New Dinning Room Bench Makeover

I have been wanting a bench for my dinning room for a few years now.   I had used the grain sack styled one that I had done back in May for a little while.  I loved the look of the bench but size didn't quite fit the table.  After searching the web and finding that the look I wanted I soon realized that it was going to cost much more than I could afford anytime soon, so....I decided to make my own.  I had a wood bench downstairs in my craft room and it almost was a perfect fit. 

It was the right length but it seemed a little to narrow to sit comfortably on.  I made a trip to Lowes and had them cut me a 14 inch x 4 foot board.  I glued it on and put screws in it to secure it.  Now it was the right shape and size, it just needed to be covered.  I had some chair cushion foam on hand so I used them.  I would eventually like to redo it with a 4 inch foam, but this works for now.  I had upholstered my dinning room chairs a couple years ago in a washed canvas drop cloth and I still love the way they looked, so I used the same fabric to cover the bench.  I was first going to make a slipcover for it, but it was going to be used a lot by children getting on and off.   I didn't want the slipcover to shift and move all the time so I decided to upholster it instead.  I first put the foam down and then covered it and secured with staples.  I measured for the skirt, hemmed just the side that would touch the floor.  I then began to gather and staple around the top edge of the bench.  I finished it with white trim.  It isn't perfect, but I am happy with it.  I love the look it gives my dinning room.  The boys love it too, they now sit at the dinning room table all the time.  It is funny how a simple project can take a room from being used only at sit down dinners and make it a cozy part of the house.