Sunday, April 25

Bar stool transformation


I'm excited to share with you a project that's been on my mind for quite awhile. Back in February, I wrote a decorating dilemma I was experiencing. I had three excellent barstools--very sturdy, very comfortable--but very boring. After receiving lots of good advice, I decided that I should take the plunge and paint those babies. . . and I finally got it done.

Let's pause for a moment to reflect upon the incredible transformative powers of paint. Makes your heart swell just to think about it, doesn't it?

Here's one of the stools before:



And after:


I'm sorry for the poor lighting.  It's been rainy all week, but I just had to share my finished project!  Here's another look at the whole stool:



I spray-painted the stools with Rustoleum's Specialty Lacquer. This stuff has strong fumes, so you must use it outside, but it provides a beautiful finish. Then I distressed the edges by sanding with coarse sandpaper. The seats I reupholstered with fabric I found at my local discount fabric store--$7.99/yard.


A couple of close-ups of some of the distressing:




I am a happy girl. Here are all three of them:



In context in my kitchen (again, sorry for the bad lighting):




Now I have three excellent barstools--very sturdy, very comfortable--and not at all boring!  What do you think??

I'm linking to these wonderful parties:



50 comments:

  1. Wow! I'm in love with those chairs! Turned out great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love it! They turned out so well! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh I like them!! They look so much better! And I love your kitchen.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, they turned out beautifully! And also the perfect contrast to the wood in your kitchen. I love that fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  5. i had wanted you to paint them each a different color. glad you didn't listen, hah! they look great black. i love the back of them with the hole in the middle. i didn't pick up on that detail before.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow! That's impressive! I always love looking at pictures of your kitchen.

    I emailed you about something important. Did you get it?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, what a difference! I love the stools and I love your kitchen. Carla

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am totally in love. They went from ho hum practical to magnificent!! Great job. You should link this to Woo Hoo! Wednesday this week. It's an awesome project.

    ReplyDelete
  9. They looked as if someone waved a magic wand! You should have just let your boys "distress" them for you--boys are good at that :) Love your kitchen, especially that stove hood!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great job!!!!!!!! So classy!!! Love it! Blessings! {Check my blog tomorrow... I might have something you like}

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bravo. I think black (is it black?) is perfect. Now they pop and the sleek color bring out the circles.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Richella, those look FABULOUS!!! I always love black and white anyway, but they are just gorgeous now!

    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yay, Richella!!! (jumping up and down and clapping hands) They look fabulous!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Perfect choices in colour and fabric - a FAB transformation! Great work!!
    Victoria @ DesignTies

    ReplyDelete
  15. The chairs look great!
    I'm going to get myself some of that Rustoleum Specialty paint!

    Alyssa
    Lifeoflyssie.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Those turned out absolutely beautiful! Love, the color, the distressing, and the fabric. And no...they are NOT at all boring!!!

    Love you
    ~Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  17. They look wonderful! I love both the paint color and fabric that you used.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The chairs turned out fantastic! Nice job. Everything looks lovely. Dropping by from BNOTP.

    Allison
    AtticMag

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful! I love the stools. I almost got those beadboard cabinets in my new kitchen in black. After seeing yours, I wish I would have.

    ReplyDelete
  20. LOve the chairs, you did a fabulous job on them.
    Hugs,
    Melissa

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh Richella these are just gorgeous! They look so elegant now. :-) I'm so glad they turned out so well for you. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your chairs are gorgeous! What a transformation. Good job!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love these Richella, you did a great job. The black is very classy looking :-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. They look fantastic! Love your fabric choice and they look great in your kitchen. Fun to see your kitchen and dining room :).

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your bar stools look wonderful! Your kitchen is to die for!

    ReplyDelete
  26. They turned out great!! I really like the colors & fabric you chose.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great job!!! Loved how they turned out....your kitchen is beautiful by the way~

    ReplyDelete
  28. They are gorgeous! Love what you did, and glad I found your blog!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. wow! you finished them! and they are beautiful. i love that fabric!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm so glad you went ahead and did them! They look fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  31. They turned out great, good job!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wow, Richella...such a beautiful change! I love the new paint finish and fabric...and they look perfect in your kitchen! This is so what Met Monday is allll about! Now I want to go paint something...Max had better run! LOL
    :-)
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow! What a wonderful transformation! Definitely not boring anymore! They are beautiful! I adore the balck and the fabric is gorgeous! Well done!

    Enjoy!
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  34. Woo Hoo! you linked those awesome barstools. I love those. I have two in my kitchen and I wish I could have seat covers but they are hard wood seats. Hmmm....

    Thanks so much for joining the party at Woo Hoo! Wednesday. Your home is so beautiful and I'm so glad you enjoy sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  35. LOVE THEM! What a transformation! You're right, they were boring at first, but now they're beautiful! (And I love your kitchen!)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Wow! That looks sooo good! You did a great job. Love the color and fabric you chose too. Just Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  37. LOVE this... the fabric you chose is fabulous! Gotta love spray paint, right?
    We have a friday fun finds party... we'd love it if you'd link to this! :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Wow! Those chairs are so transformed they look like totally new ones! Good job! They really turned out well!

    Manuela

    ReplyDelete
  39. Your chairs turned out beautifully! I love the detail of the woodwork on the back of the chairs! I just posted on my blog today a chair that I got at a yard sale on Saturday for $1.00. I hope my redo looks 1/2 as good as yours!

    ReplyDelete
  40. You did a fabulous job! They look so different and they really stand out now. I love them in black!

    ReplyDelete
  41. AMAZING!!!! Well done..I am about to take the plunge next week and start painting a few things too YIKES!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hello sweet Richella - I love what you did with your bar stools! The transformation is fabulous. Love the color choice and that fabric is perfect. Thank you for sharing!

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. These are beautiful!! love love love the fabric you chose too!!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love the fabric that you chose! Your kitchen is amazing. Looks like something from a magazine!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I am SWOONING over that kitchen! Gorgeous!! The chairs look pretty fab too. ;) Love ya girl!

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love it! That black looks awesome! I recently painted my barstools black too. Such a classic color. Your kitchen is beautiful!

    Thanks for linking up to CSI!

    XOXO
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  47. Richella,

    Those chairs turned out fabulous! They look great in your beautiful kitchen. :)
    Thanks for linking to my party. :)
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! I read every one; they make my day. If you have a specific question, please be sure your email address is attached to your profile or leave your email address in the comment; I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Every blessing!