We have a perfect little area in our family room that’s been dreaming of a control center transformation. For two years, it’s been anything but “controlled”. Backpacks slung wherever they fit, pocket change and sunglasses stashed into a deep catch-all and four, deep cubbies that were completely useless (save for catching those slung backpacks).
And the root of the problem was lack of a foundational element, the bench. I needed something functional, sturdy enough for playing putting on shoes, properly fitted and well, let’s not forget, “inexpensive”. And I couldn’t find one to save my life. I’ll break this little six-month-long dilemma down for you:
1. Retail hunt: I realized a sitting bench was going to cost me hundreds of dollars. Eesh.
2. DIY plans: (realistically, I just don’t have time or patience for that just yet).
3. Craigslist, here I come: I must have searched for months on end, just coming up short (or empty-handed) every time.
4. Cabinet maker, HELP me!: In despair and frustration, I resigned to contacting our cabinet maker and because we’ve sent a fair number of friends his way, he was kindly going to build a custom bench and just charge me installation (still 200 bucks). This was my best solution. But he got busy, my project was naturally low priority and at the very moment I was going to finally schedule him, I begrudgingly popped back on Craigslist… One. Last. Time…
One day and forty dollars later, I scored this “beauty” (in the eyes of the beholder, for sure) picked it up from a fellow mom’s crowded home, put it in place and hated it (with a passion, I might add). So I threw it in my studio to let it marinate, hoping that adding a layer of dust might rekindle an inspiration before I tried to resell it. I held out hope – enough hope that I never called the cabinet maker back.
Let me tell you, it’s solid and heavy – about all I could say for it at this stage of the game.
But months passed and I was sick to my stomach over my continued irritation and frustration as I tried desperately to organize the family. The time finally came and I just dug that dang bench up to refinish it. Why not? What would I lose? Some primer and a few coats of white gloss… Holy pickle, why had I waited so long?
While my husband was out of town, I went to (my own) town on that once-horrid-looking corner. I started putting all the pieces together, including the wall units that I almost immediately ordered from Pottery Barn.
Full confession: I splurged – I wasn’t going to be able to construct anything for another year, I was sure, and I combed every square foot of this earth for a reasonably-priced but perfect-for-me unit. Nowhere else but PB. I cried over the price tag but nabbed them while they were on special and had a free shipping coupon so I called it “justified” and my tears stopped once I put them in place.
And take a look at the wonderful vintage-inspired backpack rack. From the same neighbor who sold me some old shutters during his 1940’s rancher renovation, I snagged these old doorknobs for a buck a piece (only because I felt bad not offering him something, knowing that they sell for like ten bucks a pop at the antique store).
I painted and distressed a piece of scrap wood I had laying around and my dad helped me counter-sink some huge bolts to keep the knobs in place. I used some pretty big drywall anchors to ensure that as the kids’ backpacks grow heavier with each grade level, the unit wouldn’t buckle under the weight.
The old clock was that horrid gold 13-year old wedding gift that we never used until I discovered spray paint…
And the write-on/wipe-off board is just an old wood frame painted black and backed with some beautiful scrap paper (which I interchange regularly since I couldn’t decide on the pattern I liked). I have five options to suit my mood. A piece of vellum overlay helps the ink pop so my writing doesn’t get lost in the paper design.
And a subtlety that I totally love is that once, where the alarm box and light panel stuck out like a sore thumb, I hardly even notice them now. It’s a busy place, but it’s supposed to be. At least it’s in-control busy. I think this should serve us well for now. I don’t think it’s totally where I want it to be, but at least it’s better than what we had, don’t you think? Ah, control regained.
Dare I even remind you of the before? (Careful, don’t puke.)
And aaaaah-fter.