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.