Home AboutMe Crafts Food

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Entertainment Center Turned Bench...Finally!

About two months ago, we decided to buy a new couch.
Buying a new couch meant rearranging furniture.
Rearranging furniture meant this piece that was once used as an entertainment center now needed a new purpose. I decided it was the perfect piece to turn into a bench. It was the just the right height for sitting, plus there is a ton of room in the two side cabinets to store toys! The first thing I did was use Gorilla Glue to attach some thin pieces of wood to the doors...
..and sides of the entertainment center. I wanted to add a little bit of interest to the otherwise plain boring sides. Jason already had these thin pieces of wood left over from a previous project, so all I had to do was cut them to the correct length and glue them on.
After the Gorilla Glue was dry {technically like two weeks after}, I primed the entire piece with Zinsser Oil Based Primer...the same primer that I used to redo my end table. After the primer was dry, I added a coat of glossy white paint...the primer was so good that it only need one coat of the glossy paint to look pretty great! I reattached the original hinges {which were black}, and picked up two new decorative black knobs to replace the small silver ones.
I bought a piece of foam and cut it to the correct size for the top of the bench. FYI: Foam is expensive....if you have any old cushions that you aren't using, save them!
I also picked up a tablecloth at Target to make a cover for the foam. I got a great textured material for less than $10...if I had bought something similar at the fabric store it would have cost a fortune! I wrapped the material around the foam, pinned it in place, and sewed up the edges. I left the back open, so that I can remove the cover and wash it if it ever gets dirty or stained {which is going to happen in my house full of boys}! Throw in a couple of rattan baskets and two decorative pillows that match the throw pillows on the couch, and now I have an awesome bench and even better toy storage piece!


Visit thecsiproject.com
Pin It!

93 comments:

Kelli said...

KELLI!!!! That is an amazing transformation. I love, love what you did with the wood pieces and changing out the knobs. Who would think that foam would be expensive...interesting. Gorgeous! Where did you get the baskets?

staci @ lizard n ladybug said...

shut up!! That is too cute! (no matter how long it took to finish) :)
Great job!

ashley mcgehee said...

It's beautiful! Great job! :)

Heather (One Take On Life) said...

You make me want to fix something up! That is just beautiful, wonderful job!

He & Me + 3 said...

OMGosh Kelli. I love it! It turned out so good. You are my redo project hero. For real. I am serious. You inspire me to do more fun things. Great job. I wish we lived closer. How fun.

Stephanie said...

Wowzers!!!! Really come visit my house - I'll babysit :)

Jaymerz said...

Wow that is amazing!!

KTW said...

LOVE IT!!! Now I'm gonna have to go looking for an old entertainment center...

Kmama said...

That looks amazing. Way to go!

Kelly said...

Amazing!! It really looks beautiful and you did a great job coordinating the colors :) I'm a sucker for anything that has baskets so this is right up my alley!

Carrie said...

Wow! I love it! So worth the wait :) It looks brand new...I know that would cost a fortune in a furniture store! I love the pillows and the colors. you are amazing! What a great piece to add to your living room!

Tara @ Tara Being Tara said...

This looks darling! Awesome work!

The Tesdalls said...

Oh wow....that looks AMAZING!!!!

Unknown said...

Woah! That really is awesome! You would never ever be able to tell it was a TV stand. Great job!

Darcie said...

Kelli...that is the most beautiful makeover EVER!!! I love people like you(and just a little jealous, in a good way ;-))that can see an old piece of furniture and see something new. I ADORE this piece. You amaze me girl!!!

Holly @ BeachCoveJewelry said...

Wow that is a great makeover! I love the idea of glueing the wood pieces on!

Sugarplum Creations Blog said...

Um, OH MY GOODNESS! Thas is beautiful!! I love all of it. The colors, the pillows ;) Nice work, girlfriend!

Foursons said...

Wow, you did such a great job! I think the thing that made such a huge difference was adding the wood strips to the doors. Makes the whole piece look so much more expensive. I also love the fabrics you chose. So pretty.

{Kimber} said...

WOW GIRL!!!!!!!! that is such an awesome job it looks BEAUTIFUL!~!!

Rachel said...

That is A-MAZ-ING! And I am cracking up at the "two weeks" part, because that is soooo me!

It looks terrific... where can I buy it? :)

Unknown said...

LOVE love LOVE IT KELLI! so cute! how creative, I adore the colors and the fabric and pillows too. Plus the extra storage... win WIN! hugs, Jenn

Bridget said...

Love this, it looks fantastic!!

Myya said...

Holy cow that is a HUGE differece!!! What a great piece!!!

