Bentwood Ottoman Makeover


I’ve finally finished a project that I have been percolating on for months and months. It wasn’t procrastination this time; it was brainstorming (I promise). It was this little $8 bentwood footstool that I picked up at a local thrift store earlier this summer.

bentwood-footstool-makeoverbentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

I knew it was going to be for the sun room for a place for your feet to lounge in either the super comfy loveseat or (purely accidental yet oh-so-perfect) matching bentwood rocker. Then, after reading this makeover at Vintage Revivals of the exact same type of bentwood footstool, I knew what to do (thanks Mandi for the inspiration).

First, I took the stool base down to a crisp white, leaving the top natural.

http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2013/10/thread-wrapped-stool.html

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

After it was all white and dry, I realized I wanted the top to have a bit more shine to it. So I grabbed my gold leaf rub ‘n buff and gilded the entire top. All I did was put a little bit on my finger and gently rub it into the top. I found it got into the crevices best this way. It is a subtle difference but you can see how it is gold and glimmery on the right and au naturale on the left. I love the gold and glimmery side myself.

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

After attaching it all back together, I pulled in some embroidery thread that I had bought at Michael’s for a couple of bucks. I tried to mimic the color scheme of the room that I had planned.

bentwood-footstool-makeover

Basically all you do for this step is wrap the thread around the legs. Tie a knot, wrap it the width you want, and then tie another knot. You can either do all different patterns or the same. I decided to have the two sides that butt up to each other have the same pattern but make it slightly different on each corner.

bentwood-footstool-makeover

Get ready to do this task while watching a movie or something. It takes surprisingly long.

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

bentwood-footstool-makeover

Once it’s done it is an amazing result. The pop of color, the shimmer, the contrast again the white. I love it all! Hooray!! This room is really coming together now!

Sharing this project here: