DIY Potting Bench From Rummage Sale Junk

Friday and Saturday one of our local churches had a rummage sale. My neighbor and I were having our own garage sale but we closed up shop on Friday because we had heard that this was a really good sale. Indeed it was!



This ugly, warped table was only a few dollars, (I think I paid $2.00). The top was in terrible condition but the base was solid wood and very sturdy. I have a thing for old tables, so I bought it.



This table is very unusual, I've never seen anything like it before. There is glass firmly attached to the wood as though they are one piece. At first I thought it was acrylic but I hit it with the hammer to make sure and it really is glass. For the glass and the wood to be so warped it must have been either outside or in storage for a long time.



I'm also a sucker for book shelves. This one was rickety and whoever made it was a bad shot with the hammer. Several nails had gone up through the wood and caused it to splinter. I bought it for $1.00 thinking I could use it for closet storage. I thought, if nothing else, I could put my shoes on it or possibly just use the wood for something. I wasn't passing up solid wood for $1.00.



































On Sunday night my husband and I were walking our dog when I noticed that one of the neighbors had placed a twin bed headboard, footboard, and wood frame with the slats attached. I told my husband that we needed to get the slats from the garbage. He thought I was nuts! It's one thing to pick up trash in a strange neighborhood and quite another where people know you. I spared him the embarrassment and we waited until dark. Thankfully they were still there.

I was brainstorming trying to figure out what to do with all of this newly acquired junk in my garage. I have always wanted a potting bench and since the stuff I had was so cheap and not in the best shape I though it would be a good time to make one.

The slats were the perfect size for the table and didn't have to be cut!

My original plan was to just add the slats to the table and be done, but then I thought the bookshelf would be perfect for additional storage.





Here she is all finished and decorated! Isn't she adorable? I had some white exterior paint but I didn't want it to be white. I started adding several different colors to get a color that I liked. Depending on the light, it looks kind of sage green, gray, or a pretty blue.

I turned the bookcase upside down because it added more stability to attach the flat end to the table. I also need the lip at the top so the space could be used and things wouldn't fall off.











































Here is the back. The only real cost was the $11.00 sheet of plywood that we had to buy. It just didn't look right without a back on the shelf and the plywood gave it additional stability.











































I added the corner decorative pieces so it wouldn't look as much like an upside down bookcase. I had them stored in a container my craft room. I bought them a few years ago on clearance for .62 each.




Almost every item on the potting table was purchased at garage sales or Goodwill. I love thritfy treasures!



I already had this little window box primed, but I didn't know what I was going to with it. It was a garage sale purchase from last year. I thought it would be a perfect addition to my potting table.



I am having difficulty with Blogger on this post. I hope the text is in the right place.



I wish you all a lovely and productive day! Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to:

















http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/06/pottery-barn-bedford-office-addition.html?utm_source=feedburner

http://southernhospitalityblog.com/thrifty-finds-this-week-2/

http://www.thenester.com/2011/06/best-yard-sale-finds-ever.html