Metamorphosis Monday

This is my first time to join in on Susan's Metamorphosis Monday. Go here for lots more fun and inspiration.

I'm featuring a project my husband just finished. It is the bench that sits under the arbor on our courtyard beside the front entryway of our house.

Below is a before picture of the bench:

The wrought iron bench when it was painted white.

We decided to do something different to give it a New Orleans look and paint it black!

We also painted the front door and the trim on our house a brighter yellow. The hardware on the door is now black.

The wall pocket on the door is also painted black and filled with new silk flowers

The bouganvillia has just been trimmed and isn't blooming now.

I have always loved black, white, and yellow together
and we're pleased with this look for our house.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the metamorphosis of our bench.

Do you like the bench better black or white?

I'll give you some details: This project actually took over two weeks. My husband is a perfectionist and he didn't just paint the bench, he first took it apart, piece by piece! One leg was broken and needed to be welded so instead of taking the whole bench to the welder (it weighs a ton!) he only took the leg. Then he stripped the white paint off all pieces, painted everything with primer (twice) then painted everything with black oil-based paint (twice!) It takes a long time for that paint to dry! He also replaced the screws with stainless steel screws so they won't rust.

I must tell you an ingenious idea he had. When stripping the white paint off, it was taking too long to scrape it off all the elaborate designs (leaves and grapes) so he took the pressure cleaner and cleaned it off with that! It worked great! Smart man, my husband!! ;-)

Here's another story if you care to listen: I always loved these wrought-iron benches. I remember back in the 50s when I first saw one I fell in love with them then, but only the wealthy could afford them back then. Unfortunately, I never did get my bench, until..... a few years ago my neighbor who had the bench asked me if we wanted their bench. Her husband is elderly and in bad health and they weren't up to trying to get the broken leg fixed, removing the rust, etc. I was delighted to finally get my bench -- Free! I remembered the bible verse "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart!" Psalms 37:4

Have a happy day!
God Bless.

Katherine

Since the bouganvillia isn't blooming now, I'll show a picture of it taken last year (below:)