Any ideas how I can cover flat surface on top of ottoman.

Donnalee1002
by Donnalee1002
This was my grandmothers thread stool and I would like to keep it original as much as possible. The leather will clean up nicely (I already did a spot) and I will paint the iron legs. Should I have a professional do it?
  10 answers
  • Donnalee1002 Donnalee1002 on Nov 15, 2013
    I'm the one with the ottoman, the picture is upside down! Don't know how I did that, i guess that why I have to look for help!!
    • Shirley Towe Shirley Towe on Nov 16, 2013
      @Donnalee1002@hotmail.com I love stools.. If the sides are in good shape and can be saved, I would talk to a professional to save the retro material on sides and maybe replace the top in a coordinating color. No problem with the photo...I just flipped my laptop over...
  • Marian taylor Marian taylor on Nov 17, 2013
    I would try and patch the top as best as you could then cut a piece of brown leatherette fabric to fit the very top and fabric glue on,, thriftstore find of a large round tray to place on top and its a quick, cheap, easy fix
  • Summer Summer on Nov 17, 2013
    maybe some painter's dropcloth? maybe you could tea stain it or something to age it? just a thought. You could print or paint some graphics on it(from the era of the stool)
  • Cathy B Cathy B on Nov 17, 2013
    I think it depends on if it will be decorative, or if you actually want to use it as an ottoman, etc., and how much money you'd like to put into restoring it. I love the original look. If you want it to be functional and are willing to spend a little more now, I'd have someone replace the top fabric and filler. If you don't want to invest that much, or it won't get a lot of abuse, you could simply get a metal tray as previously suggested or cut a round wooden circle, paint it black, and it would look nice. If you do that, I wouldn't bother to do anything underneath yet, in case you decide later to have it restored. (By the way-when I clicked on your picture to make it bigger to look at it, it was magically right side up! :)
  • Katherine Vollmer Katherine Vollmer on Sep 06, 2014
    Cut a large piece of cardboard into a circle by pinning the radius of the circle into the center of a paper cutter. Slowly and safely cut around and turn the cardboard cutting a disk the exact size you want. Cover that with a little padding and cloth or leather glue it on. Easy pezy.
    • Brenda Pippin Brenda Pippin on Jan 13, 2015
      @Katherine Vollmer I would use a thin piece of ply wood for the top and cover it with a similar colored cloth.
  • If this is a sentimental piece, I would have a professional look at it and see if this is something they can fix to 'original'. I know how important sentimental items can be and from experience I have learned that if something means a lot I go to a professional for info and guidance. I took an antique trunk to a refinisher years ago and the trunk came back clean and just as if it were 100+ years ago. good luck and it is a great looking stool!
  • Opal Opal on Sep 07, 2014
    This is a great piece, I have never seen anything like it. I would take it to a professional if you want to fix it. Is there anymore of that great fabric inside that could be used for the top? If you want to cover it then I would get a nice round tray to put over it.
  • Barbara Valenti Barbara Valenti on Jan 02, 2015
    Maybe some burlap?
  • Milo Janes Milo Janes on Jan 07, 2015
    get small round tablecloths same size as just the top and a pice of plexie glass, that way you can change the top with the seasons
  • Lori Lori on Mar 14, 2015
    Why not try your best first and if you aren't happy with it a pro can always be called. Do you have anything else that belonged to your grandma that could be used, like a quilt, sweater, coat, anything suitable?