Periwinkle Blue for a Whimsical Potting Bench

Welcome to the 386th Metamorphosis Monday!

When I ordered this potting bench, I had plans to give it a few coats of marine varnish. (Potting Bench can be found here: Potting Bench.) But somewhere along the way I changed my mind and decided to have a little fun with it. I wanted to paint it, but what color? I searched online for painted potting benches and found a lot of cute ones, but still didn’t see a color I really liked.Potting Bench

Then I came across this picture on the Sherwin-Williams website. Oh, how I love these colors on what I’m guessing is a Victorian cottage. I especially loved the periwinkle blue/purple color of the shingles. I thought I’d visit a Sherwin-Williams store and ask them if they knew the name of the paint color.

Color Ideas for Potting Bench

 

The day I visited they were having a big sale, 40% off all their paint, so they were super busy. Since all the sales associates were tied up, I scoped out the paint colors and decided Dahlia looked like a winner. This is the first time I’ve actually compared the paint chip to the photo and it’s pretty close, isn’t it?

Sherwin-Williams Dahlia, SW 6816

 

So what do you think of Miss Dahlia? Do you like her periwinkle dress? lol She looks a bit darker in some of these photos because she’s inside the garage. I’ve decided to keep the bench inside the garage since I just can’t bring myself to leave it outside in the elements. Plus, I have plenty of room for it here between the windows.

Periwinkle Potting Bench With Three Shelves

 

I couldn’t resist placing the tiered planter I made recently here for the photos. The bird house is one I purchased many years ago at a crafts fair.

Periwinkle Potting Bench for Gardening

 

If you would like to make one of these tiered planters, you’ll find the tutorial here: Make a Tiered Planter from Terra Cotta Saucers. I’m using a green, heart-shaped basket to store all my gardening gloves.

I removed the “Suncast” plate that was at the top of the bench. For now I have a  garden tile covering the small screw holes that were left where I removed it. I’ll have to find something cute to go back there.

Terra Cotta Clay Saucer Tiered Server

 

I purchased the green watering can recently, loved its shape: Watering Can

Tiered Clay Planter on Periwinkle Potting Bench

 

The large, floral, metal container on the floor was purchased around 15 years ago at Wild Birds Unlimited. I’ve been storing miscellaneous birding stuff in it.

Periwinkle Potting Bench for Gardening

 

Now it’s filled it with some of that awesome potting soil I purchased recently when I potted up the Limelight Hydrangeas.

Potting Soil Storage

 

Did you notice the gardening tools hanging on the side of the potting bench?

Periwinkle Potting Bench With Three Shelves

 

I found these dragonfly hooks a while back and love them here for holding gardening tools. I placed two on each side of the bench. You’ll find them available here: Dragonfly Hooks

Dragonfly Hooks for Potting Bench

 

This photo below was taken early in the morning with the east sun coming into the garage, and it’s probably the most accurate of how the Dahlia paint looks in person, at least in brighter light. I do love this color!

Do you see the shoes on the bottom shelf?

Potting Bench Painted Sherwin-Williams Dahlia

 

I had noticed a pair of gardening clogs in the photo of the potting bench when I purchased it online. When I was in Holland and Belgium toward the end of April, I learned that many of the gardeners there wear the traditional Dutch style wood shoes for gardening because they work so well for keeping your feet dry.

I’ve never had gardening shoes before, I’ve just always worn an old pair of tennis shoes. That never works very well because they don’t always keep my feet dry and are impossible to keep clean. Why has it taken me this long to consider buying a pair of garden shoes?!

I searched and found these absolutely adorable, water-proof garden shoes. The price and reviews were so good, I ordered two pairs. I’ve worn them several times already and love them! They are so comfortable, I forget to take them off when I come inside.

Sloggers Garden Shoes

 

The reason I ordered two pairs is in case one pair gets muddy and needs to be washed, I’ll have a spare pair to wear in the meantime. The insole comes out so it can be washed, too. You’ll find them available here: Pansy Garden Shoes and Blue Floral Garden Shoes

Waterproof Garden Shoes

 

Check out these adorable chicken ones! Wouldn’t they be great to wear out to the hen-house to collect eggs each morning. lol Now I just need a hen-house and some chickens! 😉 They are available here: Chicken Garden Shoes

Chicken covered garden shoes, Perfect for collecting your eggs each morning

The only thing I’d like to add now is a large trash can to go on the left side of the bench.

Perwinkle Painted Potting Bench

 

I love these cute striped cans seen below. I’m thinking about buying one of the cans and maybe spray painting it a fun color. We’ll see. If you are feeling adventuresome and want to paint stripes, you’ll find the cans in the photo available here: Metal Trash Can with Lid

Potting Bench

Photo from Lowe’s.com

Before I leave you, I want to plant one more little idea in your head, something I considered doing. Wouldn’t it be cute to paint that first shelf that’s just underneath the potting table surface, one of the other colors in this photo?

Color Ideas for Potting Bench

 

I was so tempted to paint something on the bench another color, but in the end I decided to just keep it simple for now. But, I do think it would be really cute!

