What a fantastic weekend I had! I acquired the most amazing find to share with you all on this favorite find Monday post! It’s a vintage deacons bench that was originally from Pennsylvania and really oozes farmhouse charm! I just love it. At 70″ long, it is really ginormous and makes a true statement in a room. It needs a little shoring up underneath but other than that, it’s in great shape. The cushion was made to fit and I must say that I am a fan of the blue against the black.
Question…do I touch it (repaint) or leave as-is? What do you all think?
I am so interested to hear what you all think!
paint it…….you do beautiful work…..gloria
I would leave it all worn and full of charm.
Definitely paint it.
I am a BIG fan of your beautiful work but I will have to say I think this piece needs to stay as is. It’s age-old history is imprinted all over it! The bench would not have had a cushion originally and this velvet(?) blue cushion looks out of place. A non-tufted
grain sack would be lovely, though! But, if you do decide to paint it, I know it will be beautiful!
Oh the stories that bench could possibly tell…even though you do beautiful work….there is a lot of history on that bench, if you are selling it wait till a buyer sees it…they could decide. Not much help huh? What a treasure!
Paint it a lovely pale colour and use your gilding wax on any detail! (Go on – you know you want too). Cover the seat cushion in a pretty matching colour and make it all lovely. This could turn into a very sweet piece! X x
I’m conflicted….it’s really scratched up though….I do like some of the distressing on it already, but not all of it….
Can’t wait to see what you do with it.
I would have to say leave it all worn and full of charm. I like the blue with the black, too.
Leave it just the way it is, it’s perfect!
What a fun piece to work with. I also love the blue with the black. Make it shine! Linda
The cushion looks out of place. I would just ditch the cushion.
I love rustic farmhouse, but I think this piece needs a little TLC from your artistic hand.
Paint it!! You will make it look stunning!
Don’t change a thing! What a treasure you found
Owning an antique store, my feeling is to use a dark wax all over. The bench would be lovely painted but it would also devalue it. Make a linen cover for the cushion-get rid of the blue and use the woven flax with a blue border. The dark wood contrasts nicely in your room.
I would leave it as is for a while and just sort of let that bench tell all its old stories and then let those stories guide you as to what you do with it. It is a treasure!
It is a lovely find! Perhaps a light sanding to smooth out the rough spot a bit and then some clear wax or hemp oil to bring out the color of the exposed wood. A primitive cushion, either linen or grain sack, would be quite nice.
Don’t paint it. I agree with Jeanne just dark wax it.
I like the distressing on some of the areas, but where it is all nicked and scratched is too much for me. I guess it depends on your vibe. What a great piece of furniture.
please leave it
I would leave it as is, else you will destroy the antiquity and value, if you paint it.
I like it how it is too, but if you do decide
To paint, I wouldn’t change the Color.
Good luck and thanks for sharing,
Helen H
Oh my, what a tough decision I would have as well with this piece. I can see why you welcome feedback but it looks like from the previous comments your decision isn’t going to be an easy one. Go with your gut! It is beautiful as is but knowing what you can do with a piece, it will still be beautiful. Good luck. Can’t wait to see what you do or don’t do!
It is a beautiful piece but it looks too beat up – it would be nice to restore it!
sand it back a bit but leave the color and perhaps dark wax. HOWEVER, whatever you do will be beautiful. I agree about the cushion though. I’d cover it with a grain sack or similar.
What a lovely bench! Although I usually love a little wear and tear on furniture, this is a little too much for me. I would love to see all the chips filled in and then painted a similar black, with distressing around the edges. It was painted before, it can be painted again! Whatever you decide to do, however, will be just lovely – it always is!
Ditto Joanne Rodino’s suggestion!
Please don’t paint it, it is original and beautiful as it is. Maybe give it a clean and light sand then a wax finish for protection. I love painting furniture and your work is amazing but sometimes less is more …… ☺️
I would leave as is and wax it to protect it from further wear and tear. Possibly redo the cushion. Whatever you decide it will be beautiful.
Ohhh, its got so much character! I’m a painter, but this one…I would leave as is..!
