This bench was nothing but trouble I should have never bought this bed in the first place. Unfortunately, I paid for it before I actually saw it in person and I didn’t feel comfortable trying to get my money back. The headboard was super thin and had a chunk missing that affected its structural integrity. The footboard was even worse. There was no way it could support weight, it was too short to be useful, and the veneer was in pretty bad shape. But it was now mine, so I took it home and tried to make the best of it.I cut a 2×4 so it fit snugly against the back of the bench and between the legsI used 2x4s for most of the project because I didn’t want to invest much money into this project. I attached sides and back support using pocket holes.I drilled pocket holes across the support so I could attach the bench seat from the bottom so the screws wouldn’t be visible.I added front legs using more pocketholes.I used a 2×6 across the front and used 4 2x4s for the seat. I’ll be honest, I got to this point and absolutely hated it. The 2×4 legs and 2×6 front made it ugly and bulky and i was ready to give up and destroy the whole thing. Fortunately, I took a break and came back to it with fresh eyes and a better attitude.Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture of the intact footboard, but I was able to put it to use. I cut the footboard into 3 pieces. I attached the ends to the side of the bench and used the center piece as decoration under the 2×6. It looks a little weird with 4 front legs, but the 2x4s were still needed for structural integrity and the footboard legs were mostly for decoration. This thing was a pain in the butt to paint. All the little curves and grooves on the legs took forever.In the end, it turned out much better than I expected. It’s not my favorite bench, but I feel comfortable enough with what I accomplished that I’m willing to sell it. I struggled with it every step of the way, but I’m glad I stuck with it and finished with something I can be proud of!
Quinnfiredesign 