Cedar Chest Makeover

Cedar Chest After

 

Cedar Chest Before

Here's another cedar chest that had seen better days. Over the past fourteen years we have refinished and restored several cedar chests. They always present a challenge as each  one is unique with its own problems, therefore each one needs special attention. 

This one had a severely damaged bottom, possibly water damage or the dog got a hold of it. In any event, it required a complete reconstruction as the original section could not be saved. Unfortunately, when replacing any section of wood damage, it's difficult to match the stain colors. Because of the type of wood and the age, which also affects the finished look, stain matching was not possible, but the new addition is still a big improvement over the damaged section. Another unique feature of this cedar chest was the false drawer front. The hardware needed a bit of cleaning, otherwise it was still usable.

This cedar chest was different from the other ones we've worked on because it had a padded fabric top, which allows you to use it as a place to sit while putting shoes on. The original material was circa 1976, so I updated it with waxed canvas, a nice durable fabric that will hold up to plenty of daily wear and use. Overall, this cedar chest makeover was a big change from the original.

Twin Rocking Chairs Makeover

Rocking Chair After

Rocking Chair Before

This was a dual set of identical rocking chairs which ended up being painted instead of being refinished and stained. They came to us without cushions, just an old seat covering and broken springs. Jim worked his magic by first sanding and priming the chairs before painting them. Then it was my turn.

To modify and update these twin chairs, I used jute webbing instead of springs for the center opening on the seat area. This worked very well and will do the job of sustaining comfort and support. This is a commonly used method for this application. The customer chose a lovely dark blue/gray color and matching plaid fabric which looked great. 

I designed and sewed two sets of cushions for these chairs, one for the seat and one for the backrest. The seat cushion had a 2" foam for support and comfort while the back was filled with soft fiberfill used for chair stuffing. I liked this choice because it made for a very comfortable backrest with adequate support. 

For an added elegant touch, I chose satin buttons to decorate the back cushions, evenly spaced for an aesthetic appeal. For the skirting I used my ruffle foot on my sewing machine which created evenly space ruffles all the way around the 60" perimeter of the seat. This was the perfect finishing touch for the chairs.

Two-Drawer Dresser Makeover

 

Two Drawer Dresser
Before

This cute little two drawer dresser was original much lighter and our customer had wanted a completely different look, so she chose two stain colors, black stain on the body and a warmer wood tone on the drawers and top. It was a great choice. We used “Minwax True Black” and “Varithane Carrington” for the wood tone. The two colors married well to create a dynamically elegant piece of furniture. 

Two Drawer Dresser After

She had also wanted artistic gold tones to highlight the bottom decorative scallop and edging as well as the natural curves along the bottom front and side edges. 

After Jim finished with the stain, I applied a craft ink called “Vegas Gold,” to achieve the accent paint she had wanted. I used a small sponge to dab the ink on the scallop decorative area and switched to a tiny paint brush for the thin criss-cross lines on the drawer fronts. I love doing the “crafty” parts of restoration as this gives it a unique look that stands out from the rest. This one was a real beauty.