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Some time ago I told you all about a chest that I bought at a garage sale for $5.00. Today I’m going to show you how I gave it a new look with some black paint, wax, and elbow grease.
The finished product will fit in with all sorts of decor and is highly functional, now that it’s been cleaned, deodorized, and painted inside and out.
The ches as I found it–not very pretty and very smelly. It seems like about 1950s era piece of furniture (someone suggested that it was designed to hold music, since the front folds out). The finish was a mess–very dry and chipping off all over.
Here’s a view of the inside with the front folded out. There must have been some sort of dividers in the main body that were brutally ripped out, as you can see.
The surface finish contained loads of scratches and was chipping off pretty seriously.
My first step was to sand the entire surface to remove as much loose finish as possible and to even things out a bit.
More sanding, and you can see near the trim a bit of a veneer problem. I glued two spots of loose veneer using tacky glue and clamps.
Using a foam brush, I gave the entire outside two coats of black acrylic craft paint that I bought at a garage sale for 10 cents. I only painted one coat on the interior. This photo shows you the first coat on the lid. I used about 4 oz of paint in total. NOTE: When giving candlesticks and other wooden pieces the “Pottery Barn Look” I used craft paint successfully, which is why I wasn’t afraid to use it on this project.
After the second coat of paint dried, I sanded the chest in several places where it would be likely to wear naturally.
Corners usually get knocked about quite a bit, so I scuffed each of them up pretty good.
After I completed the scuffing, I waxed the entire surface of the chest, using Minwax Finishing Wax. This was my first time waxing a piece rather than polyurethaning it. I really enjoyed the process of deepening the wood showing through the paint where I scuffed, while protecting the surface with a nice hard finish. First I applied a thin coat of wax with cheesecloth, and then, after twenty minutes, I buffed the surface which looked dull from the wax.
After buffing, you get a nice hard, smooth surface with a slight shine. You can also see that in addition to my scuffing, the scratches and layers of finish under the paint and wax are visible, adding to the aged affect.
I also waxed the interior to protect and seal in the sitting-out-in-the-barn odor, which the paint had pretty much taken care of.
I kind of wish I had distressed it more than I did, but this was my first larger piece of furniture. I think my next project is going to be the kitchen table that the chest is sitting on. And I’m pretty sure I’m going to do black for the top and either leave the legs unpainted or use a light taupe color. Any thoughts on that?
Here’s the finished chest. Pretty simple looking, but I think it’s a big improvement over its former state.
I think it turned out super! It doesn't look like the same piece. I kind of like the look of wood on the legs and the top black for the table. You could always try that and if you didn't like it you could paint the legs. JMHO. Have a super 4th of July! Hugs, Dianne
Thanks, Dianne! That's true–I'll get to see what the wood looks like with the black top and then decide. I value your humble opinion; thanks for sharing it 🙂
Hi Tammie–thanks! I neglected to explain why I felt comfortable using the craft paint–it's because I've used it on candlesticks and pedestal stands to get this "antiqued" look and it worked well. I went back and made a note of this in the post and linked to the two previous posts where I first used the craft paint.
Hi Diana, wow you got that look with craft paint…and only 4 oz! What a difference you made to this interesting chest. Nice job! As for your table, I noticed your louvered doors are white and the walls a soft green. Have you thought about painting the legs white and distressing them and staining the top a Dark Walnut (Minwax stain)? I did this to mine and it turned out beautifully. Marie@The Interior Frugalista
Hi Marie–thanks so much for your kind comments 🙂 That's a great idea for the table–I think that's part of the problem–choosing the "right" one!! Do you have a post about your table? I'd love to see it.
Hi Andrea! Thanks so much. I don't want you to think that wax is too easy–you really have to rub, but the unique surface that results can be worth it. It's easier in some senses–less messy since it's a paste not a liquid, no brushes to clean, no dripping etc. It's worth trying out. BTW, I got my can at a garage sale for a buck–keep your eye out!
It's really a showpiece now! Thanks for sharing your process; hopefully other folks will feel more confident about an inexpensive (key word!) furniture refinish!
Regarding the table, I have an old round oak table that I haven't had to refinish, but the new Windsor chairs I bought (Walmart!) to go around it are oak with black legs and backs. Love the touch of black in my kitchen!
It sure doesn't look like a $5 chest now! I think the table would look good either way, so I'm no help. Thanks for sharing this at History & Home this week, take care: Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
It looks great. Refinishing chests is one of my favorite projects. We've done 2 so far. The possibilities are endless. I like the way the front of this chest opens forward. I've never seen that before.
I think it turned out super! It doesn't look like the same piece. I kind of like the look of wood on the legs and the top black for the table. You could always try that and if you didn't like it you could paint the legs. JMHO. Have a super 4th of July! Hugs, Dianne
Thanks, Dianne! That's true–I'll get to see what the wood looks like with the black top and then decide. I value your humble opinion; thanks for sharing it 🙂
It looks great. Interesting that you used 'craft paint' instead of something more traditional for furniture. Keep up the good work.
Hi Tammie–thanks! I neglected to explain why I felt comfortable using the craft paint–it's because I've used it on candlesticks and pedestal stands to get this "antiqued" look and it worked well. I went back and made a note of this in the post and linked to the two previous posts where I first used the craft paint.
Craft paint! Very clever. looks terrific. Thank you for sharing your sweet blog at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. ♥
Hi Katherine–thanks! Note the comment above regarding my use of craft paint 🙂 Thanks so much for hosting such a great party!
Hi Diana, wow you got that look with craft paint…and only 4 oz! What a difference you made to this interesting chest. Nice job!
As for your table, I noticed your louvered doors are white and the walls a soft green. Have you thought about painting the legs white and distressing them and staining the top a Dark Walnut (Minwax stain)? I did this to mine and it turned out beautifully.
Marie@The Interior Frugalista
Hi Marie–thanks so much for your kind comments 🙂 That's a great idea for the table–I think that's part of the problem–choosing the "right" one!! Do you have a post about your table? I'd love to see it.
that is gorgeous! Nice work! I'll definitely have to try the wax sometime, it seems easier then the poly…
Hi Andrea! Thanks so much. I don't want you to think that wax is too easy–you really have to rub, but the unique surface that results can be worth it. It's easier in some senses–less messy since it's a paste not a liquid, no brushes to clean, no dripping etc. It's worth trying out. BTW, I got my can at a garage sale for a buck–keep your eye out!
It's really a showpiece now! Thanks for sharing your process; hopefully other folks will feel more confident about an inexpensive (key word!) furniture refinish!
Regarding the table, I have an old round oak table that I haven't had to refinish, but the new Windsor chairs I bought (Walmart!) to go around it are oak with black legs and backs. Love the touch of black in my kitchen!
What a great transformation. The value of the chest has increased at least ten-fold!
It looks great, now, Diana! Like the black. I've never seen a chest like that where the front opens up. Interesting.
Looks great! I think it would be fun with some vintage casters on the bottom! Thanks for sharing at TTF!
It sure doesn't look like a $5 chest now! I think the table would look good either way, so I'm no help. Thanks for sharing this at History & Home this week, take care: Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
It looks great. Refinishing chests is one of my favorite projects. We've done 2 so far. The possibilities are endless. I like the way the front of this chest opens forward. I've never seen that before.