This is another post that John wanted me to name Stool Boom (here’s why John likes that name). Anyway, a while back I redid a stool that wasn’t ours. It just showed up in the mail and I spruced it up. More on the mysterious mail thing in a minute. First here’s how I got ‘er done. This is a terrible before shot, but picture an old beat up periwinkle blue stool with nails and holes and a rotting wood top:
The first thing I did was get all the old nails out with the back of a hammer:
Then I primed it and painted it a rich navy color (I just grabbed a $3 test pot of paint in Benjamin Moore’s Santa Monica Blue). Ignore the crazy-bright blue color going on in this picture – it’s a very strange camera trick. In real life = navy. Anyway, after my two coats of paint were dry, I dug up some extra loft batting (originally from JoAnn) that I already had and some fabric that I had around as well. Why? Because I’m cheap. And it’s not my stool. Haha. If you’re keeping track, so far, I had sunk $3 into someone else’s stool.
Then I got fancy and picked up two $1.79 boxes of decorative nail heads (from JoAnn). I know, I splurged. What can I say, I’m a giver.
I figured I could use these guys to secure my batting and my fabric along each side of the stool. So I just cut the batting and the fabric about two inches larger than the top of the stool on all sides, and pulled the excess down and folded it under for a nice clean line. Then I tapped each nail head into place to keep things secure. I spaced them about 2″ apart (and used a 2″ piece of cardboard as a spacer to keep the gaps consistent). About thirty taps later I had done one side…
I continued to tap my way around the other three sides and I was left with a sweet little stool to not call my own. Total cost: $6.58. Except I have no earthly idea why she looks royal blue again. See the pics above – that’s probably the most true that the blue looks. So it’s a nice rich color but not too bright in real life.
Here’s a full shot from the side (the same pic I should have taken as a before instead of a zoomed in crazy one):
Then I hugged her, kissed her (more than once), and lovingly sent her off. Sniffle. Weird stool business going on, right?
Well, it was actually for the fine folks at Do It Yourself magazine…
… where we have a Q and A column called “He Said, She Said“…
… but in our column we don’t redo furniture, so the stool was for another article they were running in their winter issue about makeovers by a few bloggers who all received surprise items in the mail to redo. There were some pretty amazing fellow bloggers in the mix, like: Style Me Pretty, Centsational Girl, Jen Geigley, Renegade Handmade, and Lori Andrews. It was really fun see what they did, like this two-tiered-table turned cake stand from Style Me Pretty:
And here’s my little stool makeover. I love how they styled it with yarn because of all the craft stuff that I have in our house, I have zero yarn. Haha.
Oh and really savvy folks might even recognize the fabric as one of the ones we used for Clara’s weekly pictures. We love how it looks like water and the bean looks like she’s swimming in this pic.
After making her quilt and birthday banner there was still more than enough for a surprise stool makeover. Gotta love it. What furniture have you guys been making over lately? Any painting or reupholstering going on? And kiddos swimming around on fabric? Hey, if it makes ’em happy…
Psst- We might be biased, but we think this video of Clara singing a medley of songs is the cutest thing ever. That girl loves to sing!
As a matter of fact-My hubby made me an ottoman, to make my fave big poofy upholstered chair even more difficult to remove myself from, out of leftover plywood from a foray into cabinet making for the garage, leftover bits of 2×4 from the ledger board on said cabinets, and wheels that had turned out to be too small for the rolling wood rack he made. So the ottoman itself was free, but I did have to purchase upholstery fabric, batting, spray adhesive and foam. (I already have my own small air compressor, nail gun, and nails in every size-a girl needs plenty of spare nails, ya know.) Can’t remember exactly how much, but I do know the foam and batting were both 40% off at Hancock fabrics, the spray adhesive was 50% off also from Hancock, and the upholstery was from their remnant shelf so was probably around $8. I think somewhere in the area of $25?
