960’s and it has a dark old brassy bronze type
finish to the wood
I actually kind of liked it and so left it as it was but I did reupholster.
A few times actually.
It has worn ticking stripe fabric.
Soft green damask
and even a subtle gold stripe fabric.
Each one fit the room it was in at the time… but that big old bench just
never felt just right and complete.
I knew what it needed.
It needed lots of button tufting and a velvety fabric.
Button tufting…
yeah, not the easiest thing to do…
especially when you want more than just a couple of them.
So I avoided tackling the job…
until recently.
I already had the perfect apple green velvet which I was dreaming about it being covered in
and so I bought a bunch of make your own fabric covered buttons and got started.
A few hours later…
ahem…
okay maybe more like half a day
& with half of that time begging my son Cullan to help me pull the threads
tight enough to have nice deep tufts…
tight enough to have nice deep tufts…
it was finished.
I adore how it came out.
It’s perfect in apple green velvety goodness and with 17 gorgeous button tufts-
even better.
There’s a story to all that tufting and how it all got done
I’ll share a little bit on how we did it in another post later this week.
(Oh and yes. My Christmas tree is up yet~ a week into the New Year. Don’t judge. 😉 )
Happy Sunday everyone.
sharing at
wow
wow
Katie Mansfield says
Gorgeous. I like the wood. It looks Gothic to me.
Unknown says
Wow-beautiful and roses is perfect-love the colour!!!
xoxo…by Vicky
okcamp says
Courtney,
So glad you didn't paint it….it's stunning just the way it is.
Diane
Art and Sand says
I can only imagine the work that went into the buttons and the tufting. When I made slipcovers last summer there was crying and bad language daily 'til I was finished.
Enjoy your lovely bench.
Patty @ That's So Pretty says
Love it Courtney.
Unknown says
What a Beauty Courtney. Now that is a lot of buttons… no wonder you needed help.
Hugs, Gee
Our Hopeful Home says
I have wanted to try tufting for so long! Yours looks great! Can't wait to hear how you did it.
Anne says
Oh Courtney it looks beautiful!What a pretty color too!I am not judging I still have my tree up in my living room LOL! I was planning on taking it down but…… I may not get to it until tomorrow.
xx
Anne
Jacqui says
Beautiful! Love the wood and the buttons and tufting.
a shade fancier says
I too have an old bench that I have been ignoring for a long time because I didn't have a vision of what it could look like completed. Thanks so much for sharing —- and above all —- thanks for the inspiration!!
Unknown says
It's just gorgeous – I did a tufted head board that made all the difference!
Beautiful job!
Hugs,
Suzan
Linda says
Oh what a steal…Even if you had to send it out to be covered.
I know that you did all the work…just saying I would probably send
it out….Too much work for me…
Your tree is not green so it stays up awhile longer…
who's going to judge….
Unknown says
Love it, and the ability you have to vision it tufted and then do it yourself!! We recently purchased two sofas for our keeping room and the thing that drew me to them other than the green velvet (looking) fabric was the tufting of the back and arms. Now you have me looking at the bench under our window that needs recovering… I'm just not confident that I can do it by myself. So impressed that you did it yourself instead of sending it out. Melinda
Linda says
Hi Courtney,
That bench found a good home! What you've done with it turned out beautifully, makes me want to go out and search for one. Love that your tree is still up – mine, too! And, I am enjoying it til after my birthday, tradition here! Lol
Linda at Beautiful Ideas
Shingle Cottage says
Oh you are so talented! stunning work and stunning photography and the tree is too pretty to go x
Rhonda says
The bench is perfect! And my Christmas trees and decorations are still up, at least for a couple of more weeks. Why not enjoy all that hard work of holiday decorating a little bit longer?
Anonymous says
I am so glad you did not paint that wood too. It's stunning just as it is with the velvet and tufting. Perfect. xoxo
Lorelei
Anonymous says
Not to worry about your tree….we all have things we take a little while to getting too. The bench is devine! You did such a great job. I know those buttons had to be a pain, but it sure turned out a beauty! lin [email protected]
Anonymous says
I am so smitten with how you made this bench come alive…I agree the tufting buttons was a idea whose time had come. You did a professional work of art on the bench. I have one; not as handsome as yours in my bedroom which is begging for a makeover. I am going to watch for your post on 'how to do this tufting'.
