Chair Turned to Stool!

Jody Harris
by Jody Harris
7 Materials
$15
2 Days
Medium

We had 3 of these chairs and my partner came to me with an idea she found on Pinterest. We started on it right away and I hope you like it as much as we do!

We had 3 of these Windsor chairs.

We took off the backs of all 3. We started by taking out the screws from the underside that were in the outside “U” shaped piece. Then, taking a dowel that was smaller than the holes, we hammered it through the bottom.

Using our trusty Dewalt drill, we drilled holes all the way through the holes where the spindles rested.

These are a couple of the bits we used to drill through the rest of the holes. The holes in each chair we realized were different sized.

The holes in the back were done. Now to drill new holes in the front of the stool. There was no right or wrong so we placed a mark were we thought it would look even.

We used this size drill bit to make the hole. We chose this size because it matched the large hole in the back.

Drilling in action!

Drilling all done!

Next comes sanding.

Then we painted the bottoms with a cottage white. After they dried we sanded them for a distressed look.

Oops, I forgot to take a picture of staining the tops. All 3 stools got the same stain called Jacobean.

Then we added rope to make the handles. Some rope we could tie knots on the bottom to secure them.

On this stool we used some very thick rope that was going to be a bugger to knot. So instead we unraveled it and stapled it to the bottom. Since the rope is only used to lift the stool we didn’t feel the need to secure the rope any other way.

Done! I love how the same stain was used but all 3 tops took to the stain different.

These can be used inside and outside as we put an exterior poly on them! Can’t you just see your family sitting on these by the campfire! Or doing their homework at their desk!

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  3 questions
  • TW TW on Jan 26, 2019

    I have some of these chairs also and the legs are not the same height---the front legs are 17" and the backs are 16". Did you leave as is or did you cut to make it even. I didn't see that step if you did.

  • Sandy Sandy on Jan 29, 2019

    i love the finished project, but

    I have a couple of questions. Why did you pound dowel pieces into the back holes? And then open them again? Why not just leave them as is? Thanks

  • Diane Diane on Feb 02, 2019

    I noticed that there is a grommet/washer in the holes for the handles. What are the ones you use? Love this idea!!! Side tables for the deck or seats for the deck table!!!

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  • Carol Leigh Carol Leigh on Feb 25, 2019

    We had some chairs similar but the seats cracked, the backs were very stable.

  • ACS ACS on Feb 03, 2022

    i MADE A STOOL FROM A CHAIR. i REMOVED THE BACK...IT WAS SORTA LOOSE ANYWAY. i ADDED A FOAM CUSHION SHAPED LIKE THE CHAIR SEAT. i UPHOSTERED IT WITH DENIM SCRAPS. i USE IT AT MY SEWING MACHINE. iT WILL SCOOT UNDER IT WHEN NOT IN USE.


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