It has a small storage area under the lid as well so I can keep my stuff in it-I’m considering turning it into my coupon cutting center, after looking at your ottoman! Mine is much smaller so it probably will have to be a one use storage area, but it will still keep clutter out of the way, right?
I have a subscription to that mag that my mom got me and I have that issue, I loved the stool but it still didn’t look navy in the mag either-I LOVE the navy, wonder why it didn’t photograph true?
Isn’t that funny? The one shot of my nail heads side by side is the most true to life of all of them! Your ottoman sounds amazing, but the way!
xo,
s
Blog topic request: I would love to see how you store all your fabric.
Folded in two giant woven boxes in Clara’s closet! Will have to snap pics someday!
xo,
s
Love that transformation! And really like the color you chose. I may have to get that issue to see the rest!
OMG, this is right up my alley. I love to rehab old furniture. So far, I have redone 3 couches, my kitchen island and my son’s dresser. My friends think I’m crazy when I do drive-bys of furniture left by the curb. It’s such a good feeling to make something old new again, not to mention less in the landfill. Way to go Sherry! You’re stool is cool and whata baaargain too!!!
That’s awesome! I love that you’ve tackled so many makeovers!
xo,
s
I think I missed something. I understand the stool part but I’m confused about where the boom comes in.
Haha, the first sentence has a link to explain that weirdness.
xo
s
Super cute makeover! I love that color blue. I recently painted an ugly black dresser of my husband’s a gorgeous purple for my craft room-in-progess. http://www.buildingakingstoncastle.blogspot.com/2012/01/it-begins-project-craft-room.html
So cool! I love plum!
xo,
s
Too cute! Actually, I just finished a dresser (well, I just posted about it anyway!!) http://refreshandrepurpose.blogspot.com/2012/01/nautical-dresser.html
That looks great!!
xo,
s
I just bought an old dresser that I’m going to makeover. I’m going to paint it and update the hardware. Still deciding on color. I did mock up some options with my current furniture! (Art is my own and subject to change.)
Here’s the colors I’m considering:
Yellow: http://bit.ly/wUA3CT
Teal: http://bit.ly/w9AleI
Green: http://bit.ly/wEIEUI
I was inspired by: http://pinterest.com/pin/89016530104292166/
Mine actually has one less row of drawers, but is shaped exactly the same.
Wow- that’s going to look amazing!
xo,
s
I got an issue of Do It Yourself and I was sooo excited to see you guys in there! I felt like you were my friends that are famous! Then I realized you guys don’t know me and you’ve already been famous for awhile now :) haha. I just don’t understand how you two do it- you seem like you have a million things going on! But keep up the great work :)
Aw thanks Vanessa!
xo,
s
I think I got the kinks out with my Chevron Headboard pics.
http://lizzie-ohsnap.blogspot.com/2011/12/very-cool-chevron-headboard.html
Beautiful! I love it!
xo,
s
Hey, great job on the stool – love the paint color – the photo of it on the rope rug gives it great character!
Hello !! This has nothing to do with today’s post (though I loved it and the pict of C)but I didn’t know where else to leave it. I was shopping on West Elm and they have a Nino Doormat that reminded me of someone :o) LOVE the blog guys and can’t wait for the book .. Cheers !!
Thanks! Off to check it out!
xo,
s
Looks great! I love the fabric! No upholstering for me yet. I have a few items that are going to need a little bit of love in the coming months though. I have to wait to get started on them until I really see where our house is going, design wise. Right now we have plywood floors almost everywhere so refinishing furniture is pretty much at the bottom of the to-do list.
-Diana
Ever since the “stool sample” comment, I’ve been reading the rest of these comments like a middle school boy. I can’t even help it! Someone needs to intervene!
By the way, Sherry, I totally love your stool.
(See? It’s a sickness!)
Haha, once it gets into your brain there’s not shaking it!
xo,
s
I present to you white-balance-awesomeness in a cap. You just take a shot with the cap on to adjust the white balance instead of taking a shot of something white in the room (like Clara’s onesie). So cheap/simple it should come with every camera!
