A vintage look step stool featuring two steps and a decorative footer.
Before Christmas, I drew up this plan and meant to get to it by the Holidays. But reality happens, and I just don't get as much done as I could hope. So a printout of this plan got burried on my steel magnet wall for a month or two . . . until yesterday.
I'm working on a photo shoot for Fresh Home magazine (so excited that they have asked me to do another project for their fabulous magazine! You can go here to get signed up to get your free issue.) and the shot just needed . . . something. Something a tad vintage, a little not perfect, and a lot useful.
I wanted this stool to look well-used and far from perfect, thus the heavy distressing and uneven jigsaw cuts and exposed screws. To get this finish, I simply painted one coat of flat honeysuckle pink paint (Premium Paint by Behr in Flat) with a brush and let dry overnight. This is very important. If you begin distressing too soon, the paint will come off in gooey chunks, as opposed to a-little-wear-over-alot-of-years looking. Then just started sanding with a power sander and medium grit sandpaper, concentrating on the areas that would get natural wear. If you wanted to stain the exposed wood, you would need to apply a clear coat before sanding. The clear coat protects the non distressed areas from accepting the stain, with the exposed wood area accepting the stain. You can go the other route - stain before paint, but you would need to add primer because it's difficult to put paint over stain.

Preparation
1 – 1×12 @ 32″ (Sides)
1 – 1×2 @ 50″
1 – 1×8 @ 32″ (Treads)
2″ screws or 1 1/4″ pocket hole screws
wood glue, wood filler and finishing supplies
2 – 1×12 @ 15 1/2″ (Sides – cut out in step 1)
4 – 1×2 @ 12 1/2″ (Supports)
2 – 1×8 @ 15″ (Treads)
Comments
Jaci (not verified)
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 20:10
Cute, Anna. Reminds me of
Cute, Anna. Reminds me of one my brother made for me many, many years ago.
mamma_joy (not verified)
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 20:21
I'm going to be making
I'm going to be making something like this, but hoping to add another step and some guardrails (side walls?) on the sides so that our just turned 1 yr. old can find his way down off of our tall bed. This gives me some more ideas! Oh, and I know I'm going to build it b/c I've heard my hubby tell my girls, "Mommy is going to make him something so that he can down safely"--he believes in me!
Sharon Lambirth (not verified)
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 22:28
I have some beautiful square
I have some beautiful square cut nails that would be perfect for this!
Leslie (not verified)
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 04:16
I have been wanting something
I have been wanting something like this ever since we've been considering potty training our toddler. And now... I want to paint it pink, even though we have a boy. Ana you are amazing.
Bonnie from Lo… (not verified)
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 04:59
Oh... how... cute... I
Oh... how... cute... I dont have any small children (or grandchildren yet) anymore, but I still want to make this, and paint it pink! I have all kinds of places where a stool like that will be useful in my house! I like how your stool is flaired at the base too. I love the exposed screw heads too. Makes it look, like you said, well used and far from perfect. Love it. Thanks again Ana!
Lori (not verified)
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 06:32
I've been waiting for
I've been waiting for something exactly like this. My niece is pregnant and this is something I planned on making for the new baby!! Thanks for the plan, Ana!
Lynn in Canada (not verified)
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 07:28
So so perfectly vintage! Love
So so perfectly vintage! Love it and the colour choice. This is such a great piece, thanks Ana!
Chair (not verified)
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 10:55
I have a very tall bed and a
I have a very tall bed and a step stool like this with an upholstered top would be soooo lovely. I'll have to get on that :)
Robin (not verified)
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 13:10
I LOVE this finish!! That is
I LOVE this finish!! That is SO cute!! I have boys, so mine would have to be blue but I'm SO taking sand paper to that baby!! (The stool, not my actual baby.)
Theresa (not verified)
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 13:24
I love this and I need this
I love this and I need this for me !!!!!! The finish info is very helpful. Thank you Ana. i need to start collecting scrap and recycle wood for these little projects.