A cedar chest redo
August 24, 2009
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Remember this lovely cedar chest I found last week for $40?:
At first glance, it was perfectly lovely on it's own, but the lid had a yellowish paint on it, drip marks and a really awful stencil. I think the person that painted it put too much poly on top that yellowed the paint and made the stencil bleed all over the place.
At first glance, it was perfectly lovely on it's own, but the lid had a yellowish paint on it, drip marks and a really awful stencil. I think the person that painted it put too much poly on top that yellowed the paint and made the stencil bleed all over the place. All I needed to do was sand down the paint and the stencil a little and then paint over it. Easy project right? Ummm...NEVER say those words out loud peeps. Karma comes around every. time.
The person who had painted it before did not prepare it well before painting, so as I was sanding the paint started peeling right off:
I could just pick at it and peel off strips. Nuts. This meant one thing -- I had to strip the whole thing down.
I could just pick at it and peel off strips. Nuts. This meant one thing -- I had to strip the whole thing down. I haven't had to use paint stripper for years, I avoid it if I can. This time I used water-based stuff and I really liked it:
The instructions say you can even use this inside, but I wouldn't recommend that. It's super easy to use though -- just glob it on.
Gah. If you ever need to do this, use fine steel wool to get the paint out of the detailed areas.
You can keep a brush or roller without cleaning it for quite a while if you just bag it up.
I had a hall table in this spot before, but had been contemplating moving it down more into our foyer anyway.
The instructions say you can even use this inside, but I wouldn't recommend that. It's super easy to use though -- just glob it on. If their are only one or two coats of paint, it should only take one or two applications. If there are about eleventy billion, it will take a couple hours and a few more applications:
Gah. If you ever need to do this, use fine steel wool to get the paint out of the detailed areas.
It was then that I realized how much I hated the red wood tone, so it was definitely getting a new paint job.
I put on a couple coats of primer and then about five coats of paint, because the wood was quite literally sucking it right up.
This is when one of my little painting tricks comes in handy:
You can keep a brush or roller without cleaning it for quite a while if you just bag it up.
This was the result:
It still needed somethin. Think Sarah, think.
Yet again, I just wrapped the fabric around the foam and hot glued it. Serious folks. When I get an extra $100 for thicker foam, more fabric and a professional, I'll get it done for reals.
It still needed somethin. Think Sarah, think.
Oh yes, no sew custom cushion:
Yet again, I just wrapped the fabric around the foam and hot glued it. Serious folks. When I get an extra $100 for thicker foam, more fabric and a professional, I'll get it done for reals. Here is Stink Eye Sister modeling it:
It still needed something, so I held my breath, crossed my fingers and distressed it just a bit:
A little distressing did the trick!
I had a hall table in this spot before, but had been contemplating moving it down more into our foyer anyway. I did some rearranging and really like how it looks now:
Now we have a "real" foyer set up and it's so warm and cozy! It's a little more in that spot than I'm used to there, but I love it.
Now we have a "real" foyer set up and it's so warm and cozy! It's a little more in that spot than I'm used to there, but I love it. I thought about moving the art around but like how it works for now:
The chest is now the perfect spot to sit, and it will be great during parties -- everyone seems to congregate out in this room.
The chest is now the perfect spot to sit, and it will be great during parties -- everyone seems to congregate out in this room. I need to install some safety hinges and then it will hold all this too:
Well, not the cat. All the toys. Gotta love that. :)
Well, not the cat. All the toys. Gotta love that. :)
hi Stink Eye...welcome home. Love the distressing...I am sucker for that ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt turned out just perfect! I am in the process of stripping and re-staining a desk. Sure hope mine turns out as nice. And I hope I can walk straight when I'm done. Re-finishing is murder on the back!
ReplyDeleteFabulous job, Sarah - as always! Your sister is looking pretty comfortable on that bench . . .
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic. I'm getting inspired to redo the chest I have up in my bedroom to move down to my living room.
