UncategorizedKnocktober Fest: A World Market Inspired Kilim Bench October 23, 2013I was so excited when Lindsay from Makely School for Girls asked me to join her and 26 other amazing bloggers for Knocktoberfest. Remember my excitement? Well, it’s finally here! Yay! Welcome to those hopping over here from Just A Girl! Chris is so talented and I’m so honored to be following her! So glad you’re here! I love knock off projects. If you’ve been around here for a little while, you remember my Inspired Design Series of the summer. So, I was so excited when Lindsay asked me to do just that. Choose a favorite item from a home store and knock it off. I’ve been wanting a kilim bench for our mudroom/entryway for a while. This corner of the kitchen has been blank and in desperate need of some pretty and some function. These kilim benches have been floating around everywhere, but I really like the Asha Kilim Bench from World Market. I have kilim all around this house and y’all know I love it, but I love that this bench is striped and a bit different take on the popular pattern. So, I set out looking for materials to make my own. I considered making my own bench. Ana White has some great plans for them if you want to make your own and you could easily add an upholstered top to these benches. But I remembered seeing so many wood benches at different thrift stores, so I decided to hunt around first. I found this wood bench with metal supports at a local thrift store for $45. I loved the shape and metal detailing underneath and decided to go with it. Then, all I needed was batting and my fabric. Since I wanted a kilim look, I looked for a rug first. That seemed like the obvious choice since that’s how kilim benches are made! I had trouble finding one, though, and decided to rely on my trusty source: thrift stores. I came across this wool kilim/navajo blanket at a thrift store for $4.00. I loved the pattern, texture, and colors. I laid it down to get a picture and Gracie immediately laid down on it and started falling asleep. If it’s Gracie approved, it can stay! I was planning to buy batting to layer under this to give it a little cushion, but then I had an idea. I found this sleeping bag for $5.00 at the same thrift store. Yes, it’s Miley Cyrus. But guess what it’s filled with? Batting! And $5.00 is a great price for that much batting. We laid Miss Miley out first and laid the bench upside down on top. We trimmed the sleeping bag so that there was about three inches all the way around (this measurement would depend on the depth of your bench). Three inches allowed us to pull it tightly under the edge and staple it in. Using a staple gun, we attached the sleeping bag all the way around, pulling tight as we went. Then, it was time to add the pretty. We laid the blanket out on the ground with the bench on top and trimmed it just as we did with the sleeping bag. Then, we stapled it all the way around, pulling it as we went. We had to be careful on this part because if you pull it too far, you can get the pattern a bit off. With this stripe pattern, it was easier to keep a watch and make sure the pattern was staying straight and even. We folded the corners almost like a present and stapled them in. So, $55 and twenty minutes later, we had a brand new kilim bench ready to be styled! I love the pattern and the textured top. And I really love it paired with the wood and metal base. And it seriously was that easy. Go find yourself a thrift store blanket, a Miley Cyrus sleeping bag (wash both on a sanitizing cycle), and a bench that’s seen better days. With twenty minutes and a staple gun, you’ve got a fun, new bench. Now, the mudroom just needs some hooks and we’re ready to go. Loving my new kilim bench! Thanks for stopping by, y’all! Make sure you hop on over to the next blog on our little blog hop: The Inspired Room. I’ve read Melissa’s blog for a long time and know she has some great things up her sleeve!
