Ok, so I showed you all my recovered hope chest. I love the fancy new material in my spruced up living room. But when I showed you my hope chest, I asked the burning question…to paint or not to paint??
I asked…you answered. The majority of you said to paint it and your color of choice was black. I was however, surprised by the number that suggested I paint it white. White? Really?? I never thought of white.
This is much like my Grandmother’s Dresserand Vanity that I milk painted last year. These were both covered in a Mahogany veneer as well.
With that being said however, I must present the argument that even if something is considered “good” wood and you are unhappy with its appearance…why shouldn’t you paint it?? I’m not trying to start a fight…I just think it would be a shame to have a piece of furniture in your home that you don’t LOVE just because it is “good” wood. Why not paint it and LOVE it!??
Ok, all that to say…I painted my hope chest…BLACK!!!
I guess I’m a ‘chicken’ when it comes to painting good wood! lol…but I don’t think I have the ‘eye’s to see the finished product. Your cedar chest turned out absolutely beautiful!!! Now I can ‘see’ why they suggested black! Just stunning…way to go!!!!!! I just recently found your blog and I have spent waaayyy to much time at the computer catching up on your past posts! I thoroughy enjoy each one! Thanks for sharing.
Ahhh, thanks so much. I certainly know what it’s like to get sucked into someone’s blog or Pinterest board. I wonder where that hour went!!
what kind of paint did you use?
I used a Flat Black Oil Based Enamel. Enamel holds up better than latex. The brand I used was Rust-oleum…only because that’s what I had. I have used other brands of Enamel and they have done the same job!
I have a very similar hope chest (ash-gray colored oak veneer outside, and solid cedar inside). It got ruined when we were moving back from overseas a few years back…the crate it was in was dropped off the side of the ship and into the sea.
The bottom trim that acted as the legs is gone, and some of the veneer is cracked and bubbled.
I plan to sand it, paint it and make a nice padded top for it. Thanks for the awesome inspiration!!
I like the black with the material you chose!
Carrie, regardless of whether or not the chest was considered “good wood” you may a “good” — no, make that “great” — choice in painting it black. Now the amazing fabric you chose just shines …
🙂
Linda
I love the finished product! Great work!
Looks great! I knew the black would look good.
Usually men are the ones to balk at painting wood. Thankfully I am not married to one of those cuz I am not big on the natural wood look.
So. Much. Better. Look at all the China Cabinet/Hutch makeovers on the web and they ALL look so much better painted. Good for you. I agree with Theresa, for some reason, men have an aversion to painting wood! I wait till he goes on a fishing trip, and then out come the paint cans!
I like the way your chest turned out. Sign me up with you on the don’t get the “don’t paint good wood” issue, too. A room or house with endless wood can get boring, imo.
Beeeeuuuutiful! I’ve always been told not to paint such things as a cedar chest (mine’s cedar in and out) but love how yours looks now.
craftythriftydecoratingwifemom.wordpress.com
Did you prime/sand it first? And did you wax it when finished. Details please.
I scuffed it up with a scotch-brite pad and then painted directly with my oil based enamel. When you are putting oil based over oil based it adheres fine without primer. I didn’t wax or seal it for easy touch-ups in the future.
Thanks for visiting!
i do love it in black! Think about linking it up to our UFO party since you weren’t sure and now you’re done with it 🙂 http://www.addhousewife.com/2012/04/ufo-link-party.html
Hi I found you over at the Feathered Nest party. I love your chest in black. My first thought would have been white, but the black really makes your fabric stand out! I kind of go back and forth on painting wood. I love some natural finishes, but love painted pieces to. Honestly, I have more painted pieces in my home. lol I’m a new follower and would love if you’d link to my Frugal Treasures Tuesday party going on until Sunday. Have a great weekend.
Love your hope chest!
I think your hope chest looks so pretty! I also don’t paint “good” wood. It devalues it if it is an actual antique. And, when the paint all wood craze is over I don’t want to have to scrape all the paint off, lol…..I think its like painting brick, its very hard to go back if you don’t like the outcome.
Fabulous! You made the right decision! If you do want to refinish it again, they make many, MANY paint strippers that are easy to remove. (I use a orange based, gel remover, coat it thickly and let it sit overnight. A plastic spatula will make it slide right off…)
That said, THIS and all the other painted furniture out there has inspired me to paint over heirloom pieces that were pretty cheap to begin with and not very pretty to look at. I hope they transform as well as your piece did.
Great job!
I love it and so creative. I think it turned out fabulous! Thanks for sharing.
Hope to see you on my blog:)
Yay! I was rooting for black. 🙂 I love it!!
I like it!
I wouldn’t consider veneer to be good wood. My problem is that I have MANY (close to 10) pieces of solid wood items made by my husband’s grandfather and my great uncle. Yep…some are even cherry. I’m thinking the few pine ones may be painted some day, but it’s HARD!!! I think going with classic black or white is wise.
