Lovely Cedar Chest, Restored

Before Any Work










After Stripping & Sanding









Work Completed







This lovely Cedar Chest is being passed down from Grandmother to Granddaughter as a graduation present.  With the changing of hands came a changing of finish.  We were happy to take part in this change and to help keep a family heirloom in good condition.  Their were only minor repairs that needed to be done, the most significant work we did was to strip and refinish the piece.  The inside of the cedar chest was left bare so that the aroma of the cedar could permeate the interior of the chest. For the exterior, our client made a beautiful choice in stain colors and finish sheen.  She went with a 'Pecan' stain with a 'Satin' finish over the top.  This choice really allows the cedar's natural color to shine through, and enhances all the knots and grain.  The Satin finish gives it a 'homey' feel, rather then a brand new, glossy appearance.  Cedar chests are such a piece of Amerciana history,  and this chest is definitely a part of this family's history.  I hope it can be passed on and enjoyed for many more generations to come.

Stained Cedar Chest, Looking Good!!!

 I am so excited to show you this 'before and after' set of photos.  I wrote a post recently showing you all what this wood looked like after the paint was removed,  and it was pretty beautiful.  Now that this cedar chest has it's finish work done, it is a piece that is worthy of being the highlight of the room.

The chest received a water based 'medium cherry' stain which really brought out the beauty of the Cedar.  Over that we applied a water based satin finish.  The inside of this cedar chest was left unfinished so that the the aroma can still be enjoyed.  Growing up, I always wanted a cedar chest of my own (my mother had a beautiful hand made one with her name carved on the front).  I still don't have a cedar chest, but if I did, I would want it to look just like this!

 What do you think of this transformation?  Do you have a treasure of your own that is just crying for some TLC?  Bring it to us, we would love to bring it back to life.

Beautiful Cedar hiding under Paint

At first I did not recognize this beautiful cedar chest.  I was walking through the shop the other day, and saw this trunk and thought to myself 'huh, I wonder where that 3rd cedar chest came from',  Then all of a sudden it hit me,  This beautiful chest, with the wonderful smelling cedar and the many knots in the wood had once been covered in paint! I am so excited now to see the look on the owner of this chest's face when she sees it, all stripped and sanded and pretty.  Looking at the 'before' picture below, I wonder why anyone paints such beautiful wood.  I know there is a time and place for painted wood,  such as, when there has been burn damage, or when the wood itself in completely unremarkable and boring.  But with beautiful wood like this, I think it should  never be covered in paint.  Of course, that is just my opinion.  You are entitled to think whatever you want.  Perhaps you should tell me in the comments below, just what you think of painted wood like this.