Gray Providence Bench

I think I posted three times last week, but we all knew I would never keep that up! 

I have busily been working on a batch of new signs which are going on display at Ruffles & Rust in Snohomish, on consignment.  I am so excited to have my work appear in an actual store, for the first time!  So cross your fingers for me…or if you’re in the area, drop in and rave about them, even if you don’t buy anything, OK??

*********

In my spare time, I have been working on a new bench for some of my favorite people (they commissioned a table, buffet, and coffee table previously).

This is Ana White’s Providence Bench, although this one has a top made from three 2x6’s rather than four 2x4’s, ala Shanty 2 Chic.

I was supposed to stain this bench gray…and what a disaster that turned out to be!  I have been a faithful Minwax fan, but there’s been a lot of talk in the blogosphere about Rustoleum stains, so I decided to try the “sunbleached” color. 

Can I just say….ugh!

Where the gray “took,” it was a lovely shade, but everywhere else the wood turned a very unflattering yellowish-orange shade.  I was not impressed.  Subsequent attempts to alter the color with additional coats of stain (first Rustoleum…then Minwax)  did not impress it in the least.

So I resorted to my old friend…paint.

While I left the some of the gray-stained wood showing, I dry-brushed white and gray paint in layers over the orange.  I finished up with a glaze of ebony stain (Minwax brand, for sure), and it highlighted all the carefully contrived distressing I allowed my 11-year-old boy to give to the bench (it was the highlight of his day, honestly).

I was nervous that the new owners might be disappointed in a painted finish rather than a stained one, but they don’t seem to be! 

Whew!

And you know what?  I think it looks pretty fabulous myself!

*************************

Linking up here:

Domestically Speaking	Elizabeth & Co.
Primitive & Proper	Thrifty Décor Chick
Friday Remodelaholic	2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday	Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special	The DIY Show Off Stone Gable
Beyond the Picket Fence	Someday Crafts
Knick of Time Mod Vintage Life	My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect	Sawdust Throwdown
Common Ground	My Repurposed Life
From My Front Porch to Yours	All Star Block Party A Little Knick Knack
The Scoop! Thrifty Décor Chick	{aka} design Coastal Charm