This little Ikea hack was so easy I couldn't resist sharing it with you!
I made a new years resolution at the start of 2012 to get more involved in our community. The perfect chance presented itself in the form of a Chairs for Charity auction supporting the Langley Christmas Bureau. Local shops, craftsmen and bloggers are creating chairs to be auctioned off. We might have bent the rules a little bit and created a bench instead of a chair, but the bench is made out of chairs and when we dropped it off yesterday they said it was just fine . . . phew!
Our contribution was suppose to represent our business/blog style and since our business/blog is all about us, we created a bench that suited our style. And what's more Ashli and Lee than rustic wood, paired with metal, clean lines, a little bit of whimsy and re-purposing Ikea!!!! This bench couldn't be more us, if you were sitting in our laps! ;)
I found 6 Ikea Granas Chairs on Craigslist for $50, they were so easy to find, I literally found 100's for sale on there!
We bought 3, 12 foot boards (6"x1"), and a small container of Gel Stain.
It really couldn't be easier:
First: We removed the woven seats that came with the chairs.
Second: Cut the boards to size, and stained them.
Last: Screwed the boards to the chair using the existing holes from the seats.
As a final touch we added a bit of whimsy in the form of a little "SIT." stencil! I felt like the bench needed a little . . . more. And we're all about whimsy so I went for it and stenciled on a little instruction in case people weren't sure how to use our little bench! ;)
I have to tell you, the stencil was a last minute decision and it was very nerve racking painting onto our perfectly stained boards, but I am so glad we did it!!!! I think it makes the bench!
The last thing we struggled with was whether or not to add a shelf to the bottom of the bench. The way granas chairs are made, with the bar along the bottom, it would make it really easy to add a shelf underneath for shoes or baskets. The shelf underneath would turn the bench into the perfect hallway seat. Somewhere to take your shoes off and store them under! We decided to leave off the bottom shelf so that you could use the bench in the dining room or in the front hall.
So if you're in the market for a new dining bench, hall bench, porch bench or just somewhere to sit your bum down, our bench will be auctioned off this Thursday Night at The Passionate Home here in Langley, BC.
In case you were wondering what we're doing with the other 3 chairs . . . we're making a bench of our very own!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
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I absolutely love this!! What a great idea... and I love the "sit" decal. cute!
ReplyDeleteAshli, I've been reading your site a long, long time and the projects you guys do are always great, but this. THIS. IS. AMAZING!!!!!! I wish I lived in Canada because I would seriously try to buy this at the auction! :-) What a creative idea - I hope to see you and Lee create more like this - SO original!
ReplyDeleteThis is great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a classy, awesome Ikea hack! I personally think that the "sit" makes it. That in combination with the industrial chairs and wooden seat is just amazing.
ReplyDeleteLove this idea. You could even add three cute back cusions for a touch of color!
ReplyDelete-Sarah {tuckerup.blogspot.com}
I would definitely snag this bench for my home if I had a place for it ...love it, but I'd want the shelf underneath for where I'd place it. Am anxious to see yours!
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog but you've got to work on your spelling girl!!!
ReplyDeleteHey, any idiot can use Spell Check, but I'd like you to try building a bench or arrange a flower vase like this classy lady does. Take your snobbery somewhere else -- we don't appreciate it over here.
DeleteIt's bothering me a bit because I've been back and forth over this post and cannot see any spelling errors???
DeleteSweetie, I think it was meant to be "nerve wracking", but I actually went and double checked on the internet, and "nerve racking" is also a valid spelling, so it just goes to show that one doesn't know all that much either, does one?
DeleteAnd by the way, did you notice that these comments really started popping up as soon as you guest posted on Jen's blog? I guess it's the price of success and a really wide readership. You've become a celebrity, and boy, are we ever mean to them because deep down, we really can't stand it that they're rich and famous and good-looking! :P
It just gets me when it happens to someone as wholesome and all-round nice as you.
THIS IS FABULOUS!!!! What a fantastic idea and so easy to use as a bench for a dining room table. I may just do this...and the "sit" is the bomb diggity and definitely makes the whole bench.
ReplyDeleteI snorted coffee thru my nose when I read that bit about sitting in your lap! lol -- these coffee accidents really make my day. Can't wait to see where you put up your own bench. :)
ReplyDeleteLove it! You two are so creative!! I would love a bench like that for our front porch.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness you are BRILLIANT! This is such an incredible idea! I wonder how something like this would hold up outside (I'm in BC too, so as you know the weather is POOPY right now). I might have to give it a go. Thank you so much for the inspiration and I will certainly be checking out the Chair auction!
ReplyDeleteI love it! However I am very jealous that you said you found hundreds of these chairs on craigslist... there are 2 sets even remotely close to where we are and both sets come with the table :( lol I plan to find other chairs and try this out it's super cute!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. Love it. You've just gave me an idea for what to do with 2 extra chairs I have and wasn't sure what to do with. LOVE.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great contribution!!! You are so creative and I love the SIT.
ReplyDeleteI love this!! The idea for putting a shelf and using in a hallway is great.
ReplyDeleteNice job - soooo cute!
ReplyDeleteI want one!
Jane
Looks fantastic Ashli and Lee! I think the "Sit." stencil really makes the bench. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Ashli! It's so great to see some of the submissions for this and I hope the auction does well, the Langley Christmas Bureau is a wonderful help to our community. :)
ReplyDeleteYour submission is fantastic - it is soooo you {and Lee}! I can't wait to pop in and see everyone's chair. My took forever to paint because of this cold weather!
ReplyDeleteLove it !!!
ReplyDeletePopped on over from The Passionate Home
This is one of the coolest benches my eyes have ever seen. Great job Ashli!!
ReplyDeletexo,
Jen
Came in from ikea hackers.net. Love your bench and your whole website. WOW!!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a super awesome hack- I love the aesthetic. I need to create a dining bench for my new ikea table and this has totally inspired me. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDelete