Step stool DIY project

I picked up this little footstool for $12 in the as-is section of this great shoppe in Guelph - Time After Time (a must for those who love interesting furniture and home decor finds!) - and decided that this would make thd perfect stool to help me reach the items at the top of my closet. It would nicely fit under the bed so would be out of the way but if it were left out, I wanted to make it 'pretty' and able to be used when guests were over.

This little guy is over around 100 years old or so as straw was used to 'stuff' or 'cushion' the stool. The best thing about really old peices is that it's make with mature hard woods, so after 100 years, it should last 100 more. Why? The more nature the wood, the stronger the fibers that bind the trunk together. That's why IKEA peices crack so easily after only a few years. Young trees (5 years or less) is used in production of their furniture and therefore just doesn't have the strength to last. 

So here's where I started with the stool with the careful removal of the nails whic many I will save to use again to refinish this stool.

Straw! Great back in the old days but breaks down over time as air gets to it, so new foam and cotton on batting replaced the old. There were 3 layers if old worn fabric, indicative of its age so were using that in another small project as one was a beautifully preserved peice if gold and blue damask silk.

Moving on, a plywood peice was added for strength.

Krylon 2-in-1 primer and paint spray paint is fantastic for jobs like this! Canadian tire carries a great selection of colours. I used a classic gloss black.

The finished peice, complete with designer fabric from Toronto and vintage cyan blue upholstery tacks as little details and a hint if colour.