Painted Vintage Cedar Chest Makeover

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After front photo of painted cedar chest.

In these quick guides, I walk through the steps and products I used for a particular makeover. Interested in learning more about a step or process? Please refer to the links at the bottom of this post, where I provide detailed tutorials on these steps.

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Makeover Steps:

Cleaning. I cleaned the exterior of the piece with a degreaser, using these ScotchBrite pads to scrub off any dirt and grime, then wiped it back with a microfiber cloth. Then I clean the interior, bottom, and back with a mixture of water and Dawn dish soap. Finally, I’ll wipe back the piece again with water and a clean microfiber cloth.
Updating the Base: I started by scraping off the finish on the base and legs with my carbide scraper, and then I sanded off the rest. Once sanded and cleaned, I stain using this Dark Walnut stain.
Repair work. Now it’s time to move on to the rest of the piece. The top had a failing finish with some water damage, so I had to sand all of the finish off. Because the grain was uneven due to the water damage, I had to fill the grain using Bondo Glazing and Spot Putty, using these plastic spreaders to apply. After allowing the putty to dry, I sanded the entire top with 220-grit.
Scuff sanding. I scuff-sanded the rest of the piece with 220-grit sandpaper using my SurfPrep sander. However, you don’t need a fancy sander to do this step! Hand sanding works fine – you aren’t trying to remove the finish, just scuff up the existing finish to help with primer and paint adhesion.
Prime. I was planning a dark color for this project, so I decided to use Melange’s stain-blocking primer in gray to seal up the piece before painting.
Paint. I painted this dresser in the color Classic Navy by Melange Paints..
Topcoat. I sealed this piece with one of my favorite topcoats, General Finishes High Performance Topcoat in Flat. I use this Zibra brush to apply. The combo of these products gives me a smooth and reliable finish.
Update hardware. I wanted to keep this beautiful vintage hardware, so I cleaned it by boiling it in a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water for 10 minutes, then scrubbed with 0000 grade steel wool and Bar Keepers Friend. They were brass-plated and some of the brass had come off over time, so I used Rub n’ Buff in European Gold to restore their brass look.
Drawer Liner: The original drawer was lined with felt. I used my sander to sand off the felt and then applied this peel-and-stick wallpaper to give it a fresh look!

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