ReplyDeleteOh, I have been wanting a cedar chest for sooooo long - can't believe the steal that you got! (Actually, I can, you ARE that good!) It looks awesome. P.S. I recently titled one of my posts "quick and easy" describing recovering a chair cushion and had the same thought about Google searches with terms like that...! You are the best!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! I posted a couple posts back about an old one I had in my family, that we are now using in the living room to hold DVDs. It DEFINITELY needs a makeover, I just havent decided yet what to do.
ReplyDeleteLooks great, Sarah. Trick I do is wrap Saran Wrap around my roller and this works too! 'Nuther trick is that if I'm trimming out or using a brush of some sort, then I put a ziploc bag inside of a cup/tupperware and pour paint in it. When I'm done or taking a lunch break or getting sidetracked from my painting (not that I do that of course) then I can seal 'er up!
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic!! You can also, stick the brushes in the freezer (in saran wrap or a baggie), and they will last for months!
ReplyDeletePerfect place to dump things right before guests arrive!!
LUUURVE IT! What a transformation! The black paint is gorgeous and the pillow top is perfection.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could enlarge your pics to see more details though. I really like how the entry hall looks. The large picture is stunning!
Totally LOVE IT!!! I have a cedar chest (not old or anything) that my crazy pup chewed the corner of many moons ago! LOL I totally want to be crafty like you, sand it down, paint it and add a cute little seat to the top... BUT I have no clue where to start! ha ha ha especially since the corner is all gnawed up.
ReplyDeleteGREAT BLOG, STOP ON OVER & SAY HI, I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY :) GIO
ReplyDeleteWow that looks amazing!!
ReplyDelete*bowing at your feet* Oh yoda- teach me the ways of your fabulously thrifty stylishness! Love your blog. brand new to it and I can't wait to see every post!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
What a great transformation! Know anyone who would like a FREE Blog Makeover?? Visit onefineblogdesign.blogspot.com! Check it out!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! My cedar chest is so ugly (so 80's), now you've got me thinking about how I could change it...hmmm
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, like the distressing too!
ReplyDeleteAstounding as usual! Do you ever do anything that looks less than spectacular?? I am turning green by the way with jealousy!!
ReplyDeleteThe chest turned out wonderful, and I love the cushion too. Great job. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteI LURVE it too!
ReplyDeleteplease tell me why, when I use the same roller as yours, it dried with bubbles in it? What did I do wrong? I was painting cabinet doors, btw. Thanks, Molly ( a stalker, hehe)
ReplyDeleteI love it! That is so super cute. You did a great job
ReplyDeletewowsers..what a beautiful project completed.I am inspired now...you ahve a lovely home too...
ReplyDeleteLooks great. Good job.
ReplyDeleteWow! The chest looks FAB! I like how you have the table set up in the foyer too. :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks great! And you have inspired me. I have a cedar chest. . . I bought it for myself when I graduated from high school (back in the Dark Ages). A Legacy Love Chest by Lane, if you can believe it. I guess I thought I'd pass it down to my daughter so that it would become her hope chest. Yes, well. I also collected unicorns back then. Anyway, I think I need to pull that puppy out of hiding and do something fun with it!
ReplyDeleteI heard before that if you put a few drops of black paint in (3 or 4 per quart) your white paint it doesnt yellow over time. Do you know if that is true or not?
ReplyDeleteIt looks fab Sarah!
ReplyDeleteLooks beautiful and love that great iron piece hanging over it!
ReplyDeleteGasp! It looks great. Good call on the distressing. :) I think the cushion (hey, at least you didn't use duct tape!) really completes the look. Have fun with your stink eye sister. My stink eye comes in for her wedding next week. :) I *get* to pick her up at the airport in Richmond. ;)
ReplyDeleteLoves it.
ReplyDeleteThis is very timely, as I think I'm going to have to "strip" my new Britney Spears table. LOL
It came out beautifully. Come check out the Knock Off Knock Out party.
ReplyDeleteCheri
Its So Very Cheri
Ooooh Lucky! I have been searching for one of those chests at a great price like that for months! Beautiful job, I love it!
