If you have been reading my blog for sometime, I guess you are familiar with my love for reusing stuff by up-cycling.  I enjoy transforming old stuff that has been discarded and unused to something I can find place in my house.  This is of course, notwithstanding all the effort that goes into getting the workmen understand what I want and the unending running around and coordination with the ever elusive carpenters and painters!

While I have nothing against store bought items of decor/furniture, up-cycled pieces are more close to my heart.  They are more or less ‘one of a kind‘ and my stories and memories associated with their “creation” make them more special.

So, here is a short account of yet another ‘project’ of mine when I chanced upon someone who was discarding some of their old stuff that included a pair of old teak doors, teak frames as well as an old (read ‘worn out’) bench. Below are the “before” pictures:

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Pair of old doors
Old teak frames
Old teak frames
Bench
Bench

The legs of the bench were made of wood though they had been painted white.  The top had a laminated sheet.   I thought it would be a good idea to give the bench a face lift by removing the top sheet and covering it with the “solid” part of both the doors.  Since the length of both pieces combined was a bit bigger, the transformed bench did turn out a little more wider and longer than the original.

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The bottom part of the doors were cut and the pieces were placed and nailed together on top

A part of the door frame was also placed at the bottom for additional support and the whole bench was scrubbed with sand paper to remove the existing paint of the bench and polish of the old door on top.

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The edges were rounded as well.

The bench was then polished a dark brown along with highlighting all the grains.

Raw materials for the polish
Raw materials for the polish
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Polish work in progress
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Polished version

Thanks to the efforts of the carpenter and painter, I loved the end product.  It forms for a great multi purpose bench that can used as a low seating/dining option or even for writing.

Seating bench

In spite of using some part of the frame for the support below, there was quite a bit of wood left.  Stay tuned for part 2 of this post for the rest of the ‘project’.

To read my other up-cycling projects click here and here.

24 thoughts on “Upcycling ideas with an old bench, pair of doors and discarded frames: Part I”
  1. This is simply amazing Rashmi! And very creative as well! The best part is you have a nugget of that precious antique with you all the time! Looks great with the lime green cushions:)

  2. You have such an interesting blog. Thanks for sharing. I’m a life coach blogger. Reading blogs is my hobby and I randomly found your blog. I enjoyed reading your posts. All the best for your future blogging endeavors. Please keep in touch with me in Google+, +sridharchandrasekaran

  3. “This is of course, notwithstanding all the effort that goes into getting the workmen understand what I want and the unending running around and coordination with the ever elusive carpenters and painters!”
    It takes a natural love and flair to do what you are doing.Kudos!

  4. Wow now this is something, we all need to learn. You just transformed the unused into something so beautiful. All the more reasons for me to be glued to your blogs 🙂

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