About a month ago I was wandering through my inspiration folder and came across a photograph of a timber floor that I’ve had stored for a few years now. It is not too often that a photograph speaks to me for such a length of time, but this one was different. It was a photograph of a flooring laid out into a quilt of mismatched timber, all of which seemed to be salvaged from several resources. From the moment I saw it, I wanted something similar.
The dilemma is that flooring is not very high on my list of priorities at this time, since there are a whole lot of other things that require attention. We’ve got this odd recess in our dining room which has bugged me since we moved in, but I still have not had the spare cash to spend on a remedy.
And suddenly it dawned on me. I had all these tiny pieces of wood sprinkled throughout my own garage and studio which I didn’t have a clue what to do together, and that I really could use them to make a bench resembling the timber flooring I was later.
And because the bits were imperfect, my bench could be imperfect, since let’s face it I am not a woodworker. Low anxiety, low cost, high impact. Perfect.
Erin Lang Norris
When all was said and done, this is what the bench ended up seeming like. It’s not quite completed yet, but it is close enough for now.
This thing is megaheavy, like 64 pounds thick, and hauling it across the cellar, around four corners and up the staircase was a massive success for me, but I was determined to have it wrapped in its new area before my husband got home. Therefore, in the event that you make something like this, plan to conquer a similar endeavor.
The dimensions are approximately 82 inches long, 22 inches deep and 19 inches high. I utilized materials I had available for the entire thing, with the exception of one 4-by-4 and yet another 2-by-4.
Erin Lang Norris
When I came up with the idea to produce this bench, I could not resist the urge to rummage through all the timber I have been collecting over the past few years. Everything from vintage signs and pop crates to private artwork pieces which didn’t make the cut soon formed a towering stack of multicolored wood on my living room floor.
Erin Lang Norris
Like most of the projects I do, my goal was to spend as little money as possible. I was thrilled to find a few 2-by-4s from the stash of timber in my cellar. I used a circular saw to cut them to size and then screwed them together to produce the frame.
Erin Lang Norris
I was not worried about the way in which the wood looked because eventually it would be covered anyway. I laid my arbitrary pieces of plywood down underneath the framework and tracked along the outer edge with a pencil, suggesting where to cutback. I discovered this easier than measuring because I was using numerous pieces of plywood. When everything was cut, I secured the timber with nails.
Erin Lang Norris
Once the framework was built, I started laying out the scraps of timber to get an notion of how much more I would need. I made a decision to shape long, straight lines instead of randomly matching pieces together, which appeared to work out fairly nicely.
Erin Lang Norris
Taking a break from the fun area, it was time to lower the legs. I used 4-by-4s that I cut with a circular saw about 18 inches in length, then screwed them to the framework.
You’ll be able to observe that there is an opening with no plywood, which I later turned into a secret compartment. Nothing is complete without an added element of fun.
Erin Lang Norris
Here’s a picture after I inserted the thighs one late night in my cellar. As you can see, I kept all the pieces lined up on the floor to make it easier to reassemble. Once it was time to begin attaching the pieces to the framework, I used black finishing nails to keep everything in place.
Erin Lang Norris
Here’s a close-up of those top after things were secured. I was happy to use up a great deal of old artwork bits that I’ve had laying around, but I did not have quite enough timber ready to go. I must pull out my paint and block-printing supplies during construction. The Suffolk Sheep signal came from an auction, and the Celo piece came from a classic soda crate. The rest of the wood bits in this view are my own creations.
Erin Lang Norris
Here is another view of this very best. I used white and black spray paint together with a ribbon stencil onto a lot of the bits to add visual interest and to help everything feel much more cohesive.
Erin Lang Norris
I ended the edge of this frame with vintage yardsticks. A few of them I had available, and a few were given to me by a friend. My favorite is that this blue one.
Erin Lang Norris
Here is the compartment I created. I thought it made a good home for all the tiny toys I have collected through the years.
I also kept a few pieces of wood unattached so they can be lifted off the top. Underneath the bits are funny comics and photographs.
Erin Lang Norris
And it is finished! Here is the completed bench snuggled to its new home. I have not decided what color I would like to paint the legs yet, so for now I am just going to leave them as is. I am guessing they’ll probably wind up being a vibrant shade of yellow or blue, but I will most likely change my mind again before I buy the next form of paint.
Inform usWhat projects are you working on? Share your photos and ideas below!
More of Erin’s DIYs:
Stacked-Stone Fire Pit
Side Table With Novel Twist
Block-Printed Coat Hook