That step stool does look unique, and should look very nice when refinished! From the photo, I can't tell if it is made from solid wood or if it has a wood veneer covering. See if you can determine that. I say that becuase if it is solid wood, you can sand the damaged finish off of it and always have solid wood underneath. If it has a veneer, you can apply a new veener, repair the existing veneer, or try to remove it and use the wood beneath if it can be sanded smooth. For inspiration, check out the thousands of funiture refinishing videos on YouTube. There are amazing examples there often with step by step instructions. Post an image here when you are done!
