How to Refresh a Primitive Bench

Have you ever stumbled across a wooden bench you thought would be perfect if it didn’t have something “scary” on its top?  Let me show you how I took this bench from the 1970’s to the present!

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Before –

This primitive wooden bench has been tucked between the range and the cabinet in the farmhouse kitchen since the late 1970s when the kitchen was added on.  If you look at the picture below, you can see the end of it peeking out.

I think my Mom had it made specifically to fill that spot.  Not only did it have the lovely duck contact paper (circa 1979) on it, it also had a piece of linoleum laying on top of it to “protect” it.  It was a handy resting place for a fly swatter or a metal rack.

Because that bench had always been in that spot, I didn’t even think about taking it while I was cleaning out the farmhouse.  My realtor/friend stopped by for a chat and said “don’t forget your bench”!  I was like “Bench, what bench?”  She pointed to the bench between the range and the cabinet.  I shook my head and said it needed to stay there.  That is where it has always been!

After she left, it dawned on me that the new people purchasing the farmhouse would probably be changing the kitchen and wouldn’t need (or want) the little bench.  As I was scheduled to leave the following morning, I tried to pull the bench out but wasn’t successful so I thought I would just leave it.

The next morning, I wasn’t well enough to travel so I changed all my travel arrangements.  This gave me several extra days to try to get the bench out of the spot.  Once I was feeling better, I did manage to wrest it out of its spot.

The Cleaning Process –

The contact paper was so brittle from years of exposure to the heat of the range that it basically peeled right off.  The parts that were really stuck came off with a little help from some sand paper.    Once I had the contact paper off, I washed the entire bench with an oil based soap that was safe to use on wood.  I let the bench dry overnight.

The next morning, I used sandpaper to remove any remaining sticky spots and wiped the bench down.

Side View –

 

After –

Once the bench was all cleaned up, I placed it on the corner of the hearth.  Not only had it been made to fit the specific spot between the range and the cabinet, it fit perfectly on the hearth!  I wish I could remember who made the bench.  I am not sure if it was my Dad or the contractor who built the kitchen onto the house.  Whoever made it did a great job!  It is still sturdy after all this time!

Ready for the Summer Holidays!

At the Farmhouse –

By the time the bench was ready for its photo session, I didn’t have many props left.  Most things had either been packed up, given away or donated.  Fortunately, I still had this patriotic silk arrangement that had been in the entryway. Normally I would have added a few more things to the display!

Since I started the refreshing project late in my stay, the bench wasn’t ready when the moving pod was ready to be picked up.  I thought it might fit in my suitcase but it didn’t.  I ended up mailing it back to Florida in a box along with some other things that missed the pod.

It Arrived Safely in the Mail

Once the bench arrived safely in Florida, it was time to start working it into my displays.

Thank you, Ginger for suggesting I take the little bench with me!

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