Super-Simple Project: Recovering a Flea Market Stool

A few months ago while browsing the flea market I came across a small, simple stool that was reasonably priced.

I looked past the scratched wood and dingy vinyl and saw true potential.  Updating it with new fabric would be an easy option.

I removed the seat cover and cleaned every inch of the stool with a disinfectant.

Since the vinyl was in good shape I didn't bother to remove it.  To recover, I simply placed the new fabric underneath the seat and went around it with my staple gun to secure the fabric in place.

  

After recovering the seat I decided not to paint the wood.  I love the look of the dark wood against the light walls.

As you can see I haven't jumped off the chevron train.  I love this upholstery-weight fabric.  It was a great find at Joann's for $20 a yard.  For this project I used half.

I "erased" the scratches in the wood by using a walnut.  Yes, that's right, a walnut!

My advice; don't overlook furniture at thrift stores or flea markets because of their current state.  Fabric and paint are an inexpensive way to update your find into something special!

I am linking this post to: 

Southern Hospitality

Mother-Son Wedding Dance

I'm sharing a wedding video today.  It starts out sweet and traditional, but this mother and son like to have have a little fun!  In honor of Valentine's Day I hope this video makes you smile!

My son is 12.  I need to practice my dance moves! 

*For more sweetness, you can view the video I shared a couple years ago by clicking here.

Stenciled-Table Top

Whenever I pass my daughter's room, I see her on the floor.  Whether she's painting her nails, using her laptop, or doing homework, she ignores her fully-functioning desk and opts to sit on the floor.  No matter how many times I suggest sitting in a chair or warn her of future back problems, she'd rather plant her derriere somewhere else.  So, as a healthy compromise, I decided to create a table that she could do her normal activities on.


I created the table top by using a large-wooden board, from an unfinished project I'd been storing in the garage.

The vinyl decals didn't appeal to my daughter.  We had a few other ideas in mind, but nothing concrete.  Then a few days later I was contacted by Royal Stencil Designs and asked to review one of their stencils.  I was really excited to work with Royal Design Studios.

But, I have never stenciled before.  With so many beautiful designs, the hardest part of the project was choosing a pattern.  So I left it all up to my daughter!  She narrowed her choices down to the Small Spanish Lace stencil.

To get started we began by removing the vinyl decals.

They left a raised-sticky residue which needed to be sanded smooth.  After the surface was clean, I painted the table top with a few coats of leftover white paint.

I began stenciling the next day!  Once I had it level and taped down, I started stenciling in the middle and worked my way out. My daughter's been on a bit of a gold kick lately.  She chose the gold stencil creme simply because of its beautiful-metallic sheen.   
The process was longer than I expected because I chose to use a stencil brush; the same results can be achieved using a roller.

With my husband's help, I attached the furniture leg brackets to the corners of the board, then screwed the legs in place.

Purchased from our local Home Depot.

I was on a mission to finish the table before my daughter returned home from school, so I could surprise her with it set up in her room.

Now she has a comfortable spot to do her nails while sitting on the floor.

or browse the internet

It's the perfect space saver, because it slides under her bed when she's through.

I lightly sanded the top of the table to give it a distressed look.  Then I sealed it with polycrylic to give it a protective coat.

My daughter loves it and that's all that matters in my world!

**No financial compensation was received, however I did receive a stencil to review.  All opinions are my own.

Bleached Tree-Stump Tables

 One day last summer while out and about, my husband and I came across a few tree stumps on the side of the road.  We chose stumps with the least damage and loaded them into our vehicle and made our way home.

What I loved most about the stumps was that the bark was already removed; also a good sign that they were dry.  But just to be safe we kept them outside for many months on our covered porch to dry completely.

At this point the stumps were pretty gross- covered in slime and Georgia-red clay.  They needed a good cleaning!  My first thought was to wipe off as much as I could with a damp rag and sand the rest, but considering their condition I didn't think that would get them clean enough.

I decided to have  my husband carry them upstairs so I could give them a bleach bath.  Bleach cleans everything right?!

I was really nervous I would damage the wood, but decided to try anyway.  And guess what, it worked!  I poured concentrated bleach over each stump and scrubbed the debris off with a scrub brush and soapy water.  I allowed the stumps to dry outside for few days, while I decided what to do next.  I thought about staining them like I did in the past, or giving them a fresh coat of paint.  I loved them in their natural state best and decided to leave them as they were.

I couldn't be more pleased with the results!

The knots give the stump so much character.

My guess is that the holes in the stumps are from woodpecker damage.

I see them a lot in our backyard pecking at our trees too.

As a final step, I did sand the tops smooth using my Dremel.  I thought about sealing them with a clear coat of Polycrylic, but I'm nervous about them yellowing over time.  Also I don't want them to appear glossy or shiny.  I may decide later to just coat the tops.  I'm certain bleach took care of any lingering critters!

Even without sanding, the body of the stumps are still very soft and smooth.

The annual rings of the tree are clearly visible.

The pieces weren't cut straight, but I don't mind one bit.  That's another characteristic that I love.

I skipped adding legs or wheels, but I do plan to add furniture glides so that air can circulate underneath them.  

I hope you're inspired to turn a tree stump into a beautiful piece of furniture.

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By Stephanie Lynn

Tip Junkie

Work it Wednesday