Today is the 12th day of Christmas; Epiphany so you are far from late in removing your Christmas tree. It, in some families and customs left up until the Second of February which is a feastday of Blessed Mother.
With fortitude,
~Sylvia Faye
Anonymous says
Love love love it!!! I want one!!! (In a little kids whiny voice….) Ha! What a deal and you did a great job on the recovering!
Pendra says
So glad you didn't paint it, what beautiful wood details! The soft apple green velvet is perfect against the dark of the wood and with the tufting it makes the bench so elegant! I want to go shopping with you! Our new house is much bigger than our past townhouses and we need more furniture…lovely, lovely piece!
Hugs,
Pendra
p.s. I just took my tree down today, chandelier greens, tops of cabinets, etc., but the boxes and boxes are all a mess down in the basement. I need another day to get it all organized and put away, who knows when that day will come! And I forgot all about the outside…bet my neighbors haven't!!
Judith van Zo gezellig brocant says
I love it. Nice job!
Carolyn@Sweet Chaos Home says
Gorgeous bench, and I love the fabric!! I have a tufted velvet ottoman that makes me so happy, so I completely relate to your adoration. And, don't worry about the tree. I was always taught that Christmas decorations should stay up until the epiphany, which is today 🙂
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
It's just beautiful, Courtney! Such a great size but the thing that makes it is the fabric and the tufting. You did a great job. Kudos to you for the patience to do that! : )
NanaDiana says
It is just gorgeous- there is nothing like tufting to give a piece importance and make it feel "rich". You did a fanstastic job- xo Diana
Rosemary@villabarnes says
Oh, I would have grabbed that beauty in a heartbeat. Great job on the tufting, Courtney. Love the fabric choice too.
Fanciful Ponderings says
Your bench is beautiful and the upholstering is perfect! While my tree is down the ornaments are covering the dinning room table except for where my husband and I sit. Lol, maybe I should have kept the tree up until I was ready to tackle the whole job of packing everything up. At least it wouldn't look so messy around here!
victoria says
What a beautiful bench… you did such a great job redoing it… a tray… a few books and a cup of coffee would look perfect on this bench!
Hugs and benches
Victoria Silva
JP says
Oh,my that turned out just gorgeous….pinned it!
Unknown says
Beautiful. I need a piano bench – a soft topped one would be fun! And I would never judge about the Christmas tree! Mine just came down yesterday!
Anonymous says
Totally love it! You do amazing decorating work!
Anonymous says
Beautiful! Coutney, You are AMAZING!! I can't wait to hear how you did those Tufts!! I'm getting ready to tackle an arched Headboard,so gathering any info I can!! Thanks sooo much!
Anonymous says
Just Beautiful! Can't wait to hear how you did all those tufts! I'm tackling an arched headboard soon,and gathering any info i can! Thanks soo much!!
shabbyfufu says
Amazing Courtney! You are a girl that will tackle any project and I admire that in you:-). Can we see a before? xo
Fishtail Cottage says
I love it Courtney! it turned out fantastic… xoox, tracie
Unknown says
The button tufting makes such a huge impact. I recently turned a coffee table into a big ottoman so I know how much time and effort those buttons take. I didn't do near as many as you though. I have to say this bench is lovely even in the wood finish and the color choice and fabric are beautiful. Very pretty!
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
What a gorgeous bench…you did a fantastic job…and just love the color!!!….
Anonymous says
Love the softness of color…suek
Dawna (Stitches from the Tub) says
Courtney, your bench is lovely. My tree is still up as well. Soon I will change the decorations to hearts for Valentines Day, then eggs for Easter. Last year I put the tree back in the garage on the 4th of July.
THE FARMHOUSE PORCH says
Wow! You are super woman! I don't think I'll ever tackle upholstery. Too close to sewing.
Looks awesome!
♥linsey
Heaven's Walk says
Oh my gosh, Courtney….once again you waved your magic wand and created a thing of beauty! I'm so glad that you rescued this poor girl and turned her into a gloriously elegant swan. 🙂 Great job, sweetie!
And I promised not to tell anyone you still have your Christmas tree up yet. It still looks beautiful! Hey…as long as it's not a fire danger, why not?? lol!
xoxo laurie
Anonymous says
great job! it's so pretty
lynn cockrell says
Lovely bench and beautiful job on recovering!
