Back in early November my friend opK and I found a couple of garage sales to check out on an unseasonably warm-ish Thursday. I didn’t find much to buy, but I did bring home this metal stool.
The sale I found it at really wasn’t your typical garage sale. It was held in someone’s garage, but they had a lot of antiques and the prices were more akin to a shop rather than a garage sale.
But that being said, this stool was one of the few bargains they had at $10.
I was really drawn to the industrial look of the casters, but I didn’t love the primer grey spray paint job that someone had given it.
It was a bit blah.
So after a good cleaning, I sanded the seat top to remove any flaking paint and rust. Next, after wiping away any remaining dust with a damp cloth, I gave the stool a coat of Dixie Belle’s Bonding Boss in clear. It will inhibit any future rust, and also improve the adhesion of my paint. I like to use the clear version when I’m planning to distress a piece. I definitely don’t want to see white underneath when I spot sand to distress it.
Next up I painted the stool in Dixie Belle’s Midnight Sky. Then I taped off a Swiss cross, and painted it in Drop Cloth.
I used those holes in the top of the stool as a guide for centering my cross. I also used a carpenter’s square to get my angles right.
I didn’t want the stool to look freshly painted, so I used some 220 grit sandpaper to sand back the paint in areas that I thought would be naturally worn over time.
This is where that clear Bonding Boss comes into play.
I finished the stool with some of Dixie Belle’s clear wax.
Now, you may have noticed that this stool is kinda short. It’s not really the right height for sitting on it at a table, and of course it’s definitely not bar stool height.
Initially I thought that the height would make it perfect to use as a plant stand for a taller Norfolk Island Pine that I have.
But I quickly realized that there wasn’t much point in that Swiss cross design on the top if I was just going to put a plant on it.
In the end, this stool is really the perfect height for me to sit on while cleaning out lower cabinets, or while digging through my stash of scrapbook paper that I store on a lower shelf. So for now I’m just going to hang onto it.
What do you think of this simple makeover? Leave a comment and let me know.
q is for quandie 
I love your paint job on this, and I love this little stool, especially on casters. So cute! Plus the older I get, the more I appreciate anything that keeps me from having to squat or get down on my hands and knees.
LikeLike
Amen to that Cyndi!
LikeLike
That stool turned out great. I love the cross. I’m amazed at how straight and no bleed lines you get! Well done! It looks like such a great size. I wonder what it was used for in its former life?
smiles, Alice
LikeLike
I wonder that too Alice, it’s so low I can’t imagine what it was for.
LikeLike
I have a current paint project that I was struggling to paint because it has a door on it and I wanted something universal so it would appeal to the masses and sell easily. Bingo. I will paint the cross. It will be easy and so suitable for my project. Behind the door is 3 slide out trays perfect for organizing anything from makeup to craft supplies. You’ve also given me the idea of relocating from the garage to my craft room a little rolling stool that I have. I am a picture framer, and am usually on my knees weeding through mat board; sitting on my stool will be the bomb! I love that you chose Midnight Blue instead of the usual black. I am so skeptical of Bonding Boss inhibiting future rust but I am just going to try it for myself. Thank you for all the great ideas today.
LikeLike
I can entirely speak to the long term efficacy of the Bonding Boss preventing rust, but so far so good on projects I’ve used it on. Now if you leave a metal item out in the rain, all bets are off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very cute! Love the casters! (I love most anything on casters)
LikeLike
Me too, gotta love a good old caster!
LikeLike
Best plant stand ever! Especially since it will double for you when you need to search low spots. 😁 I like the dark blue, and the cross too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, to clarify, the Midnight Sky is an off-black, not a midnight blue. But I’m glad you like it Paula!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Simple but oh so cute! I love a Swiss cross and vintage metal stools are always great. Good inspiration and thanks for the good details on making it!
LikeLike
You’re very welcome!
LikeLike