Chest Bumps

Sweet tarnation, this before chest is giving me the sweats.  If you’re new here, you may not know that I have a mild phobia of knotty wood. I’m shuddering just looking at it! Quick, let’s scroll down to the after.

Phew.  This I can handle. Better After reader Angi received this chest from a friend who was about to toss it.  Who can turn down orphan furniture? Not our girl Angi! Problem was, she didn’t need another chest.  But she realized with a few modifications, it would make a perfect buffet for holding linens and tablewares in her dining room.

I’m including her process here, since she doesn’t have a blog.  (PS: did you know you can always send me your makeover submissions, whether you’re blogger or not? I’d love to see them! Shoot me an email at betterafter@live(dot)com).

Angi says:

• I removed the top and stripped off all the finish. I soaked in a bottle of mineral oil and then used 3 coats of Watco Butcher Block to re-seal and finish the top, lightly sanding in between. I wanted to be able to use the top for food prep.
• I also wanted to be able to access the buffet from the top and from the front. I had to cut the front off the chest, and shorten the length by 1 inch so the front would rest in front instead of inside. I attached it with some cabinet hinges so it would lie flat when opened for additional surface work area.I built the inside from another old cedar chest, and created drawers from wine boxes.
• I added legs to bring it up to a height I liked and tapered the legs to mimic other mission/shaker pieces I have. I also added the framework to the front.

Wow!

This makeover also started life out differently, first as a piano bench.  What good is a piano bench with no piano?  Well, it’s actually perfect for when I play my air piano, but I haven’t done that in years. I wish I would have stuck with it. I could be playing at air Carnegie Hall right now.

But regrets aside, this bench is still serving a functional purpose, now as a distressed coffee table.

Debbie didn’t mess with much, just shortened the legs and built a new top right on top of the old top, hip hop ya don’t stop. She also added a shelf on the bottom for extra storage, and since it still opens up, there’s storage a-plenty.  Can’t ever have enough of that.  Check it out on her blog Painted Therapy.