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Home Decorating

Before and after of new /old hall bench

14 years ago

My dh and I picked up a 14 ft antique pew to use as a bench in our long, wide downstairs hall. At first we couldn't tell for sure what kind of wood it was since it had a very dark solid stain on it, once we started stripping we could see it was heart pine though, same as our floors and door.

Before :

Side we were stripping :

After 3 coats of waterlox, it needs about three more which will go on tomorrow.

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Comments (20)

ruthy1
14 years ago
Very nice bench! I like it. You've got it looking much better! Wonder if it would have been in a church at one time? When I was a young girl (a very long time ago) the church our family attended had very similar wood benches.
User
14 years ago
Zipdee, you did a beautiful job of making that into a lovely piece. Bravo~
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2ajsmama
14 years ago
Wow - great! It's terrific you have the space for that - most people don't. Did you get it for a song b/c it was too big for everyone else ;-)?
allison0704
14 years ago
Nice bench! I would love to have a smaller version of one.
cooperbailey
14 years ago
I love the patina of the wood. You are lucky to have the perfect place for it.
vampiressrn
14 years ago
Very nice indeed. I take my Golden Retrievers to a very beautiful Veterinary office. It is huge and in their front waiting room they have 4 big church benches and one medium sized one in each patient room and 3 really big ones in the ante room. I always mean to ask what the history of those benches are...as they are just beautiful and so sturdy. My dogs love to jump up on them and sit next to me. :-)

You did a wonderful job on your bench and I agree...great fit for your hallway. That wood is awesome!!!
alisande
14 years ago
Great pew and great job!!
jakabedy
14 years ago
That looks great! It's rare to have a place for the longr church pews that are available -- I'm glad this one found a home.
Robbi D.
14 years ago
Beautiful piece and a perfect location for it!
megradek
14 years ago
that is just gorgeous! great job! It will be such a great piece for that hallway.
nicole__
14 years ago
BEAUTIFUL woodgrain & you've got the perfect place for it! TFS(thanks for sharing)
lynninnewmexico
14 years ago
It's beautiful and you did a great job refinishing it, Zipdee! What a lovely piece of furniture for your pretty home . . . BIG congrats!
Lynn
jlj48
14 years ago
I love pew benches and you got a nice one! Great job on the find and the work you put in. Can you please share, what is "waterlox"? Is it some kind of paste for wood?

We have a pew bench too. We picked it up while living in NC and it was way too long. The guy offered to cut it down for us and we let him. We have carted it to every home we have lived in. I love the character of the wood as well as knowing it holds a story from the people that used to sit in it.
Sueb20
14 years ago
Love it. We also have one, which I found on CL for $40. I assume someone in the past cut it down, because it's only about 4' long. Ours is also in our front hall.
Valerie Noronha
14 years ago
What a job! THe bench turned out just stunning and it's the perfect spot for it.
zipdee
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks so much for the kind comments everyone. I'm really happy with the bench, it fits and fills the hall perfectly. I'd like to find a neat container to set beside it as you walk in the front door to hold umbrellas and walking sticks now.

Joanie .. Waterlox is a modified tung oil finish. We've used the same finish on our floors and front door with very good results. I linked their site below for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Waterlox
sandra_zone6
14 years ago
Beautiful! So glad you left the wood alone and did not paint it. That is a beautiful finish!
loribee
14 years ago
Lovely!
jlj48
14 years ago
Thank you!
Joanie
teacats
14 years ago
What a gorgeous pew --- and it is perfect for the front hall! :)

Lots of space for baskets under it too! :)

Great job -- and well worth the effort! :)

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

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