It’s always the projects that are supposed to be easy that turn out to be the biggest pains in the you-know-what.
That was precisely the case for this little bench. Though she looks lovely now, she put up quite a fight to get to looking this way.
She came to me from my mom and dad’s garage, looking a little neglected and unappreciated. Clearly someone wasn’t paying attention when they let acid (or maybe just water) seep into the top and leave an awful ring and splotch mark!
I sanded her down and applied a coat of gel stain in dark walnut, and the ring and splotch mark went away, just like magic. Once that dried, I applied another coat of gel stain to darken the finish. Everything looked great.
But then (CUE THE DRAMATIC MUSIC), when I went back to work on her the next day, I noticed that the stain appeared to have risen up in the area where the ring and splotch mark were. It was thicker and almost sitting on top of the finish. So I started to wipe it off, and of course, the ring and splotch mark were SUPER prominent.
Needless to say, I uttered several swear words that I cannot type here, because this is a PR friendly blog after all.
What I wanted to do was throw this stupid bench right out the window, but instead, I consulted some especially talented blogger friends who helped me decide that a painted grain sack stripe would be the way to go on this one. (Thank you SO MUCH Bre at Brepurposed, Sarah at Little Red Brick House, Amy at Canary Street Crafts, Michelle at Dandelion Patina, Christina at Operation Home, Kristi at Making it in the mountains, Erica at Dwell Beautiful and Kendra at Joy in Our Home!) And thankfully, they also cautioned me that the ring and splotch of death might show through my paint cover-up attempt if I didn’t take proper precautions to prevent against it.
So, my good friend Google helped me determine that I needed to spray this problem area with some shellac prior to painting. (Word to the wise: do not research what shellac is made from. You will want to die and/or never use the product.)
I was a little nervous because it made the finish super shiny, but I painted over it with some chalk paint and it worked perfectly! NO WATER RING OR SPLOTCH! Alleluia!
Since this worked out well, I decided to add a little something extra by painting the “No. 9” on the front part of the bench. Why number 9? Because the 1959 song “Love Potion No. 9” was in my head much of the time I was working on this bench! Those heart cutouts on the legs had something to do with that, I think.
In the end, I think the grain sack stripe added some fun detail to a simple piece, so I guess I’m thankful for the splotch mark and ring. I wouldn’t have painted it this way had it not been for them rearing their ugly heads time and again.
I took my troubles down to Madame Rue
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She’s got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Sellin’ little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine
– Bre
Jamie @ anderson + grant says
Fantastic! You’d never know you had such trouble with it. I do sympathize, though. Everytime I think a project is going to be quick and easy, I end up with something that takes way longer than it should. And the project normally doesn’t get finished π
Bre says
Hahaha, Jamie, I don’t believe it for a second! Your projects are always totally perfect!
Leia says
I love how this turned out! I might have shied away from a bench with hearts, but you made it look great! I will have to keep an open mind next time I come across something like that. Great job! I am pinning and sharing on Facebook. Hugs. π
Bre says
Aw, thanks, Leia!! In all honesty, I would have shied away from it, too, but my mom loaded it into my car all by herself and wouldn’t let me leave until I took it! So I really had no choice. π Hahahaha – moms.
Heather says
Oh I love it with the stripe! I think that was a happy accident for sure. It gives it a lot of character! Thanks for sharing your process with us, it is very inspirational.
Bre says
Hi, Heather! Thank you so much! You’re totally right; a happy accident. I love it! Thanks for your sweet note! π
Kelly says
What a makeover! I’m inspired! I love how you covered the “mark of death” and how well the white-washed legs look with the darker stained seat! Well done!
Bre says
Hahaha, thanks! I am a little over-dramatic with the “mark of death” thing, but it was SO annoying! π I appreciate your sweet note!
Roxanne says
I love this little bench! So cute!
Bre says
Thanks so much, Roxanne! Hope you have a great day!
Angela says
I wouldn’t have liked it as much if it didn’t have the stripe! Don’t you love it when mess ups turn out to be blessings? I feel like that happens a lot π
Bre says
Hi, Angela! Thank you so much! That is so sweet of you. And you are totally right. Sometimes it’s hard to see it when you’re in the thick of it, but once you step back you realize it was all meant to be! π
Sarah @ Little Red Brick House says
It looks perfect, Bre! I am in love with grain sack stripes. I have plans to add a few to my decor soon. I love that color, too! Everything plays so well together. Nice job! And thanks for the shoutout!
Bre says
Thanks, girl! Grain sack stripes are the bomb, as you so eloquently put it the other day! π Have a good one!
Kendra @ www.joyinourhome.com says
Perfect solution, Bre! I love the colors and that number 9 looks perfect!!
Bre says
Hi, Kendra – thank you!! Thanks again for your help on this!
Erin says
I absolutely LOVE (potion number 9) how this turned out!!! Fabulous! xoxo
Bre says
Hey, Erin! Thank you!! π
Amy | Canary Street Crafts says
It look sooooo good Bre!! That splotch of death was definitely a blessing in disguise. I’m seriously loving the grain sack stripe and No. 9!!!
Bre says
Thanks, Amy! I am so thankful you ladies told me to run with the stripe. I’m glad to have that splotch of death GONE!! π
Nicole B. says
Looks so awesome!!! That stain lead to one gorgeous piece of furniture!
Bre says
Hi, friend – thank you!! π
Breanna says
It looks amazing, Bre! I’m glad the splotch mark of death reappeared because the grain sack stripe makes it look so great!
Bre says
Thanks, friend! What in the world do you think that mark was? Have you experienced this before? I feel like it was something nasty to be such a pain!! π
Kristi says
It looks SO fab!!! LOVE the colour you chose and the printing on the front! SO pretty!
Bre says
Thanks so much, Kristi!! I am so glad I had you girls to bounce ideas off of! π