Three Legged Stool Makeover: Paint and stain combo with dipped legs

Mar 01 2020
This post may include affiliate links Click here to read my Disclosure and Copyright or, for more information on how this website collects your data, click here to view my Privacy Policy. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Teaming up with Chas in our DIY blog hop this month with projects for our bathrooms! (Make sure and check out all of the bathroom projects following this post and feel free to join in!) This little stool has a fun story behind it. My Grandparents’ were wood workers and made and sold lots of these along with many other pieces of furniture. One of my neighbors is an avid follower of my blog and felt she simply had to return it to me so this milking stool came home after being gone for over 30 years!

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

I have done absolutely NOTHING to this stool since my neighbor dropped it off. It makes a great seat in my master bathroom but what I normally use it for is a spot to set a glass of wine while I’m soaking!

My grandparents were really into polyurethane.

They may not completely understand but I am so TOTALLY OVER IT. Eventually every piece, whether made by my grandparents or otherwise, that remains in my possession that is this sticky honey yellow gym floor color I will eventually change.

I can’t help it. I can’t stand it.

So, I got to thinking about this stool mostly because I’ve been seeing a lot of dipped chair and stool legs lately in the DIY blogger community and I’ve been loving it.

By “dipping” I mean exactly what it sounds like, the legs are dipped in a different color paint than what the piece is painted out in giving the stool little booties. I thought I would try it here.

Firstly though, I had some work to do.

I sanded the whole piece down lightly and than sanded the top down to completely bare, ready-to-stain wood. I stained it in my fav Dark Walnut by Minwax – the same stain I used on my floors.

Then I painted out the base of the stool (several coats) in Sooty Lashes by Valspar, the same paint I used on the walls on my whole master floor.

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

From there it was time to dip!

I marked four inches up on each leg and VERY CAREFULLY dipped each foot in up to the line in a gallon of semi gloss white paint. I held the stool for AWHILE above the can and let it drip and drip and drip.

Could I have just taped off each leg and hand painted it? Of course I could have but this was more fun and WAY easier and much faster! I love that my stool has little white boots!

It was so darned cute at this point but it still felt like there was something missing to me.

I headed to Amazon to find a stencil or a decal to put on the top of it and I found this pretty white flower for less than $5.

I think it made the perfect addition – it stands out against the dark stained top and ties into the white on the legs.

After a couple of coats of polycrylic my little stool proved, once again, why I am always so glad to choose to stain wood instead of painting it. The sealant brought out all the richness and beauty of the wood!

I think it turned out just adorable.

In my last post about this master bathroom I had done a refresh by adding a shelf, some of my own custom canvas prints and a few other things to update the space.

Since then though I’ve realized how much I like COLOR and I think this bathroom has more life now than ever!

Especially now with the addition of my pretty new stool ๐Ÿ™‚

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal

Three legged stool makeover for my bathroom project with dark paint, dipped legs and a sanded down dark stained topped with a flower vinyl decal


DIY, do it yourself, projects

DIY Shelf Furniture Makeover from Chas at Chas’ Crazy Creations!

Check her out at her Blog on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and YouTube


THIS WEEK’S DIY BLOG HOP: BATHROOM PROJECTS!

Click here to grab the code if you’d like to add it to your post and see next months themes!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Comments

  1. March 1, 2020 at 7:38 am

    Love love love this Tarah and so need one in my home…. want to make one for me ๐Ÿ˜‰ Great job and so very useful. Thanks so much for sharing.

    • March 2, 2020 at 9:24 am

      Thank you so much Chas, I’m kinda thrilled with the cute little guy!

  2. Pat M.
    March 1, 2020 at 10:12 am

    Your entire bathroom is lovely. I can see how it would be hard to do anything other than a very long soak and more than one glass of wine! You’ve done a great job.

    • March 2, 2020 at 9:27 am

      Thank you so much Pat, I definitely need to soak more!

  3. Debra McCranie
    March 1, 2020 at 12:25 pm

    I have been following you for awhile and I enjoy reading all your post. You really create some beautiful things for your home. I really like your bathroom and your addition of the chair. What a relaxing space and I have got to get me one of those soaker tubs. Thanks for sharing the beautiful life you enjoy.

    Debra

    • March 2, 2020 at 9:27 am

      Debra, that soaker tub just makes me happy seeing it every day. Its been a wonderful addition and, if you have the room, I would totally recommend it!

  4. March 1, 2020 at 1:32 pm

    I love that little stool, it looks perfect in your luxurious bathroom!!

    Tania

  5. March 3, 2020 at 10:10 am

    I love the dipped legs and flower on your stool, just adorable!

  6. March 19, 2020 at 9:13 am

    I love the story behind your stool, what a fresh and beautiful update! Your grandparents would be proud!

  7. April 24, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    What a cute stool! And I love the story that goes with it.

  8. April 11, 2021 at 9:19 pm

    Your creativity is inspiring!

  9. Mary
    April 12, 2021 at 11:48 pm

    Love the stool. Elegant

Leave a Comment

*