Cedar Chest Makeover 

I have the same ceder chest. When I was little I would slide off the "waterfall", top over and over, it was so much fun. It belonged to my grandma and then my mom. I'm now 71, and this has been in my family all my life. It's full of family memories including my baby clothes. You did a very special paint job on it, but don't be surprised if your children wear it off having fun sliding off the top.

if I watch another video of someone painting a cedar chest not knowing how much they are worth I'm going to lose it:(

Turned out great! 😊

I have my mom and dads and it is just like this. And It is exactly the same as this one you did. I accidentally had water damage on the time. I am giving it to my granddaughter. Very nice job, I think I will paint it too.

omg! I'm restoring this exact type of cedar chest my mother in law gave me. I've definitely been afraid to damage it and wasn't sure if I could sand the top with a power sander. I really hope that beautiful grain will come through on the top of mine

The finish was damaged but the veneer is still there…it’s beautiful

I have a cedar chest I’m redoing and was looking at ideas and yours is so cute. I’m definitely doing the monogram on front such a cute idea. Also if you use flat modge podge first on stencil let dry and then the black paint their will be little to no bleed through!

That's beautiful! 👍

Wow.. I have the exact same ceder chest from my grandparents. I mean, it is 100% identical to yours! They got it for their wedding in 1948 i believe? My chest also got the same kind of water damage yours did, no more, no less.. i need to fix it, but ive never done this type of thing to wood before & was intimidated & nervous to mess it up. I had no clue what kind of sealer/stain/paint to use. But your video really broke things down beautifully! Thank u so much for posting this!!! I am going to start working on mine this weekend. Btw.. Yours turned out really beautiful! I can't wait to get mine done now! Just wanted to say thank u!!

Nice work, glad you did not paint it gray like everyone else. Lovely.

We have a chest just like it. I just finished restoring a Saratoga trunk so now my wife is inspired to do the chest. Great job and creative resto.

Sanding between poly coats should be with 220 not 400. Too fine a grit will inhibit bonding between coats.

Beautiful

Great job.

I love the way you refinished this. I have one just like it. Waterfall design and it was my great grandmother's cedar chest. Still has the insurance certificate attached to the inside lid. Mine has a shelf in it and the trim edge is broken on mine. Not sure how to fix that since part of it is missing. I am going to do it like yours. I've always not liked the yellow orange wood. I think it was stained with old liquid wax way back when. I'm wanting to paint the bottom of mine somewhat darker. Not sure if I will do a design over. Thank ;you so much for this idea!

Nice job! :)

What grit did you use to Sand the top?

Dampen your brush with chalk paint. Or keep a mister bottle handy. I find it easier to tip the piece over when stenciling.

Your chest turned out so nice! Why did you paint the sides of the lid with chalk paint instead of having it match the top? Curious because I'm looking to redo a chest that is almost exactly like yours.

Where did you purchase the stencil? I'd like to restyle my granddaughter's chest in a similar way

I have my grandmothers cedar chest that I want to redo. The lid is cracked into 2 pieces. Any suggestions? Should I try to glue it back together? Or replace it?

What stain did you use on top?

Oh I wish you had stained the entire piece. Beautiful veneeer

Noooooo how can you paint over that gorgeous workmanship?? Cant you see the parquet and marquetry?? Oh boy!

A&B&R Builds!

It looks fantastic. Chalk paint is not set until you seal it, meaning that you can wash that off. Use a water based varathane if you’re worried about yellowing, or a clear wax.

Omg,

Should have used a different kind of paint with your stencil. Acrylic craft paint or chalk paint works best. Turned out nice though!

Oh. I don’t know if you know or not but the cedar chest was a Lane furniture.

You need to remove stencils when the paint is still wet…you should also be using a dry brush rather than dipping and painting

Chalk paint over beautiful wood is just obscene.

I think you would have preserved the integrity of the piece with a light colored stain or wax instead of that chalk paint. It turned out nice though.

Stencils should be removed right away

Someday someone will remove the paint and finish the job.

awful. Why would you ruin such a beautiful piece.

You completely ruined it !

Good job on ruining that work of art.