DIY {salvaging a curbside bench}

September 21, 2016

Over the years there are only 2 companies I’ve continued to work with long term. Mpix – pictures! DecoArt – paint! Pictures & Paint…my love languages. I’m always excited for the opportunity to collaborate with DecoArt. This DIY is a project highlighting one of my favorite paint lines (chalky finish) and is sponsored by DecoArt.

I looked out the window a few years ago to see a cute little bench with scalloped boards on the curb. Not one to let a good scallop be wasted, I rescued that little bench, but didn’t get it the TLC that it needed over the years. With time and Oklahoma’s wild weather, our little bench was about to crumble if I didn’t do something to intervene. I’m not sure how much longer it will last, but I knew if it had any hope it needed to be sealed with a clear coat or paint. Naturally, I chose paint.

Oh hey chicken! Thank you for walking by in the most perfect of moments!

Okay, onto what I used to paint the bench…

Supplies:

Rejuvenate Chalky Finish
Everlasting Chalky Finish
Cherish Chalky Finish
DuraClear Satin Varnish

You can find these colors at your local Micheals store. Make sure you look in the Stains and Finishes aisle, not the Craft Paint aisle!

For the bench I used Cherish (pink/coral), Rejuvenate (yellow) and Everlasting (white). I wanted a lighter shade of coral, so I used a ratio of about 1 part Everlasting, 1/4 Cherish and a just a bit of the Rejuvenate. Once my paint was fairly mixed I started covering the bench. I was interrupted a few boards in and got some help finishing it later. There is not a shortage of willing painters in this house. One of the things I like about the Chalky Finish paint is I don’t have to sand and it can go on thick or thin (just add water to make it thinner). You can find more details and specifics about the paint on the Americana page of the DecoArt website.

After the bench was painted, I added 2 coats of the clear varnish. The bench has been outside in the heat, rain and a couple storms for about 3 weeks now. So far, everything is holding up wonderfully. I’ll be honest, if it starts to chip and I end up with a chippy pink bench I won’t be crying any tears!

As I look at these pictures, I realized my terracotta pot has a big crack. My next project will be finding a new pot for the plumeria tree and painting it. Sidenote: My father-in-law grew that tree from a shoot he got at the Honolulu airport many years ago. It got too big for his house, so he asked me to keep it. I told him it was a death wish for his tree. To the shock of everyone, that tree has lived for several years. It comes inside during the winter.