Easy Vintage Step Stool

Grandma is expecting a lot of company up at the Momplex this Christmas, and quite a few of those guests aren't quite tall enough to reach the sink.

These are also the same guests that tend to have sticky fingers from making gingerbread houses and sneaking sugar cookies, and need easy access to the sink.

So I thought I'd put together a little step stool - one that is super simple to build - as I'm in the "any day now" stage of this pregnancy, and I literally wake up, say "hey, I'm not in labor today, so what can I do - and finish - by the end of today."  

This stool might look a little complicated, but I promise you - if you can squeeze a jigsaw trigger, you can make it.  It's just sides cut from a 1x12, a 1x12 bottom step, a 1x6 top step, and some 1x2s in there for extra support.  Once you get it cut out, it's like 10 minutes to make.

It's got a full, wide bottom step, so I have found myself even using it.  

The kids really like the top step for getting to the sink.  If you need a quick but nice Christmas gift for a little one this year, this might be a plan for you!  It looks expensive and complicated, but it really isn't!

For the finish, I was contacted by Glidden (I write for MyColortopia - Glidden's color inspiration site) to test out their new paint, called Glidden Trim and Door.  This new paint is an oil based paint that claims to be self leveling, one coat, and a thick, shiny enamel finish - that doesn't DRIP or leave brush marks.  

A project like this step stool, with lots of tight spots to paint (pretty much screaming brush marks and dripping), and guaranteed to get lots of wear and tear, needs an exceptional painted finish, so I thought I'd give it a try! 

See what all the hype is about!

Because Glidden Trim and Paint is an oil based paint, and I'm currently preggers, I enlisted the help of one of my friends, Jen, to paint the step stool for me.

Excuse the sawdust on the belly ....

Jen got right to work sanding my jigsaw cuts with a coarse sanding pad.

Our power sander won't sand a curvd cut, so these sanding pads work pretty good.

Another note - I was able to get a pretty good jigsaw cut on the two sides by using a fresh wood blade and clamping the two sides together and cutting as one.  This really helps minimize the need for sanding.

Then just to even everything out and prepare for primer, Jen sanded the entire project with medium grit sandpaper, and then went over the entire project lightly with fine sandpaper.  

I know, she's a good friend!

After vacuuming the step stool ... we are ready for primer!

The Glidden Trim and Door paint does function as a primer, but here's my reasoning: Primer is cheaper than paint.  And it's cheap insurance.  Most primers will work with an oil based paint - but read the can just to make sure.

Now for the paint!!!

I'll admit, I was a little nervous when I peeked in the paint room and took a look in the can - the paint seperates out so you must mix it.  Nothing a little gentle stirring can't fix.

Jen described the paint as "thick" and was nervous about applying it because usually you plan on several thin coats - not one goopy thick coat - right?

Well, this little step stool got one goopy thick coat ... 

That never dripped or dribbled,

Or showed a brush mark.  

And when it dried, we were all super impressed with how thick and shiny the paint was, and how professional looking the one goopy coat ended up looking.  Even in our dark Alaska days, the finish reflects it's so shiny!

So that's what all the hype is about!

I definitely say give it a try for a project that is going to get lots of wear and tear, and you need a shiny, hard finish - benches, tabletops, doors, trim - I'm already counting down the days until spring to paint my exterior wood trim with it.

Of course, plans for this step stool follow!  Enjoy! 

XO Ana

Disclosure: This post is written in collaboration with our friends at Glidden, but all opinions and comments are my own.