A Special Window Seat and 8 Lessons Learnt About the Power of Love
December was a very stressful time for us. My son moved to Canada to study Psychology at UBC and my daughter and her dad, aka the ex-hubby, went with to make sure that he settled in okay. Canada is sooo darn far away π A week before they left, the ex-hubby also moved into a new house, which meant that my little girl not only had to say goodbye to her best friend and big brother, but the new house didnβt feel like home either. Β What can a mom do, besides bawl her eyes out because her son is half way across the world.
The ex-hubby and I had a chat and we decided that I could make something for Talea while they were in Canada. Something that would make her feel like the new house was also a new home. After throwing a few ideas around we finally agreed that aΒ sensational window seat would be perfect. Who doesnβt love a window seat? Hereβs the thing though, I would only have 4 hours to install it. On the day they got back from their trip. Wait whaaaaat!!!! I canβt measure, tweak, come back again? Nope. While the ex and I are good friends, giving me unlimited access to the new house clearly wasnβt on the cards π
Okay, letβs fast forward to the beginning of January so I can at least show you a pretty picture of the finished window seat, before getting into the βwhat I learntβ making something like this completely off site and installing it in a few hours.
The Making of a Window Seat
I was super worried the day before the install. What if I didnβt measure correctly or I couldnβt finish before they came home? What if I broke something while putting it together? I donβt think the ex wouldβve be too happy if I destroyed his new house. And Talea would have been devastated if she came home to a scrap yard in the middle of her bedroom. But Iβm happy to report it worked and thereβs even extra storage underneath the window seat.
Would you believe that the storage is made from these el cheapo collapsible crates?
We just added a mock front using shiplap (tongue and groove) that we cut to size, painted and screwed onto the front.Β Then we attached rope handles to fit with the nautical theme in Taleaβs bedroom.
And we putΒ some wheels onto the bottom for smooth sailing π We used small blocks of wood inside the crates and screwed the wheels through the plastic into the wooden blocks.
The storage is perfect for Talea’s HUGE collection of swimming costumes and other bits and bobs. Did I mention that my baby girl’s biggest dream is to swim for South Africa in the Olympics. The plastic crates are a great choice because if she throws a wet costume inside it won’t get all moldy and eeky.
So what did I learn making the window seat off site
- Do your research and learn from the experts.Β I’ve never built a window seat before so this tutorial from Instructables really helped. A lot.
2. MeasureΒ twice or three times. MeasureΒ the height, length and depth of the space. Then measure again and just in case, measure one more time for luck.Β Write the measurements in a book. Β I wrote the measurements down on a piece of scrap paper which mysteriously disappeared in my handbag for weeks days.
3. Take lots of pictures so you have something to refer back too. The devil is in the details and itβs amazing how quickly you forget the little things. Like the skirting at the bottom of the bay window.
4. Simple is Better. I went for a basic frame built out of 2 x 4 which I screwed into the back and side walls.Β More 2 x 4 were used to create the front of the window seat which was covered with shiplap . The front frame was made before the time so all I needed to do was screw it onto the “wall” mounted frame bits usingΒ brackets.
5. UseΒ the longest, meanest screws you can find to attach the frame to the wall. Talea is almost 17 and sheβs the type of girl that would rather climb a tree than go to the mall. I didnβt want the whole thing collapsing in heap just because she dive bombed her window seat from her bed.
6. Take everything with you. If youβre using a battery operated drill, make sure itβs charged and take a spare battery with. My battery ran out as I was trying to screw the second last of those longest, meanest screws in. My shoulder is still not talking to me.Β In fact, take everything with you. Everything, even if you donβt think youβll need it, take it with. Okay you can leave the kitchen sink at home, but take everything else. There’s just no time to drive around looking for something you forgot.
7. A bread knife and a ruler are all you need to make a custom sized mattress for the window seat. Just use the ruler as a guide and cut the foam.Β You can buy foam at most haberdasheries but they charge extra if you want a specific size. A lot extra!! We ended up buying three standard size bits of foam and cutting them to fit the space.
8. And finally, believe in yourself because love really does conquer all and thereβs nothing that a hammer and a chain saw canβt fix. Oh and a few pretty pillows and a cuddly toy or two.
The window seat doubles up as a single bed, so Talea can inviteΒ friends for a sleep over.
Don’t you just love that retro clock and tray?
