Most of my posts on this blog are about makeovers that take a lot of work. The makeovers range from painting dressers and reviving end tables to sanding chippy tables and upcycling broken barrels. Very rarely do I rescue pieces that don’t need a lot of work. Those pieces are usually out of my price range and I like being able to put my own stamp on things. That’s why I DIY! I love every one of the projects I take on and would not trade them for anything, but it is nice to find a piece that doesn’t need a ton of work to make it new. This Settee Makeover With Barn Wood was one of those projects.
The sale that I found this settee at did not look promising. I was about to call it quits and get back in my van when I noticed it sitting way off on the other side of the yard. There was a price tag on it, but I thought maybe it was sold and had been set aside.
I had to ask if it was still for sale.
It was!!!! (Always ask. You never know until you ask.)
I told her I was going to take it and she had to tell me the story behind it (I love the stories).
She told me that when she was growing up in a small town in Iowa, this settee was in the barn of the old lady that lived next to them. “So back then, this settee was old”, she said. When the old lady died, this lady’s mother was given the settee. Her mother kept it in her house until she passed away. Then, this lady came to own it. She paid someone to strip it down to the bare bones, but never got around to finishing it. I told that I loved the story more than the piece. I was happy to take it home and make it functional again.
This settee was sturdy, did not have any issues and was a blank slate to work with.
Oh, and ….. the springs are HUGE! I need to come up with a project for them all on their own.
Look at all the detail. You can see where the original fabric used to be.
I was amazed at how well this piece looked for how old it is!
I knew I wasn’t going to upholster this piece, so I removed all of the springs.
Then, Matt can barn wood to fit the seat area.
After we sanded the barn wood, it looked really good against the rest of the settee.
That’s it!
Makeover complete!
The barn wood looks amazing!
It is always fun styling a piece and I had to lay the blanket on the seat to see if I would want to get a “cushion” for it. I don’t think so. I really like the barn wood showing.
Had to get a few more shots of this easy makeover.
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What would you have done with this settee? Like I said earlier, I love all the projects we take on, but it is nice to find something that doesn’t need a lot of TLC to make functional and pretty again.
On to the next!
If you don’t have a settee to make over, but would like to add one to your space, I found some beautiful options online:
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If you liked this settee makeover, you will also love these transformations:
The Easy Way To Remove Veneer From Furniture
DIY Outdoor Furniture Makeover
IKEA RAST HACK: FROM BORING TO BEACH COTTAGE
There are two things I might have done to this settee–put slatted wood in the opening behind your back–give it a more solid piece–and I really don’t like the blanket you chose–maybe a piece of foam and make a zippered covering–just like making a zippered pillow–that way you can change it and wash it when you want–other than that a lovely thing of beauty
Great ideas. Thanks for sharing!
It’s beautiful! I think what you did is perfect. I too, love the barn wood showing. It’s too pretty to cover up!
Thank you Cecilia!
I like your project too! I believe that someday, you may happen along a fabric that ‘wood’ make it even prettier! But I do like the way it looks now! Great idea!
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Thanks Linda!
I love how you remodeled this! It makes an adorable bench and the cushion for it adds just enough color with the pillows! I’d love to have something like this on my back porch or in my garden! I’m definitely going to be keeping my eye open at flea markets for something similar. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you Dorothy!
That is a Charles Eastlake Design. I have a Pedestal Rocker his. Very nice find and I what with it!
https://www.google.com/search?q=charles+eastlake+designs&biw=1152&bih=526&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi7u4SwzbLQAhUh7YMKHe6vD8sQsAQIIQ
Oh girl ! I absolutely Love love love it. To me what is so awesome is you can look at it and come out of the box of how to fix it. I would’ve looked at that settee, thinking should I tackle reupholstering it or taking to my local upholsterer . Yes it would look amazing recovered and looking a Tamie’s post Charles Eastlake designs. Looking at his designs It was a wow factor To me I have a chair upstairs I believe it’s one of his that is waiting to go be redone in the next couple weeks. But you did a quick fix that LOOKs GRAND!
Thank you so much Barbara!!!
I would have done much the same that you did. On the back though, I would have put some thin wood behind the openings and then glued foam to that in the same shape as the original. You could then staple of a fabric of your choice and hot glue some rope trim in a matching color around the edges. It would make it soft to lean against and would be beautiful. It’s just fine the way it is though. I wonder if you could find and outdoor already made cushion for it if you wanted one.
Great suggestions.
I have a rocking chair That has spring like that. My husband was rocked in it when he was little as was his daughter. I don’t reupholster. A guy I know wants almost 1000. To fix it. Can not see it.
Reupholstering things is so expensive!!!