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8 May 2013

STOOLS IN SHADES OF MINT

After my "mint"spiration post yesterday, I am so excited to share with you one of my mint projects!  I have some new-old stools in shades of mint.

I absolutely love my Aalto high stools in our kitchen and have been oogling over the special anniversary edition stool 60 for quite some time now.  I really love the stool E60 in this space:
image via
Unfortunately, splurging on the stools wasn't in the budget at the moment. 
My parents did, however, have a few very beat up knockoff Aalto stools.  They were the stools that we used in our kitchen when I was growing up.  To satisfy my Aalto and mint obsession I decided to paint the tops mint.  Three different shades to be exact! :)  

Here's a little before and after:

To paint my stools I sanded, primed, added two coats of paint, two coats of clear polyurethane and one coat of satin polyurethane.  The legs I simply cleaned.  They're not perfect, but still much better.  For my mint ombre, I chose the colours based on my mint belt and jeans and picked a third colour to tie the two colours together.  The colours from light to dark are: Behr:  Breath of Spring(450C-2), Valspar: Mint Gala (6001-7B) and Valspar: Simply Seafoam (5008-7C).   I simply picked up tester pots which were more than plenty and I even got one for free (Valspar) using a coupon I got in the May Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Yay for free!

I'm sure you're wondering where/how I am going to use these stools (or maybe not, but I'm going to tell /show you anyway).  :)  The stools are going in the living room.  They are great stacked as a side table for our tall sofa. They can also be used for extra seating and as little tables for your drink that can be pulled up wherever you're sitting.  Truly a multifunctional little stool.  :)  Now that I have my new stools, I'm not loving the orangey tone of the wood base of our sofa.  I've started toying with the idea of changing it up to something a little lighter.  Another project added to the ever growing list!  Don't you also love that the Domino book is also a shade of mint?

Did I mention that these stools are also fabulous for toddler playtime?  They can be a train, caterpillar, worm, etc.  I remember throwing a blanket over them to make a fort when I was little. :)

I hope you liked my stools as much as I do.  Did you notice the clues to my project in my "mint"spiration board?

I completed this project as part of the Pinterest Challenge hosted here, here, here and here.

54 comments:

  1. Anu, these are FANTABULOUS! I love them to bits. And I have to admit that I'm turning a kind of shade of minty green of slight jealousy here as well. How lucky for your parents to just have few stools hanging about. :) I wish I did. (I thought IKEA had a similar kind of stool (for cheaper version) but when I looked I didn't find it. They must have discontinued it. )
    And I agree about the mint. I lov it as well. Mint goes nicely with lots of colours. Red and mint, yellow and mint, grey and mint etc. And that mixer in the mood board you had...... oh how I would love to have that. It's stunning. My husband though bought a year ago a swedish mixer called "assistant". So no mixers in my near future either.

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    1. Thanks Ina! I am kind of in love with them too. :) I think Ikea discontinued the stool. I couldn't find it there either. Just checked out your mixer and it looks awesome. Maybe another option for me to consider when I need a new one.

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    2. It's a very good mixer. Apparently lots of professionals use it as well. :) And my my DH loves it as he makes all of our bread.

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  2. I love them...just the perfect amount of contrast in minty-ness between the 3. I really like them stacked as the end table.

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  3. Looovvee! I have such a huge mint crush right now. They look fab and I love your blog! (Just found you through the YHL pinterest challenge link-up)

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    1. Thanks so much! I'm glad you stopped by. :)

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  4. I L O V E these!! So cute! When I saw the inspiration pick, I thought it was your house and got so excited that you painted a wall like that (because I've been wanting to paint my feature/mirror wall like that as well...when I get the time!). Your stools look so beautiful! Great idea!

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  5. Those are adorable! I love them stacked as an end table. (I found you through the YHL link up)

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  6. They look perfect! I love the different shades you chose.

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  7. They are stunning! Mint is such a refreshing color :)

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  8. This turned out so sweet. Good job!

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  9. This is a great idea! The whole time the same exact stools in my living room have been staring at me. I've been stalking Craigslist for a trio of nesting tables to paint in a gradient/ombre` effect and you show me this. How brilliant!

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    1. Thanks! They definitely nest really well and work as tables too. :)

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  10. Those look great, and I love that you remember playing with them when you were little! So fun :).

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    1. I think I just had to salvage and redo these stools since they hold so many fond memories. Now my pilots get a chance to play with/use them too. :)

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  11. I popped over from the Pinterest Challenge--these look amazing! So simple, but makes a huge impact.

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  12. oh anu!! i looove the stools!! and i'm so glad you took the plunge and painted them ;)
    hmmm... i wonder if i'll ever have the guts to paint the tops of our real aalto stools... i know... people are probably shaking their heads at that thought... but really, let's just say, they've been 'well loved'... and well used... and it really shows...
    they're such a great and versatile stool!

