before and after: kitchen stools.

There are many things I love:

I love my home.

I love a bargain.

I love DIY.

I love repurposing.

So when I picked up these stools from either the side of the road (or was it a garage sale) – either way, a bargain – I saw great bones and new life... and had much excitement.

We have had them for a number of years despite not having a breakfast bar. We used them as plant stands and side tables and step ladders. Trying to do up furniture in a fourth storey apartment with no garage on the Pacific Highway in Sydney is quite difficult. Moving to a house in suburban Melbourne was a good move for DIY projects, especially ones that involve sanding. And nothing gets you ticking off jobs from your to do list like having a baby.

BEFORE: 

Here are the stools. In pretty good nick (we have been using them for a few years in this condition and they were someone else's pre-loved beauties before us). We like what they're vibing, but they're in need of a little TLC.

DURING:

Sanded back. Such a beautiful colour timber.

AFTER:

All finished!

The during and after photos look quite similar. We decided to coat them in a natural wax – to use less chemicals and to keep the natural colour. 

We think they're stunning!

Some of the marks didn't sand out of the tops, but that's ok. We like the stories they tell and their personality. We also decided to leave the legs as they were because their sanding and painting is much harder work... and we like the green. And we like things with a bit of a story... Aren't they great!?

We have also been working on two armchairs: one for our bedroom and one for the baby's room.

Stay tuned for the before and afters of them. Coming soon.