{:miss v:} said...

THAT is beautiful! You did a fantastic job! Ooooo....you've lit something under me! hahahha!

Maria-Isabel @ Agape Love Designs said...

WoW thats amazing. I love the re-do!! It looks fantastic!!

McCrakensx4 said...

That is fabulous! It looks a.m.a.z.i.n.g!! Wow...even my hubby thinks it is great! Love it!

More Than Words said...

Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is so awesome!!!!!!! I love it!

Missy said...

That is just gorgeous.
Thanks for sharing, and thanks for your kind comment!

Shannon said...

Where did you get your pillows? They are so cute and your bench loos so great!

Kayleen said...

What a great project! Thanks for sharing!

Tracy said...

It looks awesome. You did a great job!!

The Preppy Strawberry said...

WOW! You did an awesome job! I love it! What a way to "reduce, reuse, recycle!

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

That is an awesome transformation. I love that you added wood to it -- it looks so different now. Amazing!!!

XOXO
Jen

He & Me + 3 said...

The Friday Freebie post is up on my blog. Just wanted to remind you :)

Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

It looks wonderful! Seriously, you're amazing!

blueskiesandgreenlights said...

Wow!!! What a great tranformation, Kelli. I love the colors you chose. I can not believe that amazing little bench is formerly that old entertainment center. You did a fabulous job!!! I never cease to be amazed when I visit your blog. You totally ROCK!!!

Kelly said...

PLEASE pass over your creative gene! I love what you do to things. How can you look at something and think...I wonder what I can do to that, to transform it into something I like and can use? I don't think my brain works that way. I LOVE the bench!

The Girly Tomboy said...

That is FANTASTIC! Great job! I want one.

Dee said...

HOLY COW! That is so super cute!

Lacy said...

Love it! Where did you get the pillows?

He & Me + 3 said...

Super fun giveaway above girly. wish I could win:)

Allison {A Glimpse Inside} said...

This looks SO good! No one would ever know that used to be an entertainment center! And LOVE the fabrics! Great job!!

Candy Bello said...

I can't believe thats the same entertainment center transformed into a bench! How lovely! Well done!!! It looks like brand new!

:)
Candy

Michelle @ Sweet Something Design said...

That looks fantastic! I love the pillows too!

Unknown said...

This is great! I am eyeing up my entertainment center just to give it a try. hehehe

KimMalk said...

Oh my! This turned out great. Adding those wood strips really makes it look special and custom.

KellyS said...

What a super idea!! Someone else asked, too - where are the pillows from?

- Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl said...

Absolutely gorgeous! And what a great repurpose.

Katie Olthoff said...

I love the board and batten look! It turned out great!

Emily said...

Wow. That is absolutely amazing! I love how it turned out!

Cap Creations said...

Awesome job! It's beautiful!

Kari said...

This turned out perfectly - I absolutely love it!

Nikki@KreativeKnack said...

I Love this! The detail is gorgeous! Love the throw pillows too! Great Job!

Amanda @ Healthy House on the Block said...

What an awesome idea! I love how you completely changed this! It looks beautiful!

Megan Gunyan said...

I agree with the 54 comments above. It looks amazing, and I love the addition of the wooden slats. It makes it look so cute! Great job.

Get Nestled In said...

You're a genius! I've been looking high and low at the thrift stores and Goodwill for a bench to put in my front entry. I can't tell you how many cabinets like that I've passed up! Great job!!

Melissa said...

Great work....the addition of the thin strips of wood really give it some class.

Anna Dawn said...

That turned out GREAT! I want one in my house!! Thanks for sharing with us, I found you from The Girl Creative Blog and can't wait to see your other projects!

Tara said...

I love your project and would love to have you link this up at my Creative Link Share Party over at Trendy Treehouse

http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.com/2010/06/creative-share-blog-hop_29.html

Hope your having a great week. Tara

cushy said...

great job turning a tv stand to a bench. never knew you can do that. yeah, foams are expensive >_<

Holly Lefevre said...

GORGEOUS! The detail you added is awesome. What a great way to bring back life to an old piece of furniture.

Shelly said...

So, cute! We bought a low entertainment center like that when we got our flat screen. Hubby wants to hang it on the wall to keep little fingers off of it. (What's wrong with sitting on it with your face an inch from the screen?? or using it as a table and standing in front of the TV) :) Hahaha! But this would be a cute idea when Hubby does hang the TV on the Wall

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

wow! beautiful! The after is so totally awesome, I can't believe how much it changed!
gail

Pam said...

One word....BRAVO! Pam @ Sallygoodin

Anonymous said...

