Hi there!
Today we are sharing a dumpster dive diy farmhouse bench.
(light from Restoration hardware)
I say we..because
I was so excited the other day when my husband called me out to the garage. I always know when he walks in the house and says “Deb come here I need to show you something”.
It’s usually something he has scored from a dumpster. One would never dream my husband would be a dumpster diver. He is a tall, good looking ,clean cut, professional working man.
Goes to show, never stereo type a garbage picker.
I have been wanting bench seating in our kitchen for a few years now. Problem was, our table is very high. We bought our kitchen set in South Florida from a Mexican pottery/furniture shop. It was a steal and is a beautiful hand made set. However, they must have made it for taller people because the table is so high that when you sit in the seats your feet do not touch the ground. Unless, you are of course 6’0 or taller.
Hence, we could never find a bench tall enough.
I asked my husband a few weeks ago if he could make me one.
He made an outdoor park bench years ago. Though he has no woodworking skills, I knew he could do it.
Heck, he built a pizza oven. He can build a bench.
We believe this was a sign of some sort, considering it has the eye hooks. We chose to keep them in tact and perhaps I can add some rope or something down the road.
The lumber came from Lowes hardware, Mike carefully hand picked each piece. He measured the height of our current chairs and that is how he determined what the height of the bench and legs would be.
Mike sanded the top of the bench to get a nice smooth, splinter free finish.
My husband swears by this varnish. In fact, he uses a marine varnish every year on our outdoor picnic table and chairs.
We receive a lot of comments and compliments on the finish. He uses a high gloss on the outside, {Marine Clear varnish} however for the bench we chose a satin finish.
Mike also put gliders on the bottom of the legs so we would not scratch up the floor each time we sat down and slid the bench over.
I’m in love with our new Farmhouse/rustic dumpster dive bench.
Rough estimate of cost $50.00
Lumber
varnish
and screws.
The varnish was the biggest cost at $24.00 a can.
I think what I love the most is we can actually sit eight now at the table. We were able to before, but that was pulling up extra chairs.
Not bad for a dumpster dive!
Go Mike.
Thanks for stopping over today.
Enjoy the long Holiday weekend.
If you missed my Kitchen summer tour you can take a gander at that while you are here. Everything is sure to change here shortly.
If you are not a regular here, I sure would love to see you back again.
XO
Patty says
August 30 at 8:40 amBeautiful!
Lynn Fern says
August 30 at 8:56 amI love it Debbie!!! It is a sweet score. I always love when I am surprised with a dumpster dive that I wasn’t the one doing the diving 🙂 Happy weekend!
Kris says
August 30 at 9:19 amDebbie,
What a great find. It is beautiful.
Kris
Pam says
August 30 at 9:42 amI had no idea Mike had the dumpster diving bug! The new bench looks great there!
debbiedoo's says
August 30 at 11:42 amOne would never dream it! LOL
Kim says
August 30 at 9:51 amGreat job, Mike! Great find and it looks awesome.
debbiedoo's says
August 30 at 11:38 amThanks Kim!
craig ballantyne says
August 30 at 9:59 amI think your blog is really really interesting and full of great informative things great stuff.
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
August 30 at 10:36 amThe bench looks great, Debbie!
debbiedoo's says
August 30 at 11:38 amThanks Kathy, Mike is proud!
Pam @diy Design Fanatic says
August 30 at 10:49 amGreat find and a great job Mike!
debbiedoo's says
August 30 at 11:38 amBest dumpster dive he ever had!
The Tuscan Home says
August 30 at 11:45 amLove. Love. Love. What a great find, and it looks amazing in it’s new spot and home. Did I tell you how much I love that clock you have, where did you find it? Have a great weekend! xo, Liz
debbiedoo's says
August 30 at 11:48 amClock came from Ballards at least 12 years ago. Thanks Liz!
Linda says
August 30 at 11:51 amHoly Cow!! What a score! Magnificent job Mike! You’re hired!
Linda says
August 30 at 12:02 pmWhat and I for a treasure he did an awesome job bravo Mike keep digging in the dumpsters
Pam says
August 30 at 12:12 pmGreat job by your hubby! I love the size of the bench and how it looks in your room. Well done!
Pam
Dee says
August 30 at 12:14 pmHe did an awesome job, Debbie. It looks great, and I absolutely love the way your kitchen looks — beautiful! 🙂 Have a fun weekend!
laurie says
August 30 at 2:55 pmlooks great!! What a good job he did, I love to have lots of seating at my table too!
