Little White (Free) Bench Revision

It is officially official. This is now my new most favorite piece of furniture!

You've already seen this little bench in my last post, but I wanted to show a little more detail.

But wait...let me start at the beginning:

This sweet, solid, adorable two-seater bench WITH storage under the rush seat, was headed for the dumpster. NO JOKE. It was a freebie.

It was one of a number of items I asked for when our church storage building was recently cleared out. Apparently, we get lots of donations of stuff, and it was time for a major clean out.

Now, while feeling extremely blessed, I can also feel good about saving this beautiful gift! (I'm sure someone would have snagged it. I'm just glad it was ME!)

See the amazing storage? I LOVE that. All furniture should be made with hidden storage. It should be a rule or something.

This bench was used inside the church for years. As you can see, it needed a little TLC. PERFECT! Plus, I love having furniture that has been used in a church!

I wanted to buy a new can of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint,but it just didn't happen. I have to drive an hour round trip to get it, and it was just a few days before my daughter came home for Christmas break, so I was on a tight timeline (as well as budget) in order to get my dining room finished. I still needed to paint a few small furniture items, including this. 

Solution:

On hand - a gallon of flat white paint from Walmart, and a container of plaster of paris. So I mixed my own recipe of homemade chalk paint.

I also painted the $5 French Chair with the real thing, with the two projects going on concurrently.

It made for a nice comparison - and I've gotta say, Annie Sloan wins over the homemade stuff.

(If you want more detailed info about my experiences using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, you can visit my two top most visited posts HERE and HERE.)

Bottom line, if you're in a pinch, and/or money's tight, the Plaster of Paris recipe worked pretty well.

The two main differences were:

Coverage - ASCP covers better.

Ease of distressing - ASCP sands easier.

All in all, I'm happy. I got the look I wanted without leaving home or spending a dime. It took two full coats instead of one and a touch up and had to use more muscle sanding.

You know how it goes. One new thing calls for changes.

My front two rooms had both changed considerably since Thanksgiving!

I really like the changes, and It was great to see my daughter's reaction when she walked through the door.

Word for the Day:

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Potentially Linking With:
Sunday
http://my1929charmerblog.com/	Sunday’s Best
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/	Creative Bloggers Party Hop
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://southernhospitalityblog.com	Thrifty Treasures
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net	Metamorphosis Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/	Show Off Your Cottage Monday
http://westfurniturerevival.blogspot.com	Revival Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/	The More the Merrier Monday
http://www.serendipityandspice.com	Manic Monday
http://howtonestforless.com/	Just a party with my peeps!
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	Cowgirl Up!
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	Cowgirl Up!
http://theivycottageblog.blogspot.com	Cowgirl Up!
http://www.newhousenewhomenewlife.blogspot.com/	All Star Block Party
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/	Tuesday’s Treasures
http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.com/	Be Inspired
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com/	Twice Owned Tuesday
Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com	Share the Love Wednesday
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/	Primp Your Stuff Wed
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/	Piece of Work Wednesday
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/	Restored it Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Show Me What Ya Got
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/	Penny Pinching Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/	Transformation Thursday
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/	Inspired Creations
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://www.the36thavenue.com/	Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com	Home and Garden Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
http://akadesign.ca	Doin’ It Yourself
http://katherinescorner.com/	Thursday Favorite Things
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/	Suzy's House Party
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://redoux.blogspot.com/	Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/	Inspiration Friday
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com	Vintage Inspiration Friday
http://sassysites.blogspot.com/	Free For All Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://www.decoratinginsanity.com/	Furniture Friday
http://www.remodelaholic.com/	Fridays on Remodelaholic
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://www.lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com	Spread the Love
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/	Frugalicious Friday
http://www.delicateconstruction.com/	Delicately Constructed Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/	Flaunt it Friday
http://vintageinteriorblogs.blogspot.com/	Weekend
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ http://southernhospitalityblog.com/	Show and Tell Saturday Best of 2012