I love Emily Henderson. Whenever I love a home on Instagram it’s designed either by her or Julie Blanner.
She has been posting a particular bench over and over; it keeps popping up all over Instagram. Curiosity got the best of me. How much could this bench really be? I need it.
The bench she links to range from $2,245 and up. My mind almost exploded.
The bench is sleek and simple. I couldn’t help but want to immediately DIY it. I showed it to Jeff, we decided to give it a go. We made it for about $135.
I’ll let that simmer for you.
This was also are first run at it and my first time ever sewing something other than a poorly made Trolls costume for my 1 year old.
Materials for the Bench
- Wood (pieces below)
- Body Pillow 20×54″ (it’s really 20×48 #liars)
- Canvas Drop Cloth
- Titebond
- Screws
- DrillMate
- Forstner Bits
- Leather Straps
- Metal Buttons
- Danish Oil
The first step was finding a body pillow or cushion to go off of. JC Penney had a few for great pricing. They have sales all the time and we snagged this one for $32. The benches on the spec sheet are 20×54 or 20×60.
Once we had the general size, we headed to Home Depot for wood.
Wood Break Down
- Leg Dowels (2) :: 2″
- Cross Leg Dowels (1) :: 1 inch and 7/16ths
- Cross Beam Dowel (1) :: 1.25″
- Top (2) :: 2x6x12 studs
I went with a Canvas Drop Cloth from Harbor Freight because canvas fabrics can be pricey per yard. After YouTubing around, I decided to go with the drop cloth at a solid $15.99.
And with a coupon you can get them for $13!
It’s gorgeous AND it had a seam down the front. Which made my marginal sewings skills look leveled up. I loved the seam in on the original bench and was thrilled to carry it over.
Plus, it gives PLENTY of fabric for mess ups.
We picked how the boards would face and then ripped them to 5 inches. Making their edges perfectly flat to butt up against each other. Then Jeff and his dad put in 5 pocket holes per board about every 9″.
Just like with our table here.
He then joined the boards together with the dowels and wood glue and clamped them in place while they worked on the legs.
We decided to cut the legs to 13″ to make the bench about 14″ tall without the cushion. (12.5″ legs + 1.5″ topper thickness)
Now that the dowel legs were cut to size, we measured out where they would be going.
Using a 2″ Forstner Bit, they used the Miles Craft Drill Guide to create the circular pockets for the legs. The fit is so tight we only needed wood glue to hold them in place.
The circular pockets in the legs and cross dowels were trickier because they don’t lay flat.
Using 1-7/16 dowels, we used the 1-3/8s Forstner bit and sanded the dowel a little to make it fit. We were between sizes and this was much more secure.
Lastly, 1-1/8 dowel, we used the 1-1/8 Forstner bit in the 1-7/16 dowels.
Once the dowels were set, Jeff filled the open knots on the top of the board with 2 part epoxy mixed with black pigment to bring out the knots. We like things knotty. (haha #dadjokes)
Then the table was ready for some light sanding and an oil. Or 3 oils.
I wanted to leave the wood raw and polished like the one art Emily Henderson’s piano.
Now it was time for the pillow case.
I used this easy pillowcase tutorial and this $19.95 sewing machine off Amazon to make it. For a first run, I was thrilled! And it’s machine washable!!
You honestly could even safety pin the thing if you are afraid of sewing.
**Make sure to wash and dry it before sewing it.**
We also decided to make the finishing nails snap buttons so that it’s easy to switch out the pillow or wash the pillowcase.
I think as the pillow settles it’ll get better and better, and I can switch it out. I’m not married to it.
For about 5% of the cost… we did pretty great.
And here she is!!
I sewed the slip cover fold the wrong way… Whoops!
Luckily I have more fabric from the drop cloth to make a second one!
