I bought this 3-legged Arne Jacobsen stool several years ago for about $10 (yes, seriously), and despite having initially planned to repair and refinish the molded plywood top, years passed and I managed to convince myself that I like the chips/scratches/wear. Well, there’s a fine line between “nice patina” and “broken mess”, and I finally got around to facing reality and gave the thing the rehab work it deserved.
First, I used Zinsser Ready Patch to fill in the areas in the veneer that were chipped out and damaged. (Ready Patch is one of those amazing products that I can’t imagine living without. It is seriously amazing stuff. I use it to repair everything from holes in walls to gouges in woodwork to damaged window sashes.) I overfilled the patches, and didn’t worry about getting it pretty. Once it was completely dry (about 3 hours), I very carefully sanded and sculpted the filled areas with my Mouse Sander (a very handy tool to have) and a fine-grit sandpaper. I also have the entire top a very light sanding, just to remove any flaking paint and give the new finish a nice surface to adhere to.
After wiping down the top with a tack cloth, I wrapped up the legs in plastic bags and painter’s tape. Next I applied two coats of Rust-Oleum’s Painter Touch Ultra Cover 2x with a semi-gloss finish. I can’t recommend this spray paint enough—it applies very evenly with excellent coverage, dries quickly, and I haven’t had any problems with the nozzle clogging. Wonderful stuff. I don’t think I’d attempt to apply paint to something like this with a brush, by the way. There’s a time and a place for spray paint, and this is it.
I’m showing this photo of the underside of the stool for one reason: This is where Fritz got his name! It’s true. I was lying on my back and playing with him on the floor, and I happened to catch sight of the manufacturer’s name on the bottom of the stool. So while Fritz is absolutely NOT named for a piece of furniture, this is what put the name in our heads for the first time. It stuck, and it’s perfect.
Anyway, back to the stool!
Not bad, huh? No, it doesn’t look brand new, and that’s just fine with me—I actually like that you can still see the tiny cracks in the veneer through the paint. It still has character, and it still looks like it’s supposed to. The only difference is that now I can sit in it again (or use it as a side table or a footrest—I love stools!) without worrying about ripping huge chunks off of it.
There are always those who will argue that refinishing furniture ruins the value, but the chips in the ply were getting worse and worse by the day, and I don’t want the stool to become a decorative object out of fear of damaging it further. Jacobsen designed furniture that is meant to be functional, and I get a lot of use out of this thing. It has a small footprint, it’s incredibly well-balanced and sturdy, and it’s surprisingly comfortable. Doesn’t the true value of a functional object primarily lie in its usefulness?
49 Comments
Love it! And the story of little Fritz’s name :)
Cool stool! Just as interesting is this sneak peek at the front bedroom. Is that a new cow-hide rug I see there? Can we assume the stool will find a home in this room? Staying tuned to see the complete reveal! Fun fun :)
Fantastico! And I completely agree, I like beautiful and I like useful, but I don’t have a lot of time for things that aren’t both, in some sense or another. I would make a terrible collector; I don’t really care much about resale value or new-in-box. I like stuff that’s been loved, and now your little Fritz stool’s ready for more love.
BTW, I have two chihuahuas, so I love seeing the pups.
You did an excellent job on it! Now I’m inspired to tackle some of my own projects.
It looks great! And furniture is meant to be used and enjoyed, not roped off and not touched! You did the right thing :)
Nice job! From now on, I will check your blog before doing any little home projects like this just to see what nifty products you’ve used. I have a few questions: I have planned to spray paint the floor lamp I inherited from you a while back. Do you think the Rust-Oleum paint you used on this chair would work well, or do you think a metal paint would be better? Also, is the Zinsser Ready Patch easier to sand than other types of wood fillers?
WOW! Impressive. Looks fantastic!!!
So fantastic. I love that you are so specific about your methods and products.
Dare I suggest putting in the dressing room?
Wow I really liked the “before” shot but the refurbished stool looks great – 10 out of 10! Love that it still has character too.
The stool looks great.
And I also noticed that cowhide!
It looks awesome! Also I totally agree that its functionality is more important that its value. We have couple of things that have some worth, which now have cup rings etc on them(the husband fails to use coasters much), but at least they are loved. They are not in our house to be display pieces, they are there to be used!
Add me to the list of people who support refurbishing! It looks great, & I always appreciate all your step-by-step instructions.
But can I ask why you wouldn’t have considered using a brush for this project? I am still unclear, in a lot of cases (beyond the obvious ones), on which method is better. The top of the stool is small & accessible, so it would be quick work with a brush, no? Is it because of brush marks, or something else? I am terrible at getting an even coat with spray paint (so next time I’ll try your brand). Sorry if you’ve addressed this before.
I love what you did – the finish really looks great!
mommy: This paint is fine on metal, so I would go ahead and use it. Metal is more prone to scratching, though, so I think I’d also first the spray primer from the same line after sanding lightly. (And yes, Ready Patch is MUCH easier to sand than other wood fillers – much easier to work with, too. You can’t stain it to match wood, but for painted surfaces, it’s great.)
Nancy: Brush marks are one reason, but also because you really want a VERY thin layer of paint on a piece like this where the sculptural quality of the wood is so important. Spray paint ensures you won’t lose any detail or gain any dimension because it goes on so thinly. It’s easy to get a very even coat on a small piece like this, too, and the brand definitely makes a difference in that area (I’ve had some bad experiences with other brands in the past).
Another thing I love spray paint for is ornate cast iron hardware. After stripping off the layers of old paint, I give everything a coat of Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer (flat black), which covers/stops any rust and gives the iron a deep, black finish without filing in any of the fine details. Looks amazing.
Thanks, Anna–that was a very helpful explanation! And the stool really does look beautiful.
