I finally figured out what I want for a coffee table on the front porch, since I gave our furniture to my mom. I was looking through Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces (excellent book, by the way) and noticed that Maxwell had cut down an IKEA FROSTA stool to use as a low end table in his living room. Perfect! I can group three of them together and cut them down so that they’re the right height, then paint them.
Except IKEA seems to have discontinued it.
But my local store still has some in stock! So now I’m planning to head out there today and buy a bunch. At first I thought I’d just want three. Then I thought I could get two more to put a couple of plants on. Then I was thinking that I should buy about ten of them because they’re discontinued and what if they don’t have them anymore and mine get ruined because they’re not really supposed to be outside or what if I find another use for them and then I can’t find them anymore!? Then I realized that that was hoarder mentality and I should not be so crazy. So I’m back down to five. I think.
Vanessa
June 30, 2010 at 2:51 pmHow about the Marius stool? They come in light pink, they’re more outdoor friendly, and they’re $5.99 each. I bought the light blue ones for my back deck and I <3 them :)
Mandy Ford
June 30, 2010 at 2:55 pmLove that idea. And I say buy 10. :)
Amanda
June 30, 2010 at 2:59 pmYou are so funny. Love the internal rationalizing you were doing… I would do the SAME thing. “Maybe I’m going to love them soooo much I will want to be able to have them FOREVER, so I need to buy 15 of them…. JUST in case!”
Allison
June 30, 2010 at 3:02 pmIf they end up running out, I bought some stools that are exactly the same at Target.
Rhea
June 30, 2010 at 3:05 pmbeautiful! i am a big fan of the frosta :D they look so cute all stacked up. post after pics if you can!
i did this project and use it as a plant table http://www.designspongeonline.com/2008/04/diy-project-decoupage-stool-with-petit-collage.html it’s a great size for my bedroom.
sara
June 30, 2010 at 3:06 pmCheck out your local Ikea’s website. They may run weekly specials. The Frosta is 3.99 today at the Tampa Ikea. At that price, you could indulge in a little hoarding.
sunny
June 30, 2010 at 3:09 pmhahahahaha. you’re so not alone. I totally think that way – and it IS a hoarder mentality. thus the ten “extra” tins I got at Target’s dollar section last year and still haven’t used. LOVE the colors you’re going to paint the Frostas. Beeeyyooootiful.
Kim at Yellow Brick Home
June 30, 2010 at 3:51 pmLove this post. Excellent.
Cristina
June 30, 2010 at 4:17 pmMy in-laws got these and they lasted five years before they broke. So just think about it before you go shopping. *shrugs* Honestly I’d look for something cuter and better quality. :)
Tânia
June 30, 2010 at 4:21 pmI really wanna see how it will be. :D
Abby
June 30, 2010 at 4:28 pmwhat a cute idea. love it!! can’t wait to see the final product!
Not Stacy
June 30, 2010 at 5:07 pmI have 4 of these that I use for seating at the computer. With 3 kids crowded around watching each other, they work great and then stack and push under when not in use. I also move them around the house for use as side tables and as a catch all in my bathroom. Target has them, too.
Katelyn
June 30, 2010 at 6:27 pmHow come planning ahead so quickly turns into hoarding? :)
kimma
June 30, 2010 at 6:55 pmHad to laugh while I was reading this – you sound so much like my partner! “but what if I want it later and I can’t find it and then I’ll always be regretting it and I’ll never be happy ever again!”
Alana
June 30, 2010 at 6:58 pmTarget carries an identical stool!
Danielle
July 1, 2010 at 5:51 amYes! I just bought one myself to use as a side table. $15!
Kelly
August 13, 2010 at 1:45 pmCan you provide a link? TIA!
Diana Smith
June 30, 2010 at 7:14 pmYou are funny. I think that same thing when making a purchase, all of these ‘what ifs’. I hope they work out for you!
leslie
June 30, 2010 at 7:44 pmHilarious! And love the paint color choices…which is ironically the very palette I have been dreaming of for a new quilt. Beautiful.
misty
June 30, 2010 at 7:58 pmI love how your mentality sounds just like mine. Hey, there has to be some kind of realistic justification to it all, right? =)
Brigitte
June 30, 2010 at 8:15 pmRight there with ya. You know they’re discontinuing lack shelves, too. Must be a big shift coming on.
alexandra keller
June 30, 2010 at 8:35 pmi saw similar stools a Target … and i’ve seen a few other posts about the Ikea stool being discontinued. maybe if enough people talk about it, they’ll bring it back :)
Natalie
June 30, 2010 at 8:52 pmI did this exact thing at my house, except I added the wooden SKALA tray on top of the stools to increase the use-able space and add a little functionality. Your colors are super cute!
