So I have a dressing table and a mirror.  My next challenge is to make an appropriate stool (I have been using a bright pink swivel chair!)  Freecycle came up trumps as usual and produced a “dressing table stool”.  When I picked it up, I realised that it was much too modern for my table.

This blue stain and beech coated chipboard was well-made, but the wrong era.  It had a navy blue velvet seat as well.  With just a little customisation it will do for now.

So I set to work with my pens and notepad in order to solve a household issue AND a dressing table stool customisation project in one go.  The domestic issue is that JT likes to pair clean socks.  As a result, we are always left with a huge pile of spares on top of his chest of drawers.  I have a notion that washing machines eat one of every pair of socks and then spit them out again months later at random.

I settled upon a design whereby I could remove the lid of the stool and replace it with hinges.  I would place another piece of chipboard at the base of the top of the stool (if that makes sense?!) thus creating an unobtrusive sock container!

To solve the design issue, I decided to paint up the stool in the same colours as the dressing table and mirror and replace the seat fabric with something more fitting.  I hope to make curtains and some cushions from the same fabric.

Cost of stool: FREE
Fabric: £3.50 – The Range
Hinges: 99p
Wood: Free (we accidentally broke our wardrobe and will be recycling it!)
Paint: left over from the bathroom!

Bargain!  It is not finished yet (it still needs more paint and the box action fitted) but this gives you an idea.  I will show you when it is done!

(shame about the carpet!)