FYI, we have the same camera, so I know it will work for you.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019BJZ8C/ref=oh_o02_s00_i00_details
Oh yes, I think we actually bought one of those (we have it in our camera bag) but it was annoying dangling off the camera all the time so we took it off and now it’s in the camera bag and we use the manual function most of the time. Haha. But thanks for the reminder that we have one!
xo,
s
I love this idea, sometime simple idea makes real difference,i am definitely going to to use this at my home.. thanks again
Those decorative nails are the sweetest touch :)
Apropos of nothing, I love that the Z Gallerie ad on the sidebar features a new white ceramic animal – a giraffe head! It’s like they know you or something. Also they have a new white ceramic octopus (but I like yours better) and a puffer fish. Valentine’s Day is coming, John, I’m just sayin’.
Haha- it’s totally like they know us. And are trying to tempt us. Haha.
xo,
s
Why do you make things like so easy?? Gah! I really need to develop the patience to try this stuff since I’m too poor to buy expensive stuff, and think that’s usually a waste of money anyway. As always, you guys are my diy inspirations!
Right on! That’s SO fun: getting something in the mail like that….and you get to figure out what you want to do with it!
…the first picture i stare at for a minute…it almost looked like bees or bugs on the leg of the stool.lol.
I have excellent eye-sight….promise…it was too funny.
Haha, it’s just such an odd shot. I can’t explain why I didn’t take a proper before like a normal person. Haha.
xo,
s
In some circles “get ‘er done” refers to a sexual act. You may want to re-think your use of that phrase as many women find it offensive.
Really? Never heard that! We definitely have been using that saying since the inception of this blog and never mean it to offend. Lots of contractors and handymen in our area (along with moms who are trying to get cupcakes done in time for the backsale) say it. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I think it’s so widely used as a comment for checking things off your list or finally finishing something, that most people (and surely followers of this blog) would know how it was being used. Whats the world without jokes…and whats a joke when you have to always worry about it’s offense? Lighten up.
Can’t wait to re-watch “Cars”. I’ll never look at Mater the same way again!! Haha.
I was wondering when I would see this on the blog! I caught it in the last issue of DIY and loved it!
What timing with this post! I’m picking up a craigslist find on Monday. For $40 I’m getting a table and four chairs. I’m gonna refinish the table and hopefully swap out the chair for clear acrylic honeycomb chairs I’ve been dreaming about.
Any tips for the refinishing for a city/condo dweller? I’ve been doing lots of online research and sadly, this project will have to wait until its nicer out but I’m concerned about cure time and inclement weather as I don’t have a garage.
Any encouragement would be appreciated in fact… my mother’s response was, ew. Just go buy one! Not. Very. Helpful.
Haha, you can do it! Go for it! We have a tutorial on our Projects page that should help (it’s for refinishing a veneer dresser, but the method works on refinishing all wood). Have so much fun!
xo,
s
can you subscribe to the “Do It Yourself” magazine?
Congrats on your feature and the stool looks great! ;0
Yes, I think they offer subscriptions online or in their magazines via cards (they’re sold at Home Depot and Barnes & Noble, etc).
xo,
s
I have a leather storage ottoman/bench that our kitten shredded. Seriously, the top looks like a cheese grater. But the bottom is in great shape so I pulled the leather off the lid and reupholstered it with red and gold fabric to match the accent colors in my kitchen and dining room. I want a window seat in the eat-in area of our kitchen and until we get around to building one, I put the bench under the window with some pillows to create a back. It looks great! I wish people would send me random pieces of furniture to re-do, although I probably wouldn’t send it back to them.
Haha- that sounds so nice!
xo,
s
As always… Looks great! Check out this site: http://oohmoon.com/ Katie is a fantastic illustrator offered one free download a day last year and is doing weekly downloads this year. Great way to build up an art collection!