It’s a little too distressed for my taste. I would repaint and keep some of the distressing on the higih points of the bench but some of it looks more like abuse than wear and tear! For instance one of the arms of the bench looks as though a dog chewed on it. I guess it would depend on if you plan on keeping it for yourself or if you plan on selling it.
I think I would leave it as is. You can always paint it another time. Not so easy to undo the paint if you don’t like it. I love it!
I would agree with the comment above to leave it as is for now, let it tell it’s stories and then decide. Also agree it’s incredibly charming but needs a bit of TLC in some spots. Great find!!
I would leave it but I do not have your talent and skill to look at a piece and see how to enhance it.
I wouldn’t paint it–that is probably original milk paint
I think this goes over the line of distressed, some parts look really beat. I’d touch up in a few places, replace the cushion cover with a rustic linen type fabric or omit cushion all together. Very desirable style bench – nice find!
Oooh, tricky! I think I’d leave it, but give it a good slosh of hemp oil to soother it’s dryness. I agree, the blue looks great with the black. 🙂
Soothe, not soother. (That isn’t an Australianism, just a typo!).
i love the lines on this bench, it is beautiful. I would paint it, a little to worn for me, but if you are going to sell it maybe the buyer would like to choose
I would definitely live with it as is for now – it’s really charming as it is. You can always paint it later if you decide on that.
Paint it, that would be my vote.
Oh my, I love your work but this bench has so much history and charm to cover up with paint. I do love the blue cushion in contrast with the black. I know for some the temptation to redo or paint over is great, some pieces just shout “don’t touch me” and this is one of them. It has it’s own beauty that took years to achieve through daily use.
I love your work but I don’t think you should paint it. I agree with others who suggested a dark wax or hemp oil rubbed on it to bring out the character and ‘feed’ the wood. I also think the tufted cushion looks a bit out of place and a grain sack or antique linen cushion would look better. However, that said, it is a wonderful find and will look good whatever you do. 🙂
As the prior owner, we bequeath it to Suzanne’s judgement. Its origin is lost in deep family history but it has travelled from Pennsylvania to Maine to Maryland with us for our entire adult lives. Our cats drowned many a year’s sunlight on it.basking in the glory that it no doubt shared in many settings.
Light sanding and wax. I love the blue cushion. Its a great juxtaposition of old and lovingly worn and new glamour. Just beautiful! If you’re going to sell it, I would buy it in an instant.
I have enjoyed reading all these comments…..but antiques dealers and folks that enjoy antiques would say leave it in it’s glory…..but the Painted Drawer….well it’s about paint…….although it is beautiful in it’s own way…..painted would be good for the next phase of it”s life…..just saying…..gloria g. Walls
leave it the way en wax it
This is one that should be left unpainted. Clean it up & wax well. New linen cushion. Looks beautiful in your room.
It is so beautiful as it is. Maybe some hemp oil to help rehydrate. but if you paint it all the stories of its life are gone forever.
Leave it in original condition
Leave as is after cleaniIng and waxing. Can always be painted later if you want to. I say live with it a while.
Leave it!!
My vote would be: no paint, but maybe a sealer!
Gorgeous find <3
I love the blue and black, from far away I would say leave it, but then seeing the scratches, they would eventually drive me bonkers…
Can you let me know where you ordered your cushion from? I want one very similar for my window seat-to cover up all my puppies scratches haha, and I was thinking about making the ne myself and even purchased the fabric, but I’m having trouble finding dense foam in a length over 100 inches. Any advice?
Personally, if it was me I would ‘renovate’ it to a certain extent. I am sure you will make a superb job ?
I’m sure you would do an amazing job….but I would leave this one as is. Love your new design, by the way!
Thanks, Jamie! Going to tackle mail chimp next 🙂 Trying to get it together this year!
It’s a real treasure, for sure! And while it’s beautiful, I think it needs a little love. Just a coat of black powdered milk paint and then seal with hemp or tung oil — don’t change it — just enhance it’s story. That’ll be two cents, please! 😀 Will it work in your dining room or will you be selling it?
Hi Cynthia! It is now under the window in my dining room. I need to keep it for awhile before I can part with it!