Turn A Coffee Table Into A Bench!

I've been keeping an eye out for a simple coffee table that I could turn into a bench. It's been a long hunt...but at last! I thought I found the perfect table at a second hand store. And at $19 it was too good to be true!

Well... it was. 

Life Designed

It's not the best piece of furniture (as in- it's not solid wood, it has a woven detail on the sides which I did not know about when I went in to buy it!).


But... it was only $19 and I drove across the city to get it so...it came home with me! I can work around this. 


What I do like about it, are the tapered legs and the size. It's pretty sturdy too.

Life Designed

I don't know why a coffee table needs handles for non existent drawers but this table has not one, but two handles- one on either side of the table. Aren't they fabulous? Not.


Once I took these handles off, I was left with 2 very visible holes. Due to the woven detail, I couldn't just fill them in with wood filler. Solution? 


I thought about buying new pulls but #1 what kind? Sleek modern hardware with the woven detail would not look good and #2 hardware would cost more than the table itself!


I gave the existing pulls a coat of spray paint thinking, maybe I'll just stick with what I've got.  No...the new coat of white did nothing for them. 


So at this point I was really tempted to get these awesome rope pulls from Anthropologie:

I love both styles! So nautical and just plain cool and I think rope would go well with the woven detail.


But I didn't feel like forking out $24 for two pulls.


So....? DIY!

Life Designed

Ok so it's not nearly as cool and polished as the Anthropologie pulls, but it'll do for now:

I took the existing hardware, spray painted it white and wrapped jute around it. 

I was originally thinking about getting sisal rope and making a pull more like the first Anthropologie image but the sisal rope at Canadian Tire was a very pale beige. I like the darker jute colour better. If I can find the right colour and width of rope, I might try another DIY! 

Life Designed

There she is! 

I like how the woven detail is barely noticeable and the jute pull gives it a very casual, beachy look- the toss cushions add to the seaside vibe. (They're Martha Stewart cushions I got from Home Depot last summer on sale for $7 each)

This piece might be suitable for my friend's new home as an entry bench! 

I would like to upholster some foam and make this a much more comfortable piece that can double as seating in her living room when she has lots of guests over. It's long enough to sit 2 to 3 people. 

Oh something I've noticed with flat spray paint. Tell me if the same happens with you. 

Life Designed

After a couple coats, the paint has this bumpy texture. Just in some spots. I usually use glossy or satin spray paint but my friend's been using flat so I used the same for this piece. She's noticed the same issue as well. 

It's an easy fix with very fine grit sandpaper but I'm wondering if anyone else out there has had the same issue with flat spray paint?