Veneer is not a bad thing! Furniture makers have used veneers for centuries. If the furniture piece is in good shape and of a style I like, I would never think of painting it. Also, I’d never paint an antique piece unless I consulted an expert first. You can destroy the value of an antique by painting it.
This turned out beautifully!! We’re so glad you joined us for “Strut Your Stuff Saturday.” Thanks and come back soon!! -The Sisters
We’re so glad you joined us for “Strut Your Stuff Saturday.” Thanks and come back soon!! -The Sisters
Love the colors! This turned out really nice! Found you on Reasons to skip the housework.
amber
recipeswelove.net
We have had the “painting timber” conversation here many times. I have a timber veneer baby cupboard (contains hanging space, shelves & drawers) and the veneer is quite dark. I think I’d like to paint it something light… but hubby thinks I should leave it alone (even though the french polish has seen better days). I’m still undecided. (And he would be doing some of the work).
Glad you finally have a piece of furniture that you LOVE! 🙂
WOW!!! That looks fantastic! Love the pillows too!! I would LOVE to have you share this at my link pary! I am your newest GFC follower!
http://www.pincushioncreations.com/2012/05/homemade-by-you-11-giveaway.html
Hi Carrie: I’m Connie, a new GFC friend. I would love if you stop by http://hotflashncraftn.blogspot.com/, and be mine, too.
I love the hope chest seat. It looks great in that room. Thanks for sharing.
Loving the finished product!
Very pretty!
That looks beautiful – very pretty!
I would love if you stopped by my linky party to link it up! I would love to have you there!
Stacey of Embracing Change
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com
Oh, it turned out sooo pretty! Love the before and after pics. I found your link on Delightful Order’s Link Party. I would love for you to post this on my link party at… http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/2012/05/link-party-time.html
Thanks for sharing!
Featuring YOU today! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing!
Ginger @ gingeersnapcrafts.com
http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2012/05/take-look-at-you-my-favorites_17.html
This is lovely! I would love for you to link these up to “I Made This” at Grits & Giggles! http://www.gritsandgiggles.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-made-this-5.html
Love it!!! I have the same wonderful fabric that I found one night months ago just walking through Walmart. It jumped out at me and I knew it would look great somewhere. Just gotta decide where. Anyway I am your newest follower!! I just started blogging myself and have two little men. I am hoping to hope school also, so I will be back to look for tips and ideas for my home and little ones. Have a great weekend!!
Andrea
http://www.myblessedmess-4.blogspot.com
I personally fall into the category of – if it's yours, and you don't like it how it looks, then paint it if that will make it worth more for YOU to own. My dad is of the mindset that "you don't paint wood, period.". Well, we moved into a house with SO much natural woodwork, which is nice because it's good quality – doors, trim, all cabinetry. Problem is, for me, it
wow i have a build in chest similar to this in my entryway. i have been looking for ideas for it and haven’t found anything that would be nice to do with it until now. so thanks for the idea.
Nice job, like it !
Wow great job 🙂 i am tackling the same project as we speak. I was wondering, since im new to this, hoe do i go about with the seat part..is it just a boars with some type a cushin then fabric on top?
How fun! Here is the link on how I recovered the top of my hope chest. https://www.saving4six.com/2012/04/recovering-hope-chest.html
I hope it helps! Best Wishes!
I love this chest! I am not too familiar with blogging. Do you say on here somewhere how you covered the top and made it look so perfect and professionally done?
I have a cedar chest that was my moms, her and my father were killed by a drunk driver. The hope chest is in bad shape but I can’t throw it away. I have never refinished anything but I love yours!! It would be perfect in my house if I painted it black. I wouldn’t have to hide it in the closet anymore.
Where do I start……..Do I sand it before paint?
The bottom part that was some sort of press board trim and looked awful so I took it off. I don’t know if I should leave it off or figure out how to construct something that looked like it??? It just sits flat directly on the floor without it and that is fine with me. Any advice would help. It does have a cushion seat but of course is dated and needs to go. I am going to take this project!! I have a new grandaughter that I can hand it down to later in life. Please help!! Craineta@yahoo.com is my email if that is easier. Thank you, your chest is beautiful.
Tricia
Hi Tricia, hanging on to that hope chest for your precious grand daughter is a great idea! When painting my hope chest, I simply “roughed it up” with sand paper. I didn’t sand it completely, I just made the surface ready to paint by running sandpaper over the varnished surface to scratch it up a bit. For this project, I used an enamel paint. This is a very durable paint and has stuck well to my hope chest. It’s been almost five years since I did this project and it looks like I did it yesterday. I would highly recommend an enamel paint when you do yours. As far as the trim boards, that is obviously a preference issue and if you know how or know someone who knows how to do trim work and can help you, would be beneficial. The paint in itself will probably do wonders for this piece. Here is a link to the post where I recovered my hope chest. I give full instructions on how to do it here: https://saving4six.com/2012/04/recovering-the-hope-chest.html Best wishes, I’d love to see the finished product!!