I recently completed transforming this antique vanity bench from this:
To this:
I loved this bench the instant I saw it. It cost me $8 at an estate sale. The wood structure of the bench was sound, but the cushion was n-a-s-t-y.
THE PROCESS
First, I removed the cushion with a screwdriver and thoroughly cleaned the wood structure of the bench with TSP. I decided to re-use the piece of plywood for the base of the cushion, which involved removing about five million staples.
Each morning for about a week, I spent ~30 minutes removing those pesky staples. That was not fun.
The fabric and stuffing from the old cushion was disgusting and smelly, so I didn’t re-use any of it.
Once cleaned and dried, I lightly sanded the piece using a 220 sanding sponge.
Sanding roughs up the top layer of finish and years of oil and dirt to prepare the surface for priming and painting. Continue reading
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