Whitney Beautified her Barstools!

Ok… so it was time to beautify my barstools. I found these cute stools last Christmas at World Market. Both Ashley and I love the look of saddle barstools. We were both looking for the perfect one and we found these. They were just a step up in detail from a typical saddle stool. Originally I never planned on changing the finish. But, after only 6 months of use the edges and seat were already losing their finish.

Ashley called me last week to tell me she would have to add her stools to her list of things to revamp. She dropped a bottle of nail polish on the ground and the finish was ruined. I was so excited… I could let her go first and I could learn from any mistakes… practice makes perfect:) While impatiently waiting for her to make these her next project I was unable to control my itch to paint mine. So here’s what I did…

~Lightly sanded all the stools just to help the first coat stick

~Painted 2 coats of Olympic Blue Willow Satin paint (LOVE this color!)

~After letting it dry I took my block sander with 80 grit paper and stripped the paint off of all my edges and corners

~I then took a foam brush and stained all of those exposed edges with Minwax Dark Walnut stain, and immediately wiped off all the excess.

~I used my Ralph Lauren Smoke Glaze after that… Did I mention that I LOVE this stuff as well??!

~Final step… finished each stool with two coats of Polycrylic… I prefer this to polyurethane because it won’t change the color of your finish or yellow.

I am more than pleased with my new stools! I’m glad I took the plunge and went for it… it was not a small project but I was able to finish it in about 2 days and I could kick myself for not doing it earlier. I will be posting this over at Twice Remembered for Make your Monday. Check it out and be inspired! http://twiceremembered.blogspot.com/2009/08/make-your-monday-week-4-add-your-link.html Have a great weekend!!

I will also be posting my stools on Met Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch... You can check it out here! http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2009/08/welcome-to-31st-metamorphosis-monday.html