How wonderful. (And I’m so jealous of your ability to find such amazing things for amazing deals…)
I love love love seeing every step of the process, and really appreciate you taking (and posting) all those pics. (Also loved How Fritz Got His Name.)
Anna, it looks like a really fantastic job… envy isn’t the word. I love it.
Great tips for revamping the stool, Anna – hopefully those products are available in the UK too (will do a search after this!). Great job – I too like the idea of not making things tooo perfect – a home should be a place to relax, not a museum where you don’t want to touch anything as it’s reserved for ‘special’. Really like your style and placement of objects around the house too – great to see it’s development!
Love the change. Thanks for the info and recommendation on Ready Patch…must try that out sometime. And I totally agree on the value of the re-do :)
I think it looks really great- wonderful job!
Hi Anna, what a bargain! I also love how Fritz got his name. I was wondering if you and Evan have to compromise much with your renovation and styling decisions, or are you retty much on the same page?
Well done! You really did a fantastic job. I am thinking of convincing a friend in Sweden with a bunch of Ants to hold them for me (she says they’re not in very good shape). I’ll be sure to send them on to you for fixing. ;-)
Great job! So jealous you have one of these stools (I love everything of his) and that you got it for such a steal.
Sarah B: Evan and I are pretty much on the same page. Of course we have to talk stuff out sometimes if we’re not in agreement, but I think we usually come up with a solution that we’re both happy with most of the time. He has really good taste and more of an understanding of design than he probably realizes, so I trust him to counter my more ridiculous ideas with common sense. :)
I just love this! The cracks give it that “we’ve had this for years & loved everyday of it” look.
Those fine cracks in the veneer almost look like timber grain in the image. Great result! Looks fantastic. As others have said, it’s so great that you share your process and the products you use with us. I, for one, find it really useful.
I also totally agree that the success of a product lays in it’s usefulness. Sure, it’s great to admire something that looks wonderful from a distance – but how fantastic to be able to use it and have it add something to your day to day life. That is a truly successful design.
It looks great. I love those stools.
wow! i’m impressed!
the whole value thing is a weird one…what if it’s valuable only if you sell it? what if you don’t want to sell it, ever?
i wonder anna…i’ve got of a bit of a magic touch with finds and it seems you do, too. do you have an easy come, easy go outlook? maybe that gives one a more laid back approach to things. just a ramble!
great job on a great stool!
Nice job! You are so handy. While that wasn’t so complicated, I would be at a loss to tackle the problem, but I now know about Ready Patch because I faithfully read your blog!
Anna, I’d argue that it does indeed look brand new! What a great job you did. I always have a trusty can of black spray paint on hand but I usually buy the cheapest one, bc I’ve always thought they were all the same! (but those cheap cans’ triggers get clogged and stuck)…so I’m definitely going to try this paint on some side tables I have in storage instead of sending them to a professional! YAY
Anna. Do you ever have any down time in your life?
Always amazed by your creations and recreations.
Great! I love this stool. Mine is a 4 legs http://www.flickr.com/photos/artcru/3589054762/
Impressive. Thanks for the instructions! We have some wood pieces of furniture we might like to fix up.
THANK YOU for taking the time to publish these how-tos! It is great to learn about your product recommendations…it is so confusing trying to make decisions between brands and types when standing in that paint prep aisle at the hardware store. The stool looks GREAT!
anna- i’m wondering if you could explain how you use the ready patch to fix windowsills. thanks!
rachel: What I wrote actually is that I use it on window sashes (the frame that moves up and down on a double-hung window), but you could absolutely use it on a sill, too. It’s basically just a patching compound that dries very hard and without cracking, so it’s great for filling in large gouges and holes in wood. You put it on with a spatula, let it dry, and sand smooth. It’s not meant to be stained, so it’s best for surfaces that will be painted.
One thing it’s NOT good for is repairing large rotted areas in wood (common on old windows, especially if you don’t have storms). If you have old rot, you need to remove all of the rotted material, and patch with a two-part epoxy consolidant. There’s a good outline of how to do that here.
Hope that helps! :)
great job!!! and i’m reeling over the $10 purchase.
Your such an inspiration Anna! I accidentally came across your blog and I am so glad that I did – I love all of your ideas and your style!
I live in Tasmania, Australia and even though we are a long way away from USA my partner and I have incorporated a Manhattan style to our home. (He loves D16 too!)
Thankyou for giving us the inspiration (and more importantly – the motivation) to renovate our home! Keep up the good work!
Jess:)
Nice job!
Love your blog- I am passing along the ” One Lovely Blog Award” to you today. Check my blog for the picture to attach to the face of your blog.
To accept it you can blog about 15 blogs that you appreciate and enjoy…
Carol Ann x
Love that the wood grain is still visible.
wow. i am impressed. amazing job with the stool! it’s beautiful!
I’m impressed!!!!
Dear Anna,
I’m basically only putting this here because it appears you can no longer comment on your (wonderful) posting on real estate in Newburgh. Firstly, I’d like to express my admiration of the blog as a whole — very nicely done. I find it frustrating when I don’t think you’re blogging enough! It’s the perfect way to vicariously experience renovation (which everyone complains about, but I love). I can’t stop e-real estate shopping in the area; it looks positively lovely. Really just a diverse urban area … reminds me of how I remember Chicago being in the 80s.
You must be weary of Newburgh wannabes asking you all kinds of asinine questions, but I have a few to throw on the pile.
Thanks again for a good read. If you have a chance, I’d love to email you a few quick questions.
Very nice! It looks so modern now!
Really nice job – definitely an improvement :)
I love the stool, and the work you did!
But I have to admit, I was totally convinced you named him after Fritz the Cat! It seemed logical… :-) But kind of nasty. So I’m glad to hear that wasn’t the case!