The Jubilee Bench, A Family Heirloom Restored in Gainsborough Blue

Some objects carry more than one function. They carry history. Memory. Care. This bench belonged to the parents of Sebo, co-founder of Guild Lane, alongside Jenifer. Over three decades old, it had lived quietly in a British garden, weathered by time and use.

When the Jubilee Collection launched, this bench became the project that embodied everything the range stood for: craftsmanship, heritage, longevity, and a return to considered colour.

Three cans of 'Guild Lane' paint on a wooden bench with a garden background.

Today, it sits once again in Sebo’s parents’ garden, renewed, resilient, and quietly beautiful in Gainsborough Blue.

Wooden bench under a large tree with flowers in a park setting, painted in Jubilee Gainsborough Blue outdoor paint

Watch Jubilee founder Jenifer Dapper talk about this family heirloom

A True British Garden Original

The bench is a quintessentially British classic, a slatted wood seat and back, with Regency-style cast metal ends. Originally painted in gloss black, the metal had begun to flake and dull over time. The wooden slats had silvered with age, holding the gentle patina of seasons past.

We didn’t want to erase that story. Only to honour it, refresh it, and carry it forward.

Man in gloves sanding down an outdoor metal bench to prepare the surface

Close up shots of all 3 sizes of Jubilee Gainsborough Blue

The Jubilee Heirloom Makeover

The transformation began with care:

All old flaking gloss was removed from the metal ends
Surfaces were cleaned, sanded and allowed to dry fully
The metal was painted with Jubilee in Gainsborough Blue using a small Guild Lane flat brush
The wooden slats were revived, cleaned and preserved to retain their natural grain and tone

The result: a garden bench that feels both loved and elevated, still bearing the marks of its story but refreshed for the years ahead.

Person painting a decorative metal bench with Gainsborough Blue paint on a white surface.

Person painting a decorative metal bench with Gainsborough blue Jubilee paint.

Gainsborough blue outdoor furniture paint being applied to a metal bench

Person painting a garden bench outdoors using Jubilee Gainsborough blue

Why Gainsborough Blue?

This particular shade was named in honour of Thomas Gainsborough, the celebrated 18th-century British painter. A richly pigmented azure, Gainsborough Blue echoes the tones used in portraits, interiors and textiles of the Georgian period.

It feels regal, yet relaxed. Distinctive, yet timeless. And on this bench, it brings a quiet depth, complementing both greenery and stone. Our Jubilee fine furniture paint formula is robust and durable outside without a topcoat.

Gainsborough blue outdoor furniture paint tin with brush dipping

Jubilee Fine Paint can with a blue paint sample being applied outdoors.

Person painting a metal bench with Jubilee paint can in the background

Durable, Beautiful, Built for the Outdoors

This was never just a styling project. The bench now lives outdoors year-round. Jubilee’s formula is UV-stable, weather-tough, flake-resistant, and one of the best paints for outdoor furniture, ideal for restoring metal furniture in real British conditions.

It’s a paint made to last not just through seasons, but through stories.

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A Full-Circle Story

From Sebo’s childhood garden to the official launch of Jubilee fine furniture paint, and back again, this bench carries personal meaning. But its story is a familiar one: so many gardens hold pieces like this. Furniture that’s functional, full of history, and quietly waiting for a new chapter.

Gainsborough blue painted bench outdoors in a garden

Wooden bench with Gainsborough blue metal legs and armrests in a garden setting.

Large house with a garden and a bench in the foreground painted in Jubilee Gainsborough blue paint

Carved metal bench arm in the rain painted in Gainsborough blue fine paint

Sometimes, all it takes is the right colour and a touch of luck with the ever-unpredictable British weather

Bench painted in Jubilee Gainsborough Blue Paint

Explore the Jubilee Collection - paints inspired by British Heritage, built for outdoor life.

Jubilee Fine Paint by Guild Lane: A Visual Showcase on Various Surfaces | Guild Lane

See more projects from the Spring Painting Series, including a sunny vintage bicycle makeover, Regency garden chairs, Adirondack chairs and more. Follow along and get inspired this Spring.

Don’t forget to tag us on social @guildlane we would love to see your Spring projects.