Oh yes I love that site!
xo,
s
Very cute! I’m working on my own reupholstery project right now–redoing a vintage Herman Miller/Eames shell rocker with this fabric: http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=98ce683b-4679-43f4-ab81-053e872c22a0 It’s almost done, if it would just get warm enough for one day that I could go outside and use spray adhesive! Dang snow is messing with my DIY plans!
That sounds so pretty! Would love to see pics!
xo,
s
I recently went to pick up a $25 table from craigslist and when I showed up they were also looking to get rid of two cedar chests…one large one (for our bedroom) and one small one (for a little guy one day). For $50 I got all three items! I was stoke…they are all in awesome condition! However, I want to paint the big cedar chest white and add a cushion to the lid. My concern is how to do this so that the lid still closes completely…my guess is to only bring the fabric around the edge and not the batting? Can’t wait till it’s done and in our bedroom!
Oh yes, I bet if you only brought fabric to the edge it’s so thin that it would hopefully still close. I’d lay some in there just to be sure before stapling anything! Have fun!
xo,
s
This is totally unrelated, but do you read Suri’s Burn Book? I just discovered it and I’m obsessed. I feel like it would be right up your alley!
I haven’t but it sounds awesome! I’ll have to check it out!
xo,
s
AWESOME!!!!! Love the stool! How great that an actual magazine contacted all of you guys for those articles. I think is great how bloggers and magazines and merging little by little.
Oh yes, they’re really amazing over there! Very inclusive!
xo,
s
Love the colors! Sadness that it had to be rehomed!
Sherry, here’s a challenge for you: write a blog post WITHOUT using the following phrases: “to ____________ things up,” “punchy”, “pop of color”, “call me a rebel/giver/etc.,” or making reference to/calling yourself cheap. I can hardly get through a post anymore without cringing. If you need help refreshing your writing style, I know good copywriters you can hire for that sort of thing.
We just write the way we talk. Always have and always will! I definitely have some go-to phrases in real life and in blogging! Other things I say a lot: they were ____ a pop, woo to the hoo, holla, etc. There’s definitely not one right way to blog, so we just do what comes naturally to us – which is what has gotten us here today! Call me a rebel. Haha.
xo,
s
Wow. I bet Britney has a famous blog with over four million readers a month since she has so much unsolicited advice for you. Wait, no I don’t. Don’t change a thing! We love you because you’re real!
Britney, here’s a challenge for you: stop being rude and let people blog how they want to blog. What are you, the language police?
Britney! I love your music. You should maybe stick with that instead of leaving rude comments on highly successful blogs.
Penny,
That was a terrible comeback! Talk about making someone cringe!
Maybe the stool boom has Britney feeling a little cranky today… (Poop jokes NEVER go out of style!)
I personally love the writing style on this blog, never change!
Cheer up KTM! At least I didn’t say “Leave Britney alone!!” THAT would’ve been cringeworthy. :)
My newest DIY Magazine came in the mail about 5 minutes before I sat down to check blogs. Guess I know how I’ll be spending my afternoon!
LOVE the Guffman reference!!!
Adorable! Way to go, repurposing that awesome fabric!
I didn’t get a chance to watch the video when you did the first Stool Boom post, but I did today! HAHA!! Adding to the Netflix right now! Great job on the DIY. I’m a no-sew kinda girl so I like simple projects like this. Thanks! :)
Alternately titled, “Don’t you love it when stools come out nicely with very little effort?” :P
Haha, so many poop jokes today. Might be an all time record.
xo,
s
I love to rehab old furniture. So far I’ve redone 3 couches,a chair, my kitchen island and my son’s dresser. My friends think I’m crazy when I spot old furniture by the curb and do a drive by to scope it out. I love the feeling of making something old, new again, not to mention less in the landfill. Your stool looks cool and whata baaargain!