By keeping it simple, I had enough time to hang two of Talea’s ballet portraits on either side ofΒ the bay window and add sheer curtains to soften things up a little.Β I even vacuumed up all the dust and packed everything back in the car in my allocated 4 hours.
The only thing I didn’t do was iron her new throw and curtains π She’s super happy with her window seat and it makes me smile every time I see one of her selfies on Facebook and she’s sitting on her window seat. Now all I need to do is make my baby girl a mermaid throne to celebrate how special she is.
Little girls with #dreams, become women with #vision
Have you ever built and installedΒ a window seat under pressure? I’d love to hear what you learnt in the process.
And as always wishing you a super happy, love filled week.
P.S. If you’re looking for a few more gorgeous bedroom ideas, I found these loveliesΒ on Amazon.Β Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But donβt worry it wonβt come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with more amazing ideas to share with you π
Categories: DIY Tutorials, Home Decor Crafts
Posted: July 12, 2018 20:49
Susan Firtik
Posted: July 13, 2018 11:05
acraftymix
Posted: March 25, 2018 17:49
Misty
Posted: March 27, 2018 04:36
acraftymix
Posted: February 5, 2018 20:52
True Disbeliever
Posted: February 6, 2018 04:49
acraftymix
Posted: March 29, 2018 23:29
Anonymous
Posted: March 30, 2018 07:50
acraftymix
Posted: July 12, 2018 20:47
Susan
Posted: July 13, 2018 11:00
acraftymix
Posted: March 26, 2018 13:33
Pam
Posted: March 26, 2018 17:07
acraftymix
Posted: December 27, 2017 11:30
Candy Rachelle
Posted: December 30, 2017 07:04
acraftymix
Posted: December 27, 2017 10:43
Elizabeth O
Posted: December 27, 2017 12:36
acraftymix
Posted: December 25, 2017 18:04
Nausheen
Posted: December 26, 2017 04:30
acraftymix
Posted: December 25, 2017 16:35
Marnie
Posted: December 26, 2017 04:30
acraftymix
Posted: December 25, 2017 14:21
Tanvi Rastogi
Posted: December 26, 2017 04:26
acraftymix
Posted: December 25, 2017 14:16
Precious @ LoveNancials
Posted: December 26, 2017 04:22
acraftymix
Posted: April 15, 2017 14:26
Carol ("Mimi")
Posted: April 16, 2017 05:02
acraftymix
Posted: February 21, 2017 16:36
Christine Vandormolen
Posted: February 21, 2017 16:45
acraftymix
Posted: February 24, 2017 02:00
Christine Vandormolen
Posted: February 26, 2017 08:51
acraftymix
Posted: February 28, 2017 16:21
Christine Vandormolen
Posted: March 1, 2017 08:25
acraftymix
Posted: February 21, 2017 03:40
Leanna
Posted: February 21, 2017 12:26
acraftymix
Posted: February 18, 2017 16:34
Nancy Andres
Posted: February 20, 2017 06:39
acraftymix
Posted: February 17, 2017 22:23
Maya
Posted: February 18, 2017 08:49
acraftymix
Posted: February 16, 2017 19:34
Jas @All that's Jas
Posted: February 17, 2017 06:04
acraftymix
Posted: February 16, 2017 18:22
Zenda
Posted: February 17, 2017 05:58
acraftymix
Posted: February 15, 2017 21:13
Christina Makri
Posted: February 16, 2017 06:02
acraftymix
Posted: February 14, 2017 21:01
Angie ~ ambient wares
Posted: February 15, 2017 05:57
acraftymix
Posted: February 14, 2017 16:00
Kellie
Posted: February 14, 2017 16:13
acraftymix
Posted: February 14, 2017 15:28
Nikki Frank-Hamilton
Posted: February 14, 2017 15:59
acraftymix
Posted: February 14, 2017 12:24
Sadhna Grover
Posted: February 14, 2017 14:07
acraftymix
Posted: February 14, 2017 04:41
Keri
Posted: February 14, 2017 06:09
acraftymix
Posted: February 14, 2017 00:22
Sarah - Craft Invaders
Posted: February 14, 2017 05:59
acraftymix
Posted: February 14, 2017 00:05
Mary-the boondocks blog
Posted: February 14, 2017 05:57
acraftymix
Posted: February 13, 2017 18:02
Pili
Posted: February 14, 2017 05:53
acraftymix
Posted: February 13, 2017 17:54
Katrin
Posted: February 14, 2017 05:50
acraftymix