09/07/2026
Quite pleased with my bench
Needs the pin holes on the back touching up, but pretty pleased with myself!
It’s the cleanest it’ll ever be, let’s see how it holds up with an army of kids trampling all over it when eating their dinner 😂
EDIT: oof, that escalated quickly! Thanks all for the kind comments, to answer a few of the questions:
The paint is Johnstone's Aqua Guard Durable matt, matched (ish) to my kitchen - colour RAL5008
The flooring is Project Floors "Rough Sawn Cypress", bought from all about living Project Floors @ Work PW
The top is cut for storage, but the pieces lift off rather than hinge, I did buy piano hinges originally, but decided to have them lift off instead as I though that they'd be comfier to site on and didn't want my little boy trapping his fingers with them dropping down. I considered putting proper hinges in to hold the lids properly, but it was getting a bit overengineered and expensive for the amount they'll actually get used as I'll have to move the dining table to get to them - I'm also probably going to get cushions made so something softer to sit on
I know the walls are a mess! The back wall is getting panelled with oak acoustic panelling though as it needs skimming really if I were to paint it
Yes, doesn't look like it, but the radiator does fit!
No, not going for grungy train station chic 😂
Might have some construction pictures if anyone's interested and a breakdown of how I built it. Essentially, I didn't like most of the "banquette" (new word I learned!) as I wanted something more ergonomic with a sloped back, sloped seat and sloped front to stop kids kicking their heels on the bottom. Most guides have square bases and/or backs.