I thought this bench had sold out, but it looks like it’s back in stock. Here’s where I purchased mine: Potting Bench

And here’s another cute bench that’s very similar in style: Potting Bench

Happy Gardening to you, dear Friends!

Periwinkle Potting Bench With Three Shelves

 

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Comments

  1. Your potting bench is ADORABLE in periwinkle planted with all your garden goodies and tools Susan! I have the same pair of pansy garden sloggers…great minds shop alike! 🙂

  2. Shannon@Belle Bleu Interiors says

    I absolutely adore your potting bench, and I love the happy color too!!! I love to garden and have really been wanting a potting bench.

  3. NEPA Gina says

    Love how the bench came out & your inspiration for the color! That bench alone would inspire me to do more gardening! I have a pair of Sloggers that I purchased many years ago at Target in their gardening section. I always liked yard sales & up here in rural NE PA, most places are not paved, so I was always walking through wet grass (I always go early so there is often still dew on the lawns). I also noticed your straw hat, as I have one very similar. I’ll be adding a colorful scarf to it now. Thank you for the many ways you inspire us! So besides the potting bench inspiration, I’ll be adding a scarf to my straw hat!

  4. Love that color, Susan! Fun! Thanks for hosting!…hugs…Debbie

  5. Beautiful Job on the Painting of Your Garden Shelf!!
    🙂

  6. Anoymous says

    I bought a pair of Sloggers at Ross for $15.00! You’re right, they are so comfortable, and I really love that they are made in USA. The company has been around for awhile; not sure how I ever missed it!

  7. Gayle Kesinger says

    I think I have found the color for repainting my garden furniture. Love the Dahlia. Thanks for the great post. Lots of good ideas.

  8. Your potting bench is gorgeous! You’ve done a great job on it. I have a pair of sluggers, too, and wear them in the garden AND collecting eggs…wish I had the pair with the hens on them!

  9. You inspired me – first of all LOVE the potting bench! the black Sloggers with the roses – I have too!!

    I have a cabinet that my TC is on – it started out antiqued Red, then it went to white, then black and I decided to paint it antique white. But, I decided it was time to strip those coats off first. Now I know why one pays so much money to have something refinished!! It took about two weeks total time with drying in between each stripping coat (3). It is all done and now sits in my living room (which I am changing from gold and red to blue, white and red. With all the money that I saved that is how I paid for that Burberry handbag I purchased. I think that was a good trade off – n’est pas? Eileen

    • Eileen, I think I’m the last person to discover Sloggers! How have I missed them all this time. 🙂
      Wow, that sounds like so much work, kudos to you for keeping at it and not giving up! What product did you use for the stripping?

  10. That’s just about the cutest potting bench I’ve ever seen, and your shoes are adorable (and so practical).

    Have a great week Susan, and thanks for the party!

    xxx

    • Thanks, Doreen! I kind of hate to get it dirty. lol But I am going to use it. I bought extra paint so I can repaint as needed.

  11. LOVE the Dahlia Susan! I actually have a big pie cabinet painted that color and it makes everything so happy! Of course, you need at least 2 pairs of potting shoes, so you never have to go without 🙂 Now I want to go paint something-thanks for the party!

  12. What a fun potting bench. I love the color and all of your accessories. It makes me want to collect cuter potting accessories. Thanks for hosting.

  13. Love the color of the new potting bench, and it is decorated so cute! The tiered plant stand is really pretty! …thanks for hosting!

  14. Susan, I love your potting bench. It’s perfect in that periwinkle color! You are giving me ideas, we use and old picnic table for potting a lot of plants, I just may have to paint it a fun color!

  15. Your potting bench turned out great, Susan. It puts my corner stashes in the garage to shame, lol. Thank you for always brightening my week with your posts and link parties. My link today is both a B&A and tablescape, but decided on Met Monday to showcase a fellow blogger’s talents. 🙂 Happy Summer Solstice!

  16. Elizabeth Roderick says

    Working on that beautiful potting bench would make me happy! The color is delightful. Love your garden shoes. With all the wet weather we’ve had in Texas, those would have come in handy! I think the striped garbage cans are great. They’d be fun for outdoor parties where paper plates were being used, that is, if you could stand letting people put garbage in them. For those with little ones they’d be great for toy storage too.

  17. Thanks so much for hosting each week! Love the Potting Bench!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

  18. Regality (aka The Quing) says

    Wonderful color! Now what else are you going to paint? Painting can be habit forming, you know. 😉

  19. Linda Page says

    You are a bad influence, Miss Priss!!!! Just had to have a pair of the gardening shoes. Should get them Wednesday!!! Your potting bench is sooo cute. I love the color. I wish I was there and I could use acrylic paint and stamps and stamp a vine and flowers across the top back piece in shades of green and pink and yellow. You did a great job on the potting bench.

  20. Jane Franks says

    Very cute bench, Susan! Love the color. I’ve had Sloggers for some time now. Mine are plain green (I call them my Froggers, because that’s the color!). I love them. Couldn’t garden without them. Just rinse off when I’m done! Well done!!