I recently re-did these things….
http://retroranchrenovation.blogspot.com/2012/01/nightstands-are-new-again.html
http://retroranchrenovation.blogspot.com/2011/12/dining-chair-re-do.html
And this little number went up in our house not too long ago! Although, we did not DIY it. Booooo us. I only put the handle on and painted her. :)
http://retroranchrenovation.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-heart-our-barn-door.html
Amazing! I love it all!
xo,
s
really great job, I love the nailheads.
In the thick of turning a ottoman into a storage ottoman. Accidently stepped on the side and broke the inner woodwork, also broke off a leg. I haven’t really invested too much in carpentry, so this could be fun :D
I feel like you could totally turn stool boom into a verb. Like, “$herdog, we totally stoolboomed that penny tile.”. And then you would high five.
Haha, I love it. Must start working it in immediately.
xo,
s
I have a subscription to DIY magazine and was so psyched to see this transformation when the issue arrived. I bought that same fabric at Jo-Ann’s a few months ago (I’m a Richmonder) and made a shirt from it (my first pattern making experience!). My husband and neighbor thought it was the ugliest fabric they had ever seen and I loved it! I was so happy to show them the fabric in print… it certainly made me feel validated!
Haha, congrats on your shirt! I could never do that!
xo,
s
I’m getting up my courage to reupholster my office chair with some fabric I got at an outlet store (don’t remember its name, but it’s in the shopping center at the intersection of Robious & Huguenot), and my daughter just agreed to help me make slipcovers for a beloved leather chair & ottoman that my puppy Bruiser (one of Burger’s brethren) damaged. I can’t afford to have the leather repaired right now, so I’m covering them in dropcloth-canvas slipcovers until my bank account is a bit healthier.
i absolutely love this! and this is really funny, but i just made myself a skirt (http://literatelystylish.blogspot.com/2012/01/monday-presents-favorite.html) out of that same exact fabric. good to know people around the world are using it for many different purposes!
Oh my gosh- so cute! I love it!!!
xo,
s
My favorite (to date) re-upholstery job has been transforming a wingback chair that I had gotten from a friend who got it from a friend…into a lovely stylish seat. It went from plaid drab to contemporary mod with a good choice of fabric and a two-weekend upholstery class at a nearby fabric store. I’d love to share pics. Let me know!
Yes! Pics please! You can post a link to them over on flickr right here in the comments or upload them on our Facebook page!
xo,
s
I’m working on a Wingback chair as well. Found it on the curb, ready to be thrown in the trash. The frame needs a little tightening and I need to replace the seat springs along with the re-upholster. Going to upgrade the batting to a 1-inch thick batting for added softness as well. If I get out of this alive, I’ll be sure to share. ;-P
Haha- good luck! Can’t wait to see the pics!
xo,
s
I just got my first issue and noticed you guys are in there! wow! you are everywhere :)
ha. love the stool. i hope that she is not in a storage garage somewhere.
Me too! I like to think someone took her home. There used to be a “free table” when I interned at a Meredith magazine in college (where people adopt leftovers and give them a good home). Here’s hoping!
xo,
s
Hi Sherry,
Can you tell me which frame from Target to showcase children’s art you are referring to in your DIY He Said She Said article? (link please!) I think it would be a great gift to my best friend who has her daughter’s art overloading all her kitchen drawers. :D Thanks!
Sometimes it’s not online, but it’s always in the frame aisle in the store when we’re there. It just has kid art framed in it (to help you find it) and flips open so you can easily change the art. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I love this stool and the colors! We have done a painting/re-upholstery project before on a small scale (Kitchen table). http://mandyandconner.com/2011/10/11/table-talk/
Now we are in the midst of fully reupholstering an accent chair. It has been dragging out over a few months but your post today gave me an extra little bit of inspiration to complete the project. Thanks for that! Have a wonderful day.
xo
Wahoo! You can do it! Would love to see pics when you’re done!
xo,
s