Cedar chests aren’t as popular as they once were and are often discarded as they’re handed down through the generations; but these wood boxes are not to be overlooked. They’re solid construction out-lasts many of the dressers and other storage pieces made today and their size and cedar lining make an antique cedar chest a perfect entryway storage bench. It was time to turn this antique chest into a white-washed entryway storage bench.
Antique Lane Cedar Chest
Cedar chests represent hope for the future. They have been traditionally used by unmarried women to collect linens and clothing for their future married life and by mothers to collect items to hand down to their daughters. Thus the term hope chest. They’re also lined with cedar wood, which keeps moths away and fabrics fresh.
A friend and neighbor of mine was in the middle of a home renovation and decided it was time to pass this hand-me-down cedar chest on to it’s next home. It was made by Lane Furniture Company. Every piece of Lane furniture I’ve owned and found to refinish has been very well-made. When I received it, the dark stain was scratched; but it was otherwise in excellent condition. An updated paint finish was all the chest needed to become the perfect entryway storage bench.
My goal was to transform this very brown antique chest into statement piece of furniture that could be used as a storage bench in an entryway. If it’s going to be the first piece of furniture guests see when they enter a home, it had to be light, bright and eye-catching.
The chest was first painted in a custom-mix dark gray with blue undertones. The color is very similar to Annie Sloan’s Graphite Chalk Paint, but I find latex paint to be more durable so I opted to mix up my own custom color.
I originally planned to keep the top natural so that was stained. In the end, I didn’t care for the contrast, so the top was painted the same as the base.
Applying a White Wash Finish
After the dark gray dried, I took a white rag and washed on solid white stain. When you do this, have a water bottle close by. Wetting the rag with a little water as you wash on the white stain, thins it just enough to allow you spread the stain evenly and wipe off any excess. Allow the white stain to settle in the groves.
This chest offers tons of storage for shoes, coats, sports equipment or whatever a needs to drop as they come in the door. Moms will be happy because items are neatly stored away!
This storage bench is for sale in my Shop.
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