  21. Your potting bench is just perfect. I wonder if my husband will notice if I replace his grill with one…

  22. So. Much. Eye Candy! I had to scroll back and forth through the photos to absorb it. With all the colors, puttering with plants, and morning sun, that is such a cheerful place to start the day. Maybe you could spray paint the Suncast item (or turn it over?) and add your monogram, or sun symbol etc. Those shoes!! Almost tempted to get them and wear while tending to my 3 houseplants.

  23. Great color, Susan! I knew it would be fabulous!! Thanks for the party!

  24. Such a fun color you painted your potting bench Susan!

  25. So fun Susan! and yes… I love it on shelves/cabinets when the inside is a different color than the outside!

  26. Sue Fisher says

    I LOVE hearing about all your new projects! Your new potting bench is adorable. I noticed a cute sign you had sitting on the top shelf that says ‘frog concert’. Where did you find it…..I would love to find one to put by our pond. It’s so cute!

    • Thanks, Sue! I’ve had it so many years, I can’t remember now where I found it. It used to have a metal stake thing on the back and I had it stuck in the ground near a gate leading to the back yard. Over the years the little metal stake rusted away, so now I just have the tile. Sorry I can’t remember where I found it. If I see one, I will definitely let you know.

  27. What a fun color you painted the potting bench. I have 2 pairs of Sloggers…one for gardening and one for long road trips 😉

  28. Gorgeous color. I think my potting bench needs painting. So cute.
    Thanks for hosting.

  29. Susan, your potting bench turned out awesome! You picked the perfect color to pot pretty plants. Try saying that fast 5 times after 2 margaritas 🙂
    I love the Sloggers garden shoes, too. I wear mine outside a lot, even going to the mailbox.

  30. Susan, I love your beautiful potting bench! What a wonderful, fun color! Thanks for hosting~
    Lynda @ Gates of Crystal

  31. Love your gardening bench and all your accessories including the shoes. The color is great.I recently painted my laundry room a similar shade but different paint company. With my white cabinets and white woodwork it is now a fun room!

  32. I think the colour you chose is very “happy” – good choice!! It may be the angle of the photo playing tricks on my eyes or does your weather vane have East and West reversed?
    I, too, would keep it indoors as the elements will take their toll. Enjoy your new “toy”! Melissa in England

  33. Cyndi Raines says

    Potting bench is darling! I really like her color, could see adding a pretty turquoise color on the shelf in the future. 🙂 I have (2) pair of garden shoes blue and green and love them. Just kick them off at the back door when you have to run in the house for more water or a potty break. ha! Yours shoes are a little fancier with the flowers, may have to upgrade when mine wear out. Thanks Susan.

  34. bobbi duncan says

    OMG, so many things to love! That potting bench is adorable, I love dragonflies, the tiered planter and birdhouse fit in perfectly, and those shoes are so darn cute, and great for gardening. What a super way to add glamour to a garage!

  35. Thanks for hosting Susan!

  36. Linda Louise S. says

    Love, love, love the color of the bench. Happy potting! I too was using sneakers to garden and I can’t believe how long I resisted getting a pair of garden shoes. So comfortable and easier to get on and off. You don’t have to tie and untie them. This past winter I bought a pair of high boots at Wal Mart that are made just like my garden shoes. I now wear them to garden if the grass is wet or if I just want to tuck my pants into my boots. Love them as much as my garden shoes.

  37. Victoria Morgan says

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the color of the potting bench. Bought the low cut chicken shoes and the high ones for water hoses gone rogue! Thanks for sharing!

  38. LindaSonia says

    Your potting shed is the same color as my front door – guess you could say I like it a lot!! 😉

  39. LindaSonia says

    Ooops I meant Bench!!

  40. Oh my goodness I love this bench! I love everything about it. Thanks for sharing. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

  41. Oh my Susan…LOVE that color!!!….the potting bench is beautiful and so fun!…love the pop of green too….and gotta get me some of the garden shoes!!
    Thanks for hosting and have a great week!

  42. Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) says

    Susan, I love your potting bench and the beautiful color!! You never cease to amaze me with your projects and creativity! I need help from you. If you saw my metal shelves in my potting area you would faint. And I love the shoes too and the dragonfly hooks and the idea for the painted trash cans! So many projects to add to my list, and many of them from you! 🙂 Linda

  43. Susan, it’s adorable! You have me inspired to spruce up my potting bench which really isn’t a potting bench. It’s a work bench that my husband has had for as long as I can remember. He doesn’t use it, so I took it over as a garden bench. The problem is it never stays clean and organized. I like your ideas here. And yes, I think a second color would be fun. If you get the buckets and paint them a bright color, I would mask off the white stripes and have a striped design in a bright color. 😉

  44. Kathy Shearer says

    Susan, I love the color of the potting bench! The photo of the cottage reminds me of the ones I saw at Martha’s Vineyard. Here is the link: http://www.aroundtheworldl.com/2014/04/28/marthas-vineyard-gingerbread/

    • Thanks! 🙂 Kathy, I would LOVE to visit Martha’s Vineyard and stay in one of those adorable Gingerbread Cottages! They are sooo cute! Wonder if any are rented out during the summer.

    • Oh, just got to the end of the article…and some are available for rent!

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