Mom E. says
I completely love your bench and your reupholstering job is amazing! I have a few "plans" like that…..
And Judge you about your tree still up? It's Tree Kings Day! Your tree is SUPPOSED TO BE UP STILL!
And, I judge you sane and in love with the wintery feel of an Evergreen…even if it is not a Used to be LIVE
Evergreen! LOL ( Mine is still up as well, and will be for awhile yet. I have to gradually take down Christmas, it's depressing
for me when I take it down all at once, some years. Other years, ….it goes a bit faster…but just a bit!)
Hearts to you Courtney!
Betsy
Leena Milligan Lanteigne says
That is so beautiful! I love the apple green velvet and the tufts are so deep and perfect! Love it with the dark original stain too! The details on the wood is fabulous! Great job! Thank you so much for sharing! Oh! Don't worry. My trees are still up too. I was going to take them down this weekend and got off onto other things. Guess I'll get to them tomorrow. I'm going to miss my little pink tree in the corner of my dining room! Hugs, Leena
Sandi~A Cottage Muse says
Oh how lovely!
Rose @ Walnut Acre says
The bench is beautiful!
Unknown says
incredibly gorgeous, and that soft green is a divine color in velvet- always beautiful here….
Karen
ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says
Beautiful bench, love the fabric!! My tree is still up too, we're taking it down today.
Cynthia says
I love this bench the detailng is gorgeous. I am a tuffted furniture girl.
Cynthia
OldThingsNew says
Courtney – I saw your post last night and was dreaming of those tufts all night long! Your work is beautiful. I'm looking forward to your story on how the tufting process went. I really want to try this out on a truly horrible, pink corduroy storage bench that sits at the end of my bed! You may have saved it's life. Thank you for sharing. Patti
Pura Vida says
perfection in tufting. I am seeking such a thing myself and thinking I might even give it a whirl
Unknown says
Oh how beautiful and what a wonderful job you did on it.
Happy 2013
Cristina Garay says
The details on the wood plus the tufting makes it one of a kind! I love it!
Shannon Fox says
Hey, it's hard to take those trees down, they are so pretty and the twinkle lights set a mood. Then, it feels so bare when they are gone 🙁 The new bench is stunning. Button tufting. Yum!! Love that soft, creamy green. That color will be a chameleon for you. Enjoy 🙂
Shabby Sweet Tea says
What a find and what a way to ring in the New Year! It will be hard to top that deal!!
Cindy says
Oh, it's heavenly… I LOVE that shade of green, it goes with everything! What a great find, and i bet you could use it in so many places!
Cindy
Unknown says
So pretty Courtney! Love the details!!
Okay, one of my New Years resolutions is taking the time to leave more notes for my blogging friends! I always read posts in a reader and it makes it hard to leave a comment or two. But I do not miss a post! Love seeing the things you share and your lovely home. I wish I had more time to blog, but I work part time at our local library. I wanted to share with you my new blog, just opened this week…. http://www.brookekroeger.blogspot.com…. it will be for my vingage and digital work… including printables you might enjoy. I also have my home and garden site, http://www.creativecountrymom.blogspot.com. This week I am doing a look back to my spring garden.
Hope to be able to connect more in this new year. I am spending less time on Facebook and gave up twitter and everything else. A girl needs time to create, decorate and GARDEN ya know!
God bless….Brooke
[email protected]
PamLuvsPink says
Hi Courtney!!
I LOVE your new Apple Green bench!! How beautiful it goes with your beautiful chair!! It's so hard to resist a beautiful piece and know how you are going to do it. I have a bench that I have to do and need help, so, I look forward to your future blog!!
Have a great week!!
Pam
xox
Wild Oak Designs says
I look forward to the tutorial. I have an ottoman that really needs this done! Love what you did, great job!
Nancy
http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says
Courtney, that is a real beauty. I can't believe you did all that tufting.
Katherines Corner says
wow!!! I love it so much, well done!I bow to your awesomeness.
lookslikewhite says
Love it! So pretty..
Best,
Trudy
Anita at Cedar Hill says
Fab price, and can I say I am so very, very impressed that you did the tufting yourself? You are amazing!! I agree with Katherine, you have some major awesomeness going on.
Amy Chalmers says
Stop blowing my mind!! You are totally amazing tour de force Courtney! I LOVE it!