You can buy all kinds of step ladders, but to me it seems that most commercially available step ladders are just not that cute.
So I asked Justin to make some plans of a picture that I saw and love and he kindly obliged. So now, if you like to do a little building, you can build this. Then you can paint it and distress it to get that old world look in a steady new ladder. ( I just ask you to send a picture if you do!)
( the image is a scanned image from BHG July 2011)
Here is the ladder(above)… The picture unfortunately has seen a little more love than I meant it to, so here are some other great ladder examples.
Sources: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, and Image 4
Below you will find a list of tools, list of materials, cut list, that you will need for this project. You will also find the step-by-stop to assemble the step stool.
This step stool can be assembled using screws or nails and glue. It will all depend on the type of tools that you have available. The way I would prefer is to use a nail gun with 18 gauge brads and glue between the joints. This will give a strong hold for the stool and you will be able to it assemble fast. Once assembled you would be ready to paint it. If you did use solid wood you could stain it a really nice color, then apply a lacquer finish.
List of tools:
- circular saw
- miter saw
- jig saw
- hammer
- nails
- nail set
- sander block
- sand paper
- drill
- pocket hole jig (optional)
- paint
- paint supplies
List of materials:
- MDF (for the sides)
- 2×2 lumber
- 1×6 lumber
- paint
- screws or nails
Cut List:
- (2) Sides – 18 3/4” x 15” x 3/4”
- (1) Back Support – 10 1/2” x 5 1/2” x 3/4”
- (2) Back Cross Braces – 15” x 1 1/2” x 1 1/2”
- (3) Steps – 13 1/2” x 5 1/2” x 3/4”
Step-by-step assembly instructions:
The final step ladder.
What do you think?
Do you want to build one?
Here are some other projects that we have built, with free plans for you to build your own.
Let us know if you do and how it turned out.
Have fun building and be safe!
This ladder is adorable! I would love for my husband to build one for me!
Really nice ladder! Perhaps I’ll give this a shot!
Love it, love it, love it!!!! So charming. So useful.
My ladder is so ugly and yet I need it all the time. I always tuck it back in the coat closet because I can’t stand how it looks sitting out. But this I would be proud to have displayed and just hanging out in my kitchen, tucked under the counter when not in use.
Thank you!
LOVE IT! LOVE!!! winks, jen
I love it! I have an old step ladder that I use for plants and books. I like yours better. I’ll have to get someone to make this for me after I print out the plans and instructions. Thanks so much!
you make it look so simple!! brilliant plan… thanks for the plans!
that is SO SO SO SO cute, I love it! The plans look awesome, thank you!
That is so cute — I want to make one!
Just wanted to say thank you for the sweet pin! I hope to make one this summer.
You are sweet to share!
Hugs from my farm,
Linda
You are welcome! Send in pictures after you build it if you can. Good luck!
Justin
I love that plan, and the pale shabby yellow is super cute too. Love stalking your blog
Just sayin
Tanya
Thanks in the blog sense… I love stalkers! Stalk on!
This is just perfectly perfect. Thank you SO much for sharing the plans. Seriously I LOVE each and every single one of your posts!
And I always am super honored when you link up at my place! Thank you!!!
Jaime
Awesome! I’m in love with this step stool!! Thank you so much for the plans.
xox
This step ladder is awesome and the plans for how to build them look like works of art themselves!
I sure hope that I can tackle a project like this in the future with my handy Mr
Ahhh, all those “old” stepladders are awesome! I SO wanna make one now! Thanks so much for sharing the plans and for linking up at HiH! Have a fantastic weekend!!!
This Looks Amazing, I would love for you to share it at our link party
http://live-love-laugh-interiordesign.blogspot.com.au/
I love this plan and want to build it, but I’m new to woodworking. How do you make the “cut-out” on the back braces?
Jaime, one way to do it is setting the blade depth of a circular saw to half of the brace thickness and cutting multiple cuts until you cut out the thickness of the brace that would set in it. This will create a notch. Do this on both braces and they will inter lock. I hope that helped. Good luck on the project.