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    1. I think I too would have hard time deciding whether to paint them or not. The aalto painted top stools are so nice too. What about painting just the top surface and leaving the edge in wood?

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  13. I love these! And your living room is adorable!

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  14. This is officially one of my favorite DIYs, these are gorgeous!! Now I just need to track down some stools :)

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  15. Wow, I love these! I couldn't even tell that were knock offs until you said so. I might be a little obsessed with your blog now... was that weird?! Okay, maybe a little. Regardless, awesome project!

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    1. Thanks so much! I'm glad you like my stools and the blog. :)

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  16. Adorable stools and even MORE adorable little people! <3 These are just amazing--what a wonderful addition to your space. I popped over from The Shabby Creek Cottage--thanks for sharing!

    ~Abby =)

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  17. Those look gorgeous! I've been wanting to find some small stools to tuck under a children's table and those would be perfect. Great job!

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  18. I used to have a similar stool at my vanity, but one day it just broke. So. Sad. I love yours in mint green, they look clean and minty fresh!

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    1. Thanks Laura! I'm sorry about your stool. :( Mint is very fresh indeed. :)

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  19. Love! Do you have a pin button or am I missing something??!!! Really cute!

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    1. I'm so sorry Mary! I still haven't had a chance to add the pin it button to my images. I have pinned a couple to my nalle's house board: http://pinterest.com/nalleshouse/nalle-s-house/ from where you can repin or you can install the "pin it" button to your browser: http://about.pinterest.com/goodies/. Thanks so much for your comment today. :)

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  20. I have a huge crush on these!!!! I love the color, mint is so in right now! Beautiful job, pinned :)

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  21. These are amazing!! I love that they were in your house growing up - that makes them even better! I like that you did three different shades of mint. I've been crushing on mint lately too.

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    1. Thanks Manda! I am so happy to be able to give new life to the stools so that my boys can enjoy them too. :) Mint is such a fun colour. Just the right mix of fresh and vintage.

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  22. Super cute! LOVE the colors.
    I'm visiting you today from House of Hepworths. I co-host a Linky Party Tuesday (open thru Sat). I hope you get a chance to stop by my blog, leave a comment and Link Up, too!
    ~ Megin of VMG206
    Join me each Tuesday for Brag About It Link Up Party
    and Friday for Aloha Friday Blog Link Up Party

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  23. love the different shades! subtle ombre effect for sure!

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    1. Thanks! I'm happy with how the colours work together.

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  24. These are so beautiful! Love them and your style too!

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  25. These are lovely! I adore how they look with your couch!

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  26. I absolutely love these! They look great in the room and are just the prettiest little mint things ever!!

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  27. Oh, I love these! They are great too that they can be used as stools or a side table. Pinning!
    - Lora

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  28. This is SO fun, I wish I could buy them! I'd love for you to come share it at the link party I am cohosting right now!
    http://thefirstyearblog.com/2013/05/12/link-party-with-titi-crafty/

    Beth @ The First Year Blog

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  29. Gorgeous! I'm stopping by to say hello from the Sunday Scoop Link Party. Have a beautiful day and see you again soon! Gloria @The Resourceful Gals

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  30. I'm a new follower thanks to this project! Love the pictures too!

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  31. How fun is this. I love the color and they look wonderful in your room. The boys are adorable. I would love for you to share at my Inspire Me party this afternoon. www.astrollthrulife.net Hugs, marty

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  32. How fun! Great colors! Would love to have you link up to my party and follow along! http://alivedinhome.blogspot.com/2013/05/get-social-sunday.html

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  33. LOVE the mint stools and the cute kiddos :) Thanks for linking up to Monday Funday!

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    1. Thanks so much. Your party is always so fun. :)

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  34. Amazing! And your boys are adorable too ;)
    Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

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  35. I'm totally crushing on these stools!! LOVE.

    I've pinned and featured today: http://www.52mantels.com/2013/05/home-decor-ideas.html

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  36. I really love these! I have some cheap furniture that I painted this color on the top! It looks so great and I love that you have such great-looking and functional furniture - those would come in handy in. My house too!

    Kristin

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    1. Thanks! I really love mint right now and the stools are so functional.

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  37. I'm back to admire your lovely stools again! Simple and so adorable. I featured them in my Lovely Links post today - I hope you'll come by for a visit! http://richerfullerbe.blogspot.com/2013/05/lovely-links.html

    - Chaney

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  38. love your stools and the different shades.. had to share everywhere from Decorated Life, to FB and Twitter.. Cute idea, not expensive and makes a big difference to your overall decor. Nice.

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  39. Oh wow, your stools are great! They look gorgeous in their new colors.

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