How can I makeover this stool? I can't get it apart!

Question

I have 5 of these stools and can't get them apart to remove the seat back. The situpon cushion can be unscrewed - but not so the back part. I'm getting so frustrated - help! Should I pry it apart? Will it ruin it? Any help greatly appreciated!

243107 · Answer

I've used upholstery paint and it looks very nice, you could try that on the backs and recover the seat part. However, I painted the bottom of an ottoman, so it doesn't really get 'sat on'........so I cannot attest to the durability.

Sara · Answer

Thank you for the suggestion - but I really want to get this taken apart and completely overhauled .. hopefully somebody knows how to do this ;o)

Shari · Answer

You mention the seat cushion can be unscrewed and removed. Have you actually taken one off yet? I'm thinking once the seat is off, the back will either pop out or hidden screws will be revealed.

Donna Byram · Answer

Is the back padded on both sides or just on one side with a wood back? If it has a wood back, you may just need to carefully pry all the way around the cushion a little at a time. Sometimes the padded part has a hard backing that tacks are punched through so you can fasten it to the wood back. Similar principle as tack strips for reupholstering. That may be all that is holding the back cushion in place.

Carole · Answer

Shari is right. I have made over several of this type of chair. Turn it over and unscrew and remove the seat. The back of the seat is often used to hold the seat back in place. It will most likely be able to be removed once the seat pad is out. Try tapping it a little once the seat is off as the makers tend to make a groove in the wooden bar across the top of the seat back that the seat back pad will be angled slightly to wedge into that groove. Removing the seat means that you can pull the back down and out from the frame at the back. This is often the only thing that is holding the back in place. When you recover the back seat pad, just ensure that if you sew seams along the edges of the top or the back or sides, that you don't make the seams too bulky as there is usually so little wriggle room to pop the back into the grooves in the woodwork and bulky seams won't help with this. Reassemble by putting the back in first, get someone to hold it in while you screw the seat back on or else it can slip down and make it hard to reassemble the chair. You don't need to pull the wooden frame apart to do this. Good luck! The chair in the attached photo had this type of back and this works.

Katherine · Answer

Tip the chair upside down and I'm the corners by the seat you should be able to un tighten and the seat lifts out push it with your hand up

For the back I'm not sure 
But I would take one stool to the home depo and ask them to show you

Johnavallance82 · Answer

You could paint it! Use fabric paint or for a leather look use fabric conditioner in with paint.

Ann|The Apple Street Cottage · Answer

Try removing the seat. You may be able to remove the back after you have access to it.

Kim |Exquisitely Unremarkable · Answer

The back should come off after you remove the seat and then you can add your fabric to both parts. Sometimes though you need a special screwdriver, one that's extra long, to access the screws since they sunken.

Mogie · Answer

This might be a great time to use fabric paint since you can't get the back off but usually there are ways you just have to poke and prod a little.

How can I makeover this stool? I can't get it apart!

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How can I makeover this stool? I can't get it apart!

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