NORM ABRAM IS A FRIEND OF MINE......
Monday, February 10, 2014 at 9:41AM
Not really, but he should be. Because Mak & Jill grace the pages of This Old House Magazine this month, with this amazing headboard-turned-bench!
Isn't it beautiful!?
We made this bench a little over a year ago, and somehow the people at This Old House Magazine found it and asked if they could feature it in their next issue. Uh - ya! This Old House? Seriously? We LOVE This Old House!! Simon Wilson, (my husband - in case you didn't know) had This Old House on the t.v. all weekend long, back in it's hey day. All weekend long. He really did think that Norm was his friend. Felt like he knew him well. Norm taught him almost everything he knows!! Really. So not only was it exciting for us (Mak & Jill) but it was exciting for Simon.
Have you seen the article yet?
Isn't that so cool!?
Here is the cover of the magazine. I know you will want to run out and buy it if you haven't already, and maybe frame it, like we did. :)
See where it says Best low-cost blogger projects? On the cover? Ya - that's us! They are talking about us - on the cover!! :)
Okay - enough about us. For those of you who would like a little more detail about the "how-to", here it is. But first lets take a moment to talk about shop safety. :) Not really! Just had to throw that in there for all you Norm Abram fans.
Find a cute/interesting headboard/footboard. Chop up the footboard to use for the arms.
Attach it all with the railings of the bed frame, or maybe some 2x4's if there are no railings...
Then attach it all with glue, screws, brackets - you name it! Simon Wilson likes to build everything to withstand hurricane force winds, so he did all of the above. :)
Then it's time to make a seat. Simon chopped up an old coffee table. You can also use planks of wood. Get creative!
And then put a fabulous finish on it. We always paint our things with Chalk Paint®.
We LOOOOVE that stuff! You can paint it and leave it raw to weather in the elements, looking chalky and beachy, or you can wax it (if it's going indoors) or you can do a number of other finishes. We finished this project with a minwax stain/poly combo, to make it more weatherproof, and antique it at the same time. Not or normal finish, but why be normal?
Here are a few more fabulous headboard benches to inspire you....
This is actually not a headboard bench. Mak made this bench out of two chairs. We LOVE it though, so we had to share.
This is another headboard turned bench made by Mr. Wilson. Notice this seat was made using wood planks.
This is an image I found on line, and don't know who did it, but it definitely feels like a Mak & Jill style piece. Love it!
And this is another I found on line. Also beautiful, and very much our style!
So there you go. Lot's of headboard benches and inspiration.
If you are inspired enough to build one of these babies, we would love for you to send us pics so we can share it! We'd love to see what you come up with! And Norm, if you're out there, Simon says "We love you man"!
Reader Comments (5)
Congrats Mak & Jill!!
Love, love, love the bench. I'm trying to match the color of your bench for a different piece. Can you point me in the direction of which colors to mixed together? Thanks.
I love the idea that the headboard become bench. What a very clever thinking! :)
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I LOVE your style! I wanted to share the bench I made using a headboard and footboard and an old wooden toolbox I scored at an antique mall. The total cost was $30!! I am the owner of Rustic Chic Interiors and LOVE turning preloved to reloved ;)
Congratulations! I absolutely LOVE this bench! So cute. I am new to your website and love it. Will be back again soon!