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Bower Power

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Bench Press

OUR 2nd HOUSE· PERSONAL

 After posting about my sister’s bridal shower last month, so many of you asked about the benches that my mom Little Debbie and I constructed. 

Well, I have to give all the brainpower credit to the amazing Ana White (if you don’t know who that is, she is basically the Walker, Alaskan Ranger of girls.  She’s Chick Norris of all things BIY – that’s build-it-yourself and yes, it’s in the dictionary.) 

But let’s rewind a bit.  We knew that part of my little sister’s wedding reception would start in the basement area and would require a little bit of seating.  Our logic was – if it’s hot, then everyone will want to be inside…so we can lure them out with benches to take a load off them stilettos.  And we can do them cheaply by diggin through our neighbor’s burn pile for scrap lumber.  Yup, our same neighbor that lifts boulders with ease has a kickbootie burn pile (he’s a retired engineer turned part time handy man – how lucky are we?!) and let us pull out as much wood as we want for the benches.  Of course, we had to promise that we wouldn’t put a nail through our foot…or sue him for the cost of tetnus shots 🙂  This made following plans a little more tricky.       

Speaking of plans, Little Debbie and I agreed that this plan would be the easiest to modify while still looking nice long term.  It’s called the Large Rustic X Bench.  Here’s the link to Ana’s original project plan.

And here are our benches after we pounded out the nails from the scrap lumber, modified the sizes a smidgen, cut everything to size (we used Ana’s lengths and measurements for notching out the legs for the cross bars) and put them all together. 

You also probably noticed that we eliminated the ‘V’ in the center.  I like them either way…but frankly, it just required more lumber.  And more lumber = more moolah.  And you know what we cheapskates did.

In case you are gonna try to build these – I recommend becoming familiar with Ana’s plans – you will need it.  And then just substitute these size boards for the ones in the original plans.

Of course, we did have to pick up the various sizes of additional lumber at Lowe’s that we didn’t pull outta ‘the pit’.  And while we were there, we also spied a gallon of Oops paint that was marked way down.   

 

My mom liked the color (it went well with the newly painted basement doors) and even though it was interior paint and these were going to be outside, we figured that this price was too good to beat.  Plus, we could always repaint if necessary. 

 Mom sanded them all (we made six) and did all the painting.  She’s a champ like that.  One coat is all that it took 🙂  

 

And here is the finished product again:

And they even got the action at the wedding.  Here they are supporting the fam during the rehearsal….

By the way, my little bro is newly single.  So for all you Hot Tim fans out there, it’s time to break out the deodorant and the toothbrush 🙂  If you don’t get that, you probably are classier than me with better hygene. 

And the benches also lent some support during the wedding reception as well.  Luring people outside?  check.  Was it the benches or the spectacular weather?  doesn’t matter – they were out there all the same.

In other fantastic news…and this is fantastic in every sense of the word…my mom showed up one Friday to paint the benches looking a little different (arachnophobs avert your eyes): 

I think I just started laughing…the photo doesn’t do the tarantulas justice.  These suckers were big.  Like could take out an eye kinda big.  I swear if mom blinked repeatedly, you could fly a kite with the wind 🙂 

The best part was that she said my dad didn’t even notice.  Gotta love it.

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Comments

  1. I love the way the benches turned out! I actually think they look really nice without the “V”. Good job! After our wedding at the end of the month (!!) we’re going to use Ana White’s plans for a day bed to put in our second bedroom.

  4. I love Ana White! We’re thinking of using her plans to make a console table for the couch. Either that or we’ll just wing it. The hubs and I are both engineers, so we could probably do that, right?

    The benches look great! I’m so happy everything turned out great from your sister’s wedding!

  6. Love the benches! That Ana White is amazing, and I have so many of her projects bookmarked for when I finally get a house.

    P.S. How tall is your brother? I don’t take out my deodorant and toothbrush for anyone under 6 foot… too much effort 🙂

  10. Dang your brother sure is good looking…I spose I will drag myself over to Walmart and buy some deoderant..whats his favorite smell? 🙂

  12. Katie! Those are fabulous!!! They also didn’t look too difficult.
    I have a few friends that would totally be intrested in Tim! I will have to try and FB stalk him or something 🙂

  13. I’m not sure what’s more exciting – the fact that your brother is single…or the potential to become “family” with YOU!

  15. Looking at Ana White’s page, I don’t know how I haven’t heard about her! I live with three guys (we’re in our late 20s) and they mock my constant desire to build something… I may have to try some stuff out for our back patio!

    Oh and yes, Hot Tim is most definitely hot.

  18. the benches turned out fabulous! I heart the color too! Lil’ Debbie’s eyelashes are excellent :)…men never notice things like this do they…and when you mention the change their still some-what still not surprised/delighted. hahahah…men.

  20. Love the benches and it’s so great that you and you mom built them together 🙂 Speaking of making stuff, have you started the crocheting lessons yet? Just curious if you’re using craftyminx and if you like it…

  23. I love the way the benches turned out. Ana White’s plans are the best! By the way, your mom’s skin is beautiful. I’m envious of your wonderful wrinkle-free genes.

  25. Those benches turned out fabulous! Great job!

    You have some great genes… seriously, I’m 30 and have more wrinkles than your mother. I want to know her secret!!!

  26. I know it says “Under Construction” but ust wanted to check if it was only me. when I go to your archives and try to click under “entertainment and parties” it wont go anywhere and says “page wot load”

    sad face.

    Im planning a few parties shortley with hoidays coming up and wanted ome bower-inspiration

    Love this post-BTW!!! 🙂

  27. I love the Oops paint colour. Grey tones are really my thing at the moment. Wow that closeup of your Mum’s eyes, you can really see the family resemblance there! She is gorgeous, & such a DIY champ also. Have you ever shown Tim how many comments he gets here? I was wondering what his thoughts are?

  29. Wait, I’m confused about the eyelash thing….did she have on falsies or just get a new mascara???

  30. I love how you modified the benches! They turned out awesome! Your Mama rocks too! I made two of the same benches via Ana’s plans for my friend’s front porch and the “V” was a bit of a bugger to try and get right. Luckily they are on opposite sides of her porch because they turned out to be fraternal instead of identical twins:-) If I build any more of them then I will definite try your modifications!

  34. So you’re saying cars are the way to his heart? Hmm, remind me to pick up a Porsche C45 on my way to restock the deodorant, or perhaps I should skip the Lady’s speedstick and just hang one of those ‘new car scented’ air fresheners to hang around my neck. Cheap AND effective!

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