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Goodwill Home Décor Expert - Merri Cvetan

Merri Cvetan

My weekly column for Amazing Goodwill and my design blog, Design Coach, are about all things design, living a stylish life and entertaining (like setting a great table). I share DIY projects, decorating and design tips, as well as ideas and secrets.

If you have a specific question for Merri, feel free to email her at askmerri@goodwillsew.com.

Learn more about Merri here and follow her on Twitter and Pinterest!

 


 

Have a Seat

Posted by Jamie Klinger-Krebs on Jul 6, 2016 2:20:11 PM

Covered bar stoolA very popular trend in kitchen design is seating at the counter. Being able to have a snack, do homework and entertain friends while preparing a meal is a great convenience. When you’re working in the kitchen, you hate to be separated from everyone else. Having a bar or counter height eating surface requires seating but bar stools can be very expensive. Instead, try a simple DIY project and customize basic wood stools.

I often find stools at Goodwill. This one was only $4.99. It’s in excellent condition, so I left the finish as is. But, it would be easy to add personality and color with a coat of spray paint.

Trace the outline of the seat on the wrong side of fabric. Choose a pattern and color that coordinates with your kitchen décor. Or, look for sweaters and shirts at Goodwill in the right color. 

Add four inches all around the circle and cut out. Place fiberfill or batting in the center. You can reuse the stuffing from old pillows.

Staple the fabric to the underside of the chair seat. Trim off the excess fabric.

That’s it. Use the same fabric for all the stools, or make each one a little different. Vary the style of stools, but make sure you buy the correct size stool for your counter height.

  • A 30-inch stool is perfect for a standard 42-inch bar height counter.
  • A 24-inch stool is most comfortable at a 36-inch counter.

Topics: Merri Cvetan, chair recovering, Goodwill home decor expert Merri Cvetan, bar stool DIY

  • Covered Bar Stool

    Having a bar or counter height eating surface requires seating but bar stools can be very expensive. Instead, try a simple DIY project and customize basic wood stools.

  • Covered Bar Stool

    I often find stools at Goodwill. This one was only $4.99. It’s in excellent condition, so I left the finish as is. But, it would be easy to add personality and color with a coat of spray paint.

  • Covered bar stool

    Trace the outline of the seat on the wrong side of fabric. Choose a pattern and color that coordinates with your kitchen décor. Or, look for sweaters and shirts at Goodwill in the right color.

  • Covered bar stool

    Add four inches all around the circle and cut out. Place fiberfill or batting in the center. You can reuse the stuffing from old pillows.

  • Covered bar stool

    Staple the fabric to the underside of the chair seat. Trim off the excess fabric.