Hey there! Fantastic job! I'm a fairly new blogger and saw this post. Love it! Would love to know what fabric you used for the toss pillows. Thanks!

Sarah @ Cozy.Cottage.Cute. said...

Wow, great job. It's amazing what white will do, isn't it?

:)

Erin J said...

Kelli, First - I love this project. The bench turned out SO adorable. Second - I have a question for you. I have been searching for throw pillows for my living room which is the green you have on the cushion and has tangerine accents. I've been unable to find a fabric that I like that has those colors in it. Where did you get the pillows that you have on the bench? They'd be perfect in my living room!

Angie said...

I'd love to know if you bought those pillows or made them yourself?? I would LOVE to use it as kitchen curtains

Judith @ Creating Balance said...

Kelli...my kitchen curtains are the same fabric as your throw pillows!
http://theprincessandthemoose.blogspot.com/2010/06/easy-window-treatments.html

Michelle@Life with Three said...

What a great makeover! I have to ask, where did you get those pillows? I'm on the search for something similar...

Angie said...

kelli, kelli, kelli! help me! i get the whole painting the bench thing... but tell me.... WHERE DID YOU GET THE PILLOWS? did you sew them? if so, where did you get the fabric??? i am in love and NEED it! please please shoot me an email and fill me in. also, you referenced your couch and throw pillows there... do you have a post featuring that? THANKS!

angie

idesign said...

This turned out beautifully! :)

-Jackie
http://jaclyndesigns.blogspot.com/

Holly said...

Wonderful! Adding the wood really makes it so nice! Where did you get the wonderful pillows?

Jessi | Minnesota Mrs. said...

WOW. Love this! Makes me think I need to keep my eye out for something similar. Thanks for the fantastic pictures and step-by-step as well!

thriftytickle said...

I love how you repurposed it! Repurposing is the theme of my link party Vintage Suitcase Friday. I'd be honored if you would come by and link up!

Natalie said...

i am sooo glad i happened upon your blog! we just bought a new place and i have been searching for cute bench/storage ideas and i LOVE what you did! is there anywhere you can tell me where you got the fabric for your pillows? or what the name of the print is??? i have a similar pottery barn print- seraphina and have searched for months for something i like as well and this is so similar--- i really really really would love it if you could tell me. thanks!!!!!!!!

natalie
ccsnatale@gmail.com

Ανεράιδα said...

Wowwwwww!!!! Beautiful transformation! Bravooooo!!!

Sarah @ Cozy.Cottage.Cute. said...

I can't believe that's the same piece. It looks completely different and sooooo nice!

I love how you added the wood strips to give it a cottagey (is that a word??) look.

Awesome!

:)
Sarah

Heather Anne said...

Well done - this is beautiful! Now I'll be on the hunt for a sturdy entertainment center! Thanks for the inspiration!

tv furniture units said...

Wow, I didn't expect that old and worn out entertainment would turn out to be a very lovely bench. You did an amazing job. I wish I had the same carpentry skills as you.

Holly said...

Kelli,
Way back when you published this post I asked where you got the fabric for those pillows. Can't remember if I ever heard, but I'd love to know if you can tell me. Finally time for some pillows for me!

Sarah, Three Boys said...

Love it! What a great idea!

Kate said...

This looks SO GREAT! Awesome work!

Anonymous said...

So impressive! I've been thinking about doing the same thing to an old tv stand in our basement...but wasn't quite sure how it would come together. Thanks for the inspiration!

Jessica @ Home and Faith said...

I love this! I love how the thin pieces of wood added some great detail to it!

Life, Crafts and Whatever said...

Kelli, this is awesome! It totally has the look of a super fancy, expensive bench. I love this so much I dragged hubby into the room just to show him. I'm new to the blogging world. Say hi to your newest follower!

Anonymous said...

Cute...looks great!

Tausha said...

How cute is this? I love that you used the thin pieces of wood and gorilla glued them on! GENIUS! I am so going to use that primer. Thanks for the tip! Happy Weekend!!

Judith @ Creating Balance said...

Hey there! I did a post on Covington Wilmington Love and featured your pillows! Hope you don't mind!

Tori @ FIToriBLOG.com said...

Oh my! You are so talented! I LOVE IT!!! I"m a new follower. You had me at the bench pic! :)

Catherine Couch Doucette said...

WOW, love it!

KAT said...

Amazing - that same slats of wood and a little paint can turn a boring piece into something functional and beautiful!

Amanda said...

I have this EXACT same entertainment center and was holding on to it to find a way to make it into a bench. Unfortunately I am very un-creative. I can't wait to do this! Thanks for the idea!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...