Turning a Potting Bench back into a Wine Rack that is full of memories

I've had an old Wine Rack - Potting Bench for almost three years now and finally got around to refinishing it.

This piece of furniture has special memories  as my friends husband gave it to me a few weeks after she died from a horrible cancer.

Ingrid told me this once was a very cherished piece and was used for their wine bottles at different homes, in different countries.  But in one of the many moves with the military they lost the drawers and put it outside on their deck.  It was now a potting bench and with stood years of weather but the bones of the piece were in great shape.

 First thing I did was use a good cleaner and took the hose to it, let it dry then used a fine grade of sandpaper trying not to take off most of the patina that resulted from the years of rain and sun.

After looking into my stash of left over paints and stains I found a nice pine color stain.

 I did not  put much energy into applying the stain. A simple paint brush and let it soak into the dry wood.

 I love how the stain went over the green color on the legs of the piece and soaked into the spots where the green was worn off.  It mixed together beautifully.

One coat of stain was all I used then once it dried I applied a simple clear satin varnish.

Now to find a way to put in a shelf where the drawers once were.  I did take out the gliders that held the drawers and I'm still trying to figure out how to put in the wood?  

The piece is finished and will stand in my dining room reminding me of Ingrid and how she enriched my life and how grateful I am for knowing her.

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