This is the story of the perfect chippy white garden bench that I recently found on Facebook Market Place.

You know that the nice weather has arrived when you start thinking about outdoor furniture. Right? I am happy to share that my daffodils are finally blooming and I have started to think about outdoor furniture. Sort of.

More like, I am thinking of garden benches. Haven’t quite gotten to tables, chairs, umbrellas and whatnot. That probably won’t happen until May.

The Back Story

Anyway, the other day I was perusing the Facebook Marketplace listing when I came across a white bench for sale. Now, I must admit, for the last year or so, I have had terrible luck with Facebook Marketplace. The people I meet are generally very kind and reliable. However, I don’t find inventory that 1. fits the curated look of Sky Lark House and 2. is listed at a price where I can make a profit. So, I have pretty much given up looking at the listings.

However, early one Sunday morning, when most of New York State was still sleeping, I happened to stumble upon the cutest little chippy white garden bench that reminded me of summers on Cape Cod. So, thinking the bench had already sold, I messaged the seller and asked if it was available. I wasn’t really expecting a reply because I truly thought the bench had sold. All the good stuff sells instantly. I am convinced there are FBM devotees who spend their entire day finding and buying all the good stuff.

I should also mention – for the last 5 years, I haven’t slept well. I almost never sleep through the night. My friends and family are always poking fun of me because I respond to their emails and text messages at 4:00 am. Heck! I say, if someone (me) is awake in the wee hours of the morning then they (I) may as well be productive.

All of this is to say, I messaged the seller at 5:00 am. My expectations of a response were low. I mean honestly, who is up and about at 5:00 am on a Sunday? (Other than myself)

So, imagine my surprise when in less than 30 minutes I got a response back AND it said the bench was still available. Fabulous! I was jumping softly around the house in my socks. (No need to wake up Mr. SLH or the dogs). I responded and told her that I could pick it up in a few hours.

Truthfully, I could have picked it up at 6 am but I was trying to be a least a little considerate.

Picking up the Bench

So, while Mr SLH and the dogs continued to slumber away the Sunday morning hours, I had a cup of coffee, changed into overalls and dashed out the door to pick up the bench.

When I got there, a woman who looked similar in age to myself, answered the door. She also looked as if she had been awake for quite some time. She pointed to the bench on her front porch and it was even BETTER in person than the photos in the listing.

See what I mean? I feel like there should be a beach bag resting on the seat.

The seller asked me if I was going to paint it. To which I replied – “Heck no! It’s perfect”.

I took quite a few photos of the bench. I covered it with some antique European textiles. Then I couldn’t resist using the straw hat.

The metal used on the ends is in the most graceful shape of an egg. I have never seen a bench with this type of design.

You can make your own front door basket with dried flowers by reading this post. Also, the pillow shown on the bench, is from City Farmhouse. It was one of my “Tennessee buys” when we went down to visit earlier this year.

Conclusion

My faith in Facebook Marketplace has been rekindled. Sort of. Well, not really because I still haven’t found anything on FB Marketplace since I bought this bench. It’s more like the idea of the POSSIBILITY of success has been restored. Not to be a downer, but it’s important to note that there is a difference between POSSIBILITY and PROBABILITY. Just because something is possible doesn’t mean that it is probable.

Nonetheless! In the name of all things vintage, chippy, and white, we must continue the hunt. We must continue to peruse Facebook Marketplace, messy antique stores, damp garage sales, church sales, dusty flea markets, musty estate sales and crowded auctions because you never know when you will stumble upon the perfect chippy white garden bench.