Reclaimed Bench

Have you noticed so many pieces are made to last only a few years? Or how everything in the stores are shades of beige, neutral tones like white or black?

After a couple of seasons outdoors, finishes peel or fade.  Then a good, useful item gets thrown away and replaced that might have had a few more years left.

Just because the store finish has lost the original luster does not mean it needs to stay that way. This bench was still in excellent condition. The metal frame was secure and the slats had no damage and so it was an ideal candidate for a refresh.

After a thorough cleaning, a finish was applied to the metal to bring a sheen back to the iron, and then a new paint color applied to the slats. 

Suddenly, there was a bench worthy of being a focal point in a garden.

And this time... the color did not have to be a standard ordinary color often found in retail, commercial settings.  It was the owners choice.  This bench was painted in a soft green to help in blend into the landscape... but a vibrant color would have been just as good, and would have drawn more attention to the piece in the yard.