Rustic Stool for Kitchen Island

Carolina's Art
by Carolina's Art
9 Materials
1 Day
Medium

We are still finishing our country cabin and we are in need of stools for our tiny island.

This tall stool is obviously not the right one, besides it belongs to my son's garage bar (we just borrowed it for a few days).

We decided to use two of these slices of cedar we had bought from our "cedar guy". I had already peeled the bark off and sanded it really well. So now, we had to figure out how to make the legs.

We used a piece of 2 x 6 to screw to the bottom of the stool so that we could attach the legs to it.

We cut the 2 x 4 's for the legs at 21".

We used left over wood we had since we are quarantined and can't go to Home Depot :(

After cutting all the pieces, we sanded them until smooth.

Then we attached the legs to the middle 2 x 6.

When all the legs where attached, we tested it and then decided that it needed a base to put the legs and to make it sturdy and so that it wouldn't tip over.

So we used other pieces of 2 x 4 to make a rectangle base.

Okay! that worked nice and it is very comfortable. Now it is time to make it pretty.

I stained the legs with a mix of stains I had lying around.

Then I brushed polyurethane on the top part.

And to the sides.

It's amazing how the natural color of cedar comes out with just varnish.

But I still wanted more details, so I painted these small wooden dowels with black acrylic and dabbed a little metallic copper to make them look like "clavos".

I used a hot glue gun to attach them.

Now we are talking!!! much better. But in order for these not to fall, I did use a gun to finish it.

And done. I know it is a very rustic looking stool but for us it will be perfect for our country cabin.

Here it is at the cabin. Now we need to make the second one so that I can return my son's stool.

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  • Shuganne Shuganne on Mar 11, 2022

    I love your stools!! The two tones of cedar are just delightful. I have three questions: How comfortable are the stools for longer sitting sessions?

    Also, I understand why you put the 2x4s at the bottom, but it seems distracting. If I made these, I would like to try wood bracing inside the legs at the bottom, perhaps mirroring what you did at the top, or perhaps creating open braces like many stool designs.

    Finally, (thank goodness) do you think that placing the legs perpendicular to the seat and the floor has anything to do with the sturdiness of the chairs, or could I ignore that design option when I build my stools? Thanks for your patience reading through this!

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  • Katen Katen on Mar 30, 2023

    Perfect. Right size and blends in with decor. The temporary just screams out of place. I like just one stool in kitchen; I hate eating bars. Island eating space in lieu of a table and chairs is not family dining. It’s hash house grub with no ability to interact with each other. Horrible idea. Yours is perfect. Mom or dad or kid can be with you during meal prep and have place to help. Thanks for sharing

  • Carolina's Art Carolina's Art on Mar 30, 2023

    Thanks Katen

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