Norma Oliver’s Furniture Rescue: Repurposed Piano Bench and More News

Don’t you think old piano benches are neat? They can be so versatile. I’ve always wished I knew how to play the piano, but alas, I don’t. I have collected a few of the benches here and there though – just because they can certainly be used for other things, like “stuff”.



Wouldn’t this bench be great in an older child’s room or a teenager’s room? It can double as a night stand, be used to store “stuff” and for extra seating. There is quite a bit of room under the flip up seat. 

This bench had seen better days, was kind of rough and beat up. So for me, that means go with the look.

I had some new paint colors I was dying to try out so I used three on this piece. These are from the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint collection: Napoleonic Blue, Olive, and Chateau Grey (a lighter olive) Basically, I just painted these colors on in various layers and distressed revealing a little of each of all the colors. Then in large bold letters I stenciled the word “STUFF” in Chateau Grey. This was finished with a durable satin finish.

This past weekend for the first time ever I went to the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market in Ohio. It was so amazing I just have to share my experiences.

Within this 2000 booth Extravaganza were three huge tents encompassing “The Vintage Marketplace”. The booths in this section were beyond amazing! Shabby Chic, Antiques, rusty and primitive, you name it! Many items painted in my favorite chalk style paints! In fact, this whole event is actually 80% antiques and collectibles, not so much with the “flea” stuff.

I thought I had died and gone to heaven, except my aching feet reminded me I hadn’t. There is no way you can see it all in a day. Just sayin’. I went four hours Friday afternoon, and four hours Saturday morning.

I was thrilled to see Debra Campbell from Wallartistry in Centerville OH. This is where I bought my first batch of ASCP. I didn’t know till this past weekend that I was her very first customer for the paint.

I also got to meet Shel from Funky Junk Boutique in Seville OH. Her striped table was my inspiration for the striped table I did recently. It was so funny, I was buying a wonderful Annie Sloan paint brush (amazing by the way) from her and Debra walked up to her and told her I was Norma from Norma’s Kentiques and she flipped out. She was excited to meet me and didn’t realize I was the one who “copied” her style on my table.

I had other neat experiences while exchanging business cards with others like minded businesses. Same reaction, “You’re Norma’s Kentiques? I’ve been following you forever”, or shouting to another family member there, “Hey, this is Norma, you know from Norma’s Kentiques”. Those experiences made my day! Ok, it didn’t happen all the time, but enough to make me feel special and that my name is out there.

I met another special lady I had wanted to meet, Teri Logan with Alley Cat Chic in Kettering OH. We’ve chatted through Facebook message quite a few times and she’s a delight. She introduced me to several other folks, and my frizzled brain can’t remember their names.

So I am very excited to have lots of new colors of paint to try out. I bought them with the upcoming Marigold Festival in mind. I can’t wait to try out some other new colors on items that will be in my booth this Saturday at the Marigold Festival in Williamstown KY. This is a great small town event, lots of neat booths and things to see and do for the whole family! I will have the piano bench there along with some other goodies. Hope to see some of you there!

Before

After

Norma Oliver, owner of Norma’s Kentiques, is a happily married empty nester that has raised six children. She loves to hunt down ugly and rejected furniture that is still valuable and sturdy. Each piece is given a distinctive look, often through professionally applied chalk paint or milk paint and given a durable finish. These bargain accent pieces are then sold at her booth within the Georgetown Peddler’s Mall (inside-far left) OR her newest location within Country Hearts Crafts and Supplies in Williamstown. See more of Norma’s Kentiques on her Facebook page and visit her blog.