Kitchen Stools Makeover

Topazturtle
by Topazturtle
3 Materials
$100
3 Weeks
Medium
Earlier this year I started on a project to upcycle some old kitchen stools. They had been sitting in our kitchen for 20 years and were looking tired and grease stained. I was moving into a new place and I could use them at the breakfast bar but they needed a makeover.
The first step was to remove the old varnish. I used a palm held sander with 80 grit sandpaper. Once the old varnish had been cleaned off, I started smoothing the piece with finer gritsandpaper. I went down to 180 grit and then 220 grit.
As I wanted to make the piece a bit more decorative I decided to apply a design to the seat. I covered the seat with masking tape and drew a leaf and branch design on the surface with a felt tip pen.
Next I used a craft knife to cut around the edges of the design and removed the surrounding masking tape.
Then I started staining the piece. I used a combined stain and varnish for this.
When I was happy with the colour, I let it dry before removing the masking tape.
I painted in the veins using a small round paint brush and then sealed the top with a 2 coats of clear varnish.
Now the new stools take centre stage at the breakfast bar in the new apartment.
Visit my blog post for more information.
Suggested materials:
  • Dulux Timbertone varnish in Mahogany and Rosewood   (Paint shop)
  • Electric Sander
  • Sandpaper   (Hardware store)
Topazturtle
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Tish Tish on Nov 13, 2019

    Title said “duct tape” yet the article said “masking tape”... there is a HUGE difference, especially in the amount of adhesive that is used on the tape. Masking makes much more sense... so I’m guessing the title is a typo???

  • Lori Ward-Laatsch Lori Ward-Laatsch on Jan 11, 2020
    So cute! For those of us who aren't very talented artists I think using a stencil to draw the design would work I could see it on drawers or other furniture to spruce it up.

    Another idea is use those wall stickers can get some at dollar stores. Paint over and remove the stickers. ?? Or would they bleed under that type of sticker?


    I did 3 walls of star wall stickers and everyone loves it. Thinking might be cool to do a piece that mimics the walls maybe in reverse color.

  • Susan Ellwitz Susan Ellwitz on Nov 17, 2022

    Wondering if this could be done with painter’s tape (Frog or some other brand)?

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