The stools are {FINALLY} done!

Well, maybe that title is untrue. The stoolS are not done. Rather, one stool is done. But now I feel like the second stool will go much quicker, except that is the one I have to fix a little on the legs.

If you remember from this post, this is the stool I got for $2.99 so I am not going for perfection. If they don't last long, it was not a big investment lost!

The only supplies I needed to buy for the first stool was the trim I added to the rough edge below seat. This trim was on sale at Hobby Lobby for 0.44/yard. I needed a little over 2 1/2 yards (but that is for both stools) so I paid under $1.50 for it. I had the paint, stain, wax and paint brushes on hand.

This is a picture of the stools when I bought them.



I used a paintbrush and can of paint for this project, as planned. I was unsure of how that would go. I wanted the kind of finish and strength you get from paint from a can, but I also wanted the ease of spraying. I am happy to report that the brushing part was not bad. What I did do was turn the stools upside down (after removing the seat from the legs). This way I painted on the underside of everything first, then turned it right side up and painted from the view of looking down. I did not miss many areas doing it this way. I did do TWO coats of paint letting it dry for over 24 hours in-between (mostly because it was humid and I wanted a strong finish since feet/shoes would be on the bottom rung).

This is after one coat. Oh - I also did a sanding to the entire chair, including the cane, before I started painting or staining.



The next photos show the stain I used and how I applied it to the cane using a paintbrush. After getting the entire top stained I lightly rubbed it off and then let it dry for a couple days (humid weather -- remember).









After finishing the top and the legs and putting them back together I had to cover the ugly plywood showing under the seat. These stools at some point during their lifetime, were repaired or redone resulting in a plywood circle under the cane top. This rough edge shows and I had to cover it. I found a nice neutral trim and glued it to the plywood.





So here is the finished stool. I am very happy with how it turned out and can't wait to finish the other one and get them to the new house!









The new house is getting close. Like so close I don't even want to think about it too much. We are scheduled to close in THIRTY SEVEN days! Whoo Hoo! I don't even want to tell you what is going on between now and then and what my list looks like.

Thank you for spending time reading my blog today! Have a great week - the last full week before Christmas.


Visit these blog linky parties where I am linking up: Between Naps on the Porch, Rain on a Tin Roof, The Dedicated House, Southern Hospitality