Double Duty: Movable Window Seat or Bedroom Bench

by Diane on 03/08/2010

Movable-Window-SEat-13 Before
In my house - I have this space above the foyer,  it is a hallway that connects two bedrooms, we call it “the bridge”.  It adds architectural character to the foyer, but has no real use.  It is basically an unused space, except when I have to vacuum the carpet. It is the only action the area sees besides the cat napping.  I haven’t done much with the space as I didn’t want to clutter it up in my effort to add some interest, but it needed something.  

Window-Seat 
If you have been following my blog  and remember the kitchen banquette, I decided to make a bench like I made for the kitchen.  It is a smaller version and not attached to the wall so that the bench could be moved on a decorating whim- somewhere else.  It is not just pretty, it can be useful, too.   It performs double-duty!

 I made the cushion by simply covering a piece of foam gift-wrap style with a piece of fabric.  Use pins to secure on the underside.

Movable-Window-Seat-1 
After

This is it’s home most of the time, but it has another life-

 

 

Bedroom-Bench-5 

Prest-O Change-O 

The window seat  becomes a bedroom bench in my guest room, a nice place for guests to place their luggage or their bottom.

 

Movable-Window-Seat-11 

I just slide it to it’s two locations. Super simple, so versatile.

 

Bedroom-Bench-6
Useful in the Bedroom

Movable-Window-Seat-3

Pretty in the Hallway, the cat doesn’t seem to mind as long as he has a sunny spot to take a nap.

 

Back-of-Movable-Window-Seat

To make it.  I measured the window width and then created a box with plywood.  It has no back, just two braces made from scrap wood.  I added a half-round piece of trim around the top, right under that is crown molding.   Baseboard molding and a decorative embellishment I found in the VanDyke’s catalog give the basic box some style.  A few coats of paint and I was done.

 

Inside-of-Window-SEat

 

 

I am linking this project to:

Make it For Monday – Cottage Instincts

Metamorphosis Monday – Between Naps on the Porch

A Soft Place to Land

I Made it Without My Hubby – Shanty 2 Chic

Trash to Treasure – Reinvented

The Inspired Room

The Shabby Nest

 

 

 

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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

1 debi9kids March 8, 2010 at 9:55 pm

OH! I LOVE this project!!!!
I am so so so glad I met you in Baltimore! I would’ve never found your blog otherwise….
It was really great getting to know you over some over-priced Yuenglings ;)

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2 charlotte March 8, 2010 at 9:58 pm

nice!

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3 Julie March 8, 2010 at 10:25 pm

Love it in both places! I’m scared of power tools…you are inspiring me! :)

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4 Diane @ InMyOwnStyle March 8, 2010 at 10:46 pm

Hi Debi- Baltimore was so much fun. I saw your pics on ning. They came out great.

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5 Becky March 8, 2010 at 10:56 pm

What a great, versatile piece–love it!

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6 Laurel March 8, 2010 at 11:14 pm

It looks fantastic. I dream of having a window seat.

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7 Jessica Hills March 9, 2010 at 1:43 am

That is so pretty! I love window seats, especially ones that are in sun-filled windows :)

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8 erin @ tinytwistcreative March 9, 2010 at 2:38 am

This is so perfect. I love window seats & you chose such perfect colors!

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9 Christine March 9, 2010 at 9:12 am

Oh wow…beautiful! You are SO unbelievably talented.

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10 Heidi March 9, 2010 at 12:52 pm

This looks like such a fun project! I love benches like this!

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11 Beth @ CricketCrossing March 9, 2010 at 5:18 pm

That is so great! You really built that? I am in awe! lol And love that you can move it from one place to another.

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12 Danielle March 10, 2010 at 6:41 am

Wow, Diane! Did you really make that yourself?? I am ultra-impressed! It’s fantastic!

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13 Diane @ InMyOwnStyle March 10, 2010 at 6:46 pm

Hi Danielle-
Yes, I made the bench, it was not hard. I have a table saw in my basement. I makes working with wood very do-able. The bench just requires straight cuts. I could never do anything with lots of compound cuts and joints.

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14 Lou Ann March 10, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Great job on the bench! I am afraid of power tool….maybe my hubby would make me one.

It was so great to meet you at Boot Camp!

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15 kirstin March 13, 2010 at 5:04 pm

What a terrific idea. And I LOVE things with more than one use/space/purpose! Fabulous!
We have a friday fun find party (that’s still going)- if you’re interested, we’d love it if you’d link up!

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16 Shaunna March 15, 2010 at 9:56 am

Wonderful Job!! We are in the middle of an attic reno. and there’s this one useless spot…and we were getting ready to make a bench like this…thanks for the inspiration and how to! I’m a new follower-found you through reinvented-just now getting around to looking at everyone’s things. :) come visit sometime. –shaunna

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17 Liz May 10, 2010 at 3:03 pm

Ohhhhhh. I love that! Actually I am just a bench lover in general, but that one is super cute and looks to be easy enough that I might be able to make one.

Thanks for the inspiration!
Liz
Loving This Mom Stuff

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18 Jacqueline March 26, 2012 at 10:42 pm

Wow that is beautiful! I love the “bridge” too. lol! Would it be ok to link to this post from my site?? I love showing off other DIYers work!

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