Makeover Monday --- Potting Bench

Visit my knew site and read this post there: http://loulousattic.com/makeover-monday-potting-bench   See you there!!!

Mondays are the worst. Before and after pics are not. So I thought I'd dedicate Mondays to some makeovers that I have given over the years. Hopefully, I can bring a little inspiration to the rest of your week.

This is a work bench that was in our basement when we moved in. My guess, from hardware and construction techniques, was that it was from the 60's. It's an OK piece, but not something I thought we could really utilize in the basement. So I did what any smart woman would do and asked my husband to bring it outside for a potting bench. 

It had a simple plywood top that I meant to poly for outdoor use. But, much like my dishes, that never got done. As you can see in the Before picture the weather got to it pretty quickly. I loved the base, which was still in great shape, and thought the chippy blue paint looked so charming. 

So I threw myself into the trenches of our garage and pulled out some barn wood. I used our miter saw to cut all the pieces evenly and nailed them to the base. I slathered on some lemon oil and this is how it came out. It is one of my favorite places in the yard and gets used all summer.

The drawers came from my old potting bench. I put them on a couple of bricks I found in our yard to keep the earwigs at bay. I store my fertilizer in an old mason jar. The picnic basket houses all my tools. That watering can came from my grandpa's barn. All other accessories are from the thrift store. When it gets dirty, I spray it down with the hose and it looks good as old.

I know that not all of you have a pile of barn wood hanging out in your garage. I'm lucky enough to have an uncle who is a farmer and gives me a lot of his cast offs. Every time I have a new request he shakes his head and says, "Why?" But, he's always generous enough to go along. 

So, if you don't have a farmer-uncle with a trailer and a lot of patience, I recommend Craigslist. You can download an app that searches the free section for whatever you need. We have gotten so much this way. See that shed in the mirror? Free off of Craigslist. It just takes a little time and a quick response.

There are ways to make things happen. Just talk, ask, and smile. You'd be surprised how much people are willing to give you. Especially if they think it's garbage. 

Happy Monday, everyone! Now go make your home a palace!!!