Debbie says
August 30 at 4:12 pmLove it! Way to go Mike 🙂
Shannon Fox Fox Hollow Cottage says
August 30 at 7:24 pmSUCH a score. Bravo to Mike for the great find, and the great fix. Totally custom and perfect for your tall table. The kitchen looks gorge!! Still loving those beams too :)))
lindad says
August 30 at 10:36 pma year ago my husband and I were in town and I took a scenic route home and by someones house they had a wood office desk with one sm. drawer and one large draw for files. It also had a key board shelf that slide into the desk if you wanted out of sight. It was a dark cherry wood finish marked FREE with one scratch on top that looked like someone slide something across it. I just put a table runner over it for now. I always wanted a computer desk and just did not want to pay the price. We had my suv and was not sure if it would fit, the drawer would not come out so we had to lift that heavy desk inside the car. But it was worth it ! Great fine your bench.
Sharon says
August 30 at 11:11 pmThat is a good looking bench!
Angela says
August 31 at 2:24 pmWow! This is totally awesome! He did a great job! I can’t believe someone would throw something so awesome into the dumpster!!! ~~Ang
debbiedoo's says
September 1 at 9:15 amHe was shocked too! Glad he spotted it as driving by.
jessie says
August 31 at 2:43 pmWow..Great job Mike..love it. Fits so well in your kitchen area.
debbiedoo's says
September 1 at 9:15 amThanks Jessie:)
Carol says
August 31 at 5:32 pmLove the bench especially how wide it is! Looks so good in your dining room
debbiedoo's says
September 1 at 9:14 amThank you Carol. Yes we like the width of it as well.It’s pretty comfortable!
Becca says
August 31 at 6:15 pmSuch a cool bench and talented hubby! It’s the perfect addition to your awesome kitchen! Lucky girl!
debbiedoo's says
September 1 at 9:14 amThanks Becca! I bet you are getting in the Fall mood!
SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says
August 31 at 7:18 pmGoooo, Mike- how fun! I need to figure out how I can get Richard to start d-diving for me. 🙂 The bench looks great, and looks like a good size for a coffee table, too, if you ever decided to change things up again.
debbiedoo's says
September 1 at 9:14 amWhat a great idea Sheila, never thought of that!
tegmapat says
September 2 at 12:25 amI’m a 73 yr. old woman, so I don’t presume to know it all in carpentry, but I am a DIY person, who does all her own work. I noticed that some of the ends of your boards on the bench have splits in them. Just a tip for your husband, if you’d rather not have that from here on in. Drill the ends of the boards with a very small drill bit before hammering in the nails and you won’t get any splits. Love the bench tho’…. splits and all!
debbiedoo's says
September 2 at 7:49 amThe ends of the boards were like that already. My husband only attached the legs and he did that from the bottom. Remember this was a dumpster dive, and it was some sort of sign so those nails were pre existing. Thanks for the tip though.
Shannon says
September 2 at 11:38 pmThe bench is SO nice! I love it and I love when you write about Mike. You two are the best couple! 🙂
Debbie says
September 3 at 9:12 pmI love it! I love a man who will dumpster dive, too. I’m pretty sure I could convince my husband to dive IN, but I would have to do the seek and find first. You have a keeper for sure. (The bench, too… but I was talking about the husband. ) Going to look into that varnish.
Patricia says
September 3 at 10:35 pmHi Debbie!
Loved seeing this dumpster dive project. It looks great there at your table…very rustic!
We use a combination of chairs and a bench too. With all my little grand-kids here most days… it sure comes in handy!
Lisa Palmese says
September 13 at 12:22 pmI Love it!1 He scored Big Time. It is exactly Perfect for that Room.
And I am going to have to Agree with Your Husband on The Marine
Varnish. When someone sees a piece of furniture outside they say oh that’s
going to get ruined etc.. I say Use Marine Varnish!! Bravo on two points for Him lol
Looks Beautiful and a Great Addition.
Lisa.
debbiedoo's says
September 13 at 2:36 pmIt is a great product indeed!
Linda Southworth says
September 15 at 3:39 pmDebbie, it just looks so nice! Great when it all finally comes together! Now I spied the dog’s bowl and loved the black dog pic at his level. How cute is that! And I love the fact that you are smitten with chickens. My daughters don’t understand my affection for them. I enjoy your posts!