Average But Inspired

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May 8, 2014 by Bre

A Friendly Little Stool Makeover with Homemade Chalk Paint

I cannot explain to you how HAPPY I am that the weather is finally improving in Chicago.  Aside from being able to let the kids go outside and run around, I have been able to get some furniture painting done, which has given me so much joy.  Never in a million years would I have pictured myself as a furniture painting junkie, but I think I may be reaching that status.

I can’t get enough!

Last weekend I had some fun giving a makeover to a sad little stool that my sister found for me at a thrift store.  We had gone there to donate some baby clothes, and my husband had given me strict orders not to buy any additional furniture.  But I just couldn’t help myself when it came to this little guy.

Homemade chalk paint stool makeover
He was pretty banged up and lonely looking, but I thought he’d be perfect as a plant stand on my front porch.  So for $5.99 with my $2 coupon I got for donating clothes that day, I snatched him up.
 
I eventually confessed my thrift store shopping sins to my husband, and while he wasn’t upset that I’d purchased another thing to fit into the garage, he totally shot down my plant stand idea.  Ah, yes, this little stool would not fare well on our front porch because it is essentially a wind tunnel.
 
Oh well.  I’d find another use for him.
 
My original plan was to spray paint him green, but then I decided that I do not like working with spray paint, nor did I want to make my little stool friend so boring.  So I did this instead. . . .
 
Drumroll please . . .
Homemade chalk paint stool makeover
Taa daa!  What do you think?  Kinda weird with the “Hello” on there, right?
 
Whatever – even if it is weird, I think it’s cute in a cheeky and friendly way.  And what a transformation!  You can’t deny that it looks better, even if you think it’s strange.
Homemade chalk paint stool makeover
For this project, I whipped up some homemade chalk paint (1 cup latex paint // 2 tablespoons calcium carbonate // 1 tablespoon water), and brushed on a rustic coat of a light gray chalk paint all over.
Homemade chalk paint stool makeover
Next, I got super brave and (successfully) attempted to make a stencil with contact paper on my Silhouette Portrait that my husband gave me for Valentine’s Day.  (How sweet is my husband?!  Forget chocolates and flowers – he knows the way to my heart!)  I followed these awesome directions from Shanty-2-Chic, and everything went great.
Homemade chalk paint stool makeover
(Do you like my cute new Sperrys?)
 
I then applied my light turquoise paint to the stencil and to the bottom and top “X” portions of the stool.  After everything dried, I roughed it up with some sandpaper and then sprayed it down with two coats of poly.
Homemade chalk paint stool makeover
Now this friendly little stool has a place of honor right next to our kitchen table.  He is so happy to be out of the thrift shop and into our home . . . I just know it!
Homemade chalk paint stool makeover
This post makes me sound like a total nut job.
 
– Bre
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Comments

  1. EstheticGoddess says

    May 8, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    That turned out so adorable!

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 9, 2014 at 1:38 am

      Thank you very much!

  2. Linda @ it all started with paint says

    May 9, 2014 at 2:30 am

    So cute and friendly! I’m in Chicago too. And it certainly did warm up quickly today, right? Perhaps a bit too much!

    🙂 Linda

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 9, 2014 at 10:48 pm

      Hi, Linda! Thank you! I am so thankful for the warm up – after the winter we had, I’ll take anything that’s above 60 degrees! Have a great day. 🙂

  3. Emily B says

    May 9, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    I love this little stool. The fact that you painted the little x part of the chair blue was adorable. I am in the Milwaukee area and yesterday was glorious, it has been a looooonnnng winter!

    Emily- Our house now a home

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 9, 2014 at 10:49 pm

      Hi, Emily! My family lives in Milwaukee! It’s a great town! I know you’re so glad to have the awesome weather, too! My goodness was the winter brutal. Thanks for your sweet comment on my stool. 🙂 Have a great weekend!

  4. Marti @ SewLicious Home Decor says

    May 11, 2014 at 2:03 pm

    We are enjoying the sunshine here in Texas, too! I love your stool, it turned out so cute! Thanks for sharing it with us. Pinned

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 13, 2014 at 12:35 pm

      Hi, Marti! Thanks girl! I really appreciate it!

  5. Carmody Tisdale says

    May 11, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    I love this little stool!

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 13, 2014 at 12:35 pm

      Thanks so much, Carmody! That means a lot coming from you. I love your style!

  6. Angie Church says

    May 11, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    how super cute the perfect size to sit by the front door with such a welcoming sign love it
    come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 13, 2014 at 12:36 pm

      Hi, Angie – thanks!! Looking forward to checking out your blog!

  7. Carie Spence says

    May 13, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    That is ridiculously cute! I love make over ideas. Going to keep this one in mind!

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 14, 2014 at 7:07 pm

      Hi, Carie! Thanks so much, lady!

  8. AiringMyDirtyLaundry says

    May 13, 2014 at 11:23 pm

    Amazing job. I love it!

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 14, 2014 at 7:07 pm

      Thanks so very much! 🙂

  9. Seana Turner says

    May 14, 2014 at 11:32 am

    I think it looks terrific. A small piece of furniture like that is the kind of project that it feels “safe” to tackle, right? And it could go so many places. When I looked at the “before” in my feed I guessed you had painted it black, but this is much cuter… especially with the blue down at the bottom. Nice job!

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 14, 2014 at 7:08 pm

      Hi, Seana! Thank you! Yeah, the chalk paint title leads many to believe it would be black, hahaha! Thanks for your sweet note!

  10. Christine Elizabeth Townsend says

    May 14, 2014 at 2:49 pm

    Not only is this super cute, I love the polka dot boots :). This blog is so fun to read; keep it up, please! I love ABI emails in my inbox!

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 14, 2014 at 7:09 pm

      Hi, lady friend! What?! You love polka dot boots?! I am shocked! 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comment. Hope you are well!

  11. Kristy GD says

    May 16, 2014 at 6:10 pm

    Love the makeover! That is super cute – and so easy too! Thanks for linking up at Creative Spark!

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 17, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      Thanks, Kristy! Yes – super super easy! That was the best part. I finished it so quickly! 🙂

  12. Cassandra May @ Little Red Window says

    May 19, 2014 at 9:40 pm

    Hi Bre!
    I love this makeover! I really need to try chalk paint, I always love projects that use it so much! I’m one of the new cohosts of Do Tell Tuesday and I picked it as one of my features which will be up tomorrow, so stop by and grab a featured button! Have a great week!
    -Cassie @ Little Red Window

    Reply
    • Bre Eggert says

      May 20, 2014 at 1:53 am

      Hey, Cassie! Congrats on the new co-host gig. That’s awesome!! And thanks so much for choosing my stool as one of your features. I’m so excited! Have a great night!

  13. Ashlea Kerr says

    May 21, 2014 at 2:41 am

    Super cute – love how it turned out and especially the colours!

    Reply

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Bre of Average But Inspired

Hi, I'm Bre! Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you'll find ideas to inspire your creativity and beautify your home here.

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