Ashli
June 30, 2010 at 9:07 pmI cannot wait to see what you do with these!!!
~Ashli
Vickie
June 30, 2010 at 10:30 pmLove the frosta! Bought one a while ago with the intentionof doing this:
http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/06/19/faux-aalto-frosta-upgrade/
julie
July 1, 2010 at 1:53 amThey’re discontinuing FROSTA? And LACK? Oh god, the horror! Now I’m totally in panic mode! I must go out and buy a twenty, just in case I need them in my next home!
Meg
July 1, 2010 at 6:04 amHAHA!!! That sounds like something I would think to myself. I say buy 10. You’ll probably love them and might want to use them in other areas of your home. This way, you’ll have them. :-)
Holly
July 1, 2010 at 8:27 amI wouldn’t cross it off your list yet. They are getting ready to release the new catalog/prices so they might bring them back. If they are redesigning them or something they probably sold off all the inventory to get ready for the new stuff!
Patricia
July 1, 2010 at 9:16 amLove them, they are so practical! Prefect for quick seating. They would also look nice in black or white
DrayaAnn
July 1, 2010 at 9:49 amI know you use a lot of pinks throughout your house, so I’m guessing that your hubby doesnt mind it too much. But I was just wondering his take on the colors you like to use so much? Does he just say go for it, or does he have colors that he would prefer instead?
Keri
July 1, 2010 at 10:47 amIf you can’t find the Frosta at Ikea, they have a nearly identical table at Target. If I remember correctly, it’s even a little cheaper at Target. We use ours as foot rests in our media room, but I love the idea of painting and grouping them as a coffee table. So creative!!
Anna/quilted giraffe
July 1, 2010 at 11:24 amI can’t believe they discontinued them! They are such great, basic (ok, knock-off) pieces. I have two and I use them every day.
Jenny
July 1, 2010 at 12:19 pmI had one and took it for granted that it would never be discontinued – it’s such a classic piece, so versatile and popular! Alas, it has been discontinued and LONG out of stock in Atlanta. If you can buy 10, do it! You can always sell them on Craigslist to other desperate people like me. ;)
lindyspice
July 1, 2010 at 12:57 pmI *love* the intended color palette! I may have to steal this idea- good thing I don’t live near your IKEA… ;) Good luck, and looking forward to seeing photos of the finished project!
Jen
July 1, 2010 at 1:24 pmhaha! I love your train of thought on this with the hoarder mentality, so funny~it’s a good point thought! what happens if they all break?! :)
Sage & Style
July 1, 2010 at 3:32 pmHa! I’m the same way. I buy twos, threes + more if it looks like it’s going away. I love these tables … great idea to cluster them instead of only one big table. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Susan
July 1, 2010 at 7:37 pmBetter to be safe than sorry. :) Buy all 10
Two Lovely Spaces
July 1, 2010 at 7:46 pmAlso like the idea about grouping them together!!!
Friday Top 10 Links « Shoe-a-Day
July 2, 2010 at 9:05 am[…] Making it Lovely: This is exactly how I shop…with complete and total indecision. […]
Nicole
July 2, 2010 at 1:40 pmLove these stools! I saw them at IKEA about a month ago and if I had room or reason to get them, I would have in a minute!
Jill
July 2, 2010 at 7:09 pmOh wow! What a great idea for an inexpensive project…and now I want to dash to my Ikea and pick up a dozen of these as well! Who knew?
Beatriz
July 3, 2010 at 4:39 amHi! First of all, I looove your blog. It’s been on my rss reader for a long time now!
I just saw this and thought about you. It’s a great idea for your Frosta stools:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-email/how-to-make-a-great-side-table-from-ikea-frosta-stools-home-hacks-109134
Holly
July 3, 2010 at 3:07 pmThese stools give me some great ideas! You could use them in so many different rooms and imagine all the diffent color combinations you could use! I’m now going to have to go buy me some of these!
Making it Lovely | Transforming the so-so. » Blog Archive » The Front Porch as it is Now
August 12, 2010 at 11:04 am[…] know if it’s finished, but I’m done working on it for the year. I would still like to paint the wooden stools and add a long window box behind each bench, but those little projects can […]