ReplyDeleteI love it! And I'm jealous ;)
ReplyDeleteP.S. Love the new profile pic. Your too cute!
"Not the cat"
ReplyDeleteHaha!
The chest looks great!
Love it!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love love LOVE it! I want to come to your house and steal it! Except then you wouldn't be my EBFF anymore, so I won't.
ReplyDeleteAnd please please PLEASE promise me you will do a follow up post and tell us how many people did a Google search for strip and chest and made it to your site!!
Distressing is looking gooooooood - luv that look. And sisters were born just to give the stink eye.
ReplyDeleteKate
Go for the t-shirt it was super easy. I was so sick Sunday-the day I did this. Long story--but I had a reaction to some meds and I am still feeling it. I would have just done this project on my sewing machine but didn't feel up to sewing so I did it in bed, by hand. I had to stop about 1/2 way through and rest but it only took about an hour by hand so with a sewing machine it would be a super fast project. Let me know if you do it.
ReplyDeleteCheri
It looks great, even if there were extra steps involved!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this...I love your ideas I Love this BLOG...now when I go yard saling I'm scoping for small pieces that can have a new life with a coat of paint hee hee love that:)
ReplyDeleteLovely job!!! This does look amazing and fits in perfectly.
ReplyDeleteJust popping in to let you know HOW much I have enjoyed your blog. I too and a trash to treasure kinda gal. Have done many, many things in the past 10 years whether its furniture or smaller pieces.
ReplyDeleteI also have another add on (tip) to your saving your brush in plastic..you can also put it in the refridgerator over night..actually up to a few days and still be able to use your brush or roller. I have done it many times with great success!
Keep up the great work!
Blessings...Lorena
beautiful! I love it! tried your plastic bag for your roller trick on only I had a huge roller and the pan and everything I threw in a garbage bag and sealed it really tight - it worked great - even for a couple of days at a time - genius!
ReplyDeleteThe bench looks great but I want to see more of your stairway. I have a blank stairway but have always been too chicken to do anything with it.
ReplyDeleteI lurve it too!
ReplyDeleteIts Perfect! Love it! Looks so much better now. :)
ReplyDeletelooks so awesome! i'm about to embark on my first redo of a chest...hope it turns out 1/2 as cute as yours! I'd love to see what you did with the wall on the stairs....i need some ideas, i have a blank wall-ugh! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYOU ROCK! That is all! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the cheap cushion idea! I have 2 benches that came with an antique table but I hated to shell out so much for custom cushions. I am so doing the cushions!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, I have been reading your blog for the past few days and have been so inspired! I have been to 2 thrift stores and one goodwill in the last two days I am no stranger to thrifting but I got a new surge of enthusiasm from you-- I am wondering if you could let me know about the paint you used on the coffee table and chest-- I found an end table (W/ chunky strong legs) that kinda matches your coffee table for 5 dollars!! I know you said you roll on primer and then roll on 1-2 coats of paint my question is.. is it a Satin finish latex? a semi gloss latex? or an oil based paint and if so what finish?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much I want to do this on Thurs or Friday. :)
"....Oooo I am going to get some interesting searches off of "chest" and "strip" in the same post...."
ReplyDeleteand "nuts" too.
Love the chest and the distressing made it perfect.
I love it, it looks fabulous! Great job.
ReplyDeleteChelsea
GOOD NIGHT!! You have so many people commenting, I thought I'd never get down here:) I LOVE your bench. Seriously, you have got some fantastic talent my dear.
ReplyDelete~Andy @ poppiesatplay.blogspot.com
Love the idea of a ziplock baggie for paintbrushes and rollers inbetween coats - love painting, hate cleaning brushes. I use cling film ,and stick the brush/roller in the deep freeze - the water based paint freezes solid and does not dry. One just has to remember to take it out in time to defrost before starting the next job...though sticking the paintbrush in warm water (still wrapped) works just fine
ReplyDelete