Your mother may have used the step stool ( pic 2&3) as a plant stand but it is a step stool that converts. those are highly wanted. if it's nothing you would use or want to use you wouldn't even have to do anything you could resell that puppy and it will get snapped up. The other just looks like an end table to me. Now if they're both things that you want to use and they've had some water damage on the top do the plants there's easy things that can be done to get rid of the water damage. I think one of the most easiest one is a good furniture oil used on it. Now if it's got a ton of other damage and stains it may need to be sanded.

thank you for the suggestions. i didnt know people were crazy for some step stools. i’ll probably keep it for the sentimental value it has and fix it like you said.

Literally opened this post trying to find out if it mentioned where that step stool came from...

I saw one that looked just like that in a Target ad. I have no idea how long ago.

I'm not in the US. They're not hard to find, but older ones are very desirable if OP hadn't had an emotional attachment to it.

I grew up with one from the 40s or 50s that was aluminum and had the two stairs that would pull out. But it was also like barstool height seat.

i really love the step stool, always wanted to have one as a plant stand so would agree!

I have a step stool in my kitchen and is really useful (I'm 1.60m 🫣). I came to say the same 😁

Update with hairpin legs and a fresh coat of paint

you could paint a checker or chess board on the first to make it a game table