Julia @Cuckoo4Design says October 23, 2013 at 11:11 am Wow, it’s gorgeous and I love that you used the old thrift store blanket under the gorgeous kilim blanket. Love the look! Reply
Lindsay says October 23, 2013 at 11:22 am Thanks, Julia! Is it weird that my favorite part of the project was thinking to use the Miley Cyrus blanket too??? Saves a lot of money on the batting. I can’t stand for money to go places that you can’t see 🙂 Reply
carmel says October 23, 2013 at 12:12 pm This turned out great – so smart to use the sleeping bag! Can’t believe you found that bench at a thrift store- why a steal! Reply
Dria says October 23, 2013 at 12:18 pm Fantastic knockoff!! Awesome idea using the old comforter under your fabric 🙂 Reply
Lindsay says October 23, 2013 at 1:51 pm Thanks, Dria! I was sO glad that idea came to me because it saved a lot of money in the end 🙂 Reply
Lindsay @ Makely says October 23, 2013 at 12:29 pm This is genius AND beautiful! Wonderful job, Lindsay! I love it! Reply
Lindsay says October 23, 2013 at 1:51 pm Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lindsay! For your sweet comment and for including me in this awesome series 🙂 Reply
cassie says October 23, 2013 at 12:33 pm it’s gorgeous! what an amazing idea! love the use of the blanket on it- my wheels are turning! Reply
Beth of designPOST interiors says October 23, 2013 at 12:40 pm What a great project. Thank God you sanitized Miley 🙂 Reply
Denise says October 23, 2013 at 12:42 pm I’m very impressed that you were able to use all thrifted items!! Great idea! I’m new to your blog (came over from Dimples and Tangles), and am loving it 🙂 Reply
Jesse @ Scout & Nimble says October 23, 2013 at 12:56 pm Lindsay…this is incredible! The use of the Miley (boy does she look different there) as the cushioning was so so smart, too! I LOVE the way it turned out and I wish I could score an awesome bench like that at my thrift stores. Great job! Reply
Lindsay says October 23, 2013 at 1:48 pm Thanks Jesse!!! You are such a sweet and encouraging friend 🙂 Reply
Gabbi @ Retro Ranch Reno says October 23, 2013 at 1:13 pm It’s beautiful!! I love how you re-purposed the sleeping bag instead of spending money on batting! That was such a clever idea!! The bench is perfect in that space and totally “you”. Great job, Lindsay! 🙂 Reply
Rachel says October 23, 2013 at 1:26 pm Gorgeous! Now I’m going to be on the constant hunt for a Navajo blanket! I’m obsessed with anything Navajo/Kilim patterned right now. Now if only we could wash the real Miley Cyrus on the sanitize setting….. 😉 Reply
Lindsay says October 23, 2013 at 1:46 pm Thanks Rachel! Y’all are cracking me up talking about sanitizing Miley! If only! Reply
Erin @ FierceBeagle says October 23, 2013 at 1:55 pm I adore this. (I hope you stapled Miley to the bench facedown…just wrap that mess up as much as possible.) Can’t wait until you start offering your styling services! Reply
Jennifer @ Brave New Home says October 23, 2013 at 3:35 pm Haha, awesome ideas! Way to think outside the box. You always find the best rugs—I need to take you shopping with me : ] Reply
Amanda @ Our Humble Abode says October 23, 2013 at 4:36 pm What?!? That’s genuis! You’re brilliant. Now I need to find a thick blanket. As if I need an excuse to go thrifting. Reply
Jackie says October 23, 2013 at 9:30 pm Wow! This is so gorgeous. I have actually covered ottomans in rugs before, but never thought to use a blanket…LOVE! I will be on the look out now for great wool blankets! Reply
Jessica @ Dear Emmeline says October 23, 2013 at 9:53 pm love it! why have I never thought of used sleeping bags for batting? genius! Reply
laura says October 23, 2013 at 11:36 pm So cute! Love your pillows on it too and the throw! Looks very cozy and warm! Great knock off! Laura, House Envy Reply
Tricia | 724 South House says October 24, 2013 at 12:20 am You always find the best thrift store finds. The lines of the original bench are beautiful! Have you ever done a post on Thrift Store tips and tricks? I would LOVE IT! (if you haven’t already!) Reply
Kristina says October 24, 2013 at 1:06 am It looks great! And what a brilliant idea to use a thrifted sleeping bag. You’re one smart little cookie. 🙂 Reply
Roeshel says October 24, 2013 at 2:12 pm It’s gorgeous, Lindsay! Wow! I love that you found all supplies while thrifting. So creative and the result is amazing! Reply
Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home says October 24, 2013 at 6:20 pm Great idea on all counts, Lindsay! I love what the pattern brings to the otherwise neutral space. A upholstered benches always have my heart 🙂 Reply
[…] Meanwhile, go visit my amazing friend Ana White, she will be your next stop on this Knocktoberfest BlogHop! I put tassels on a pillow and she most likely built something incredible with power tools. She’s incredibly talented so I can’t wait to see her project! (and don’t forget to visit Lindsay of @ The White Buffalo Company}! […] Reply