This Art Deco waterfall cedar chest has been part of my friend’s family for many, many years. I was truly honoured to be asked to give it a modern update.
And look at it now!
Materials:
- Wood filler: Gork’s Goodfilla Heavy-Body Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler in Walnut
- Wood sealant: Osmo Polyx-Oil Clear in Matte
- Canadians – For 10% off Osmo products, send me an email (KristinLia@rogers.com) with the products you love!
- Paint wash & accent: Country Chic Paint – Ethereal Mist
Tools used:
- SurfPrep 3″X4″ electric ray sander
- SurfPrep 5″ random orbital sander
- DeWalt cordless vacuum
- Elite small round (ring) brush
- Country Chic Paint 2″ oval brush
- Elite washi tape
- Zibra Palm Pro
- Zibra Round brush
- Osmo microfibre roller
- Osmo roller tray
- Osmo Superpad
- Osmo pad holder
- Tack cloth
- Bar rags
- Putty knife
- Safety gear- respirator, ear protection, anti-vibration gloves
- 2000 grit sand paper and sanding block
HERE ARE STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW I TRANSFORMED THIS MID CENTURY MODERN PRINCEVILLE CHEST OF DRAWERS:
Trying to remove the finish
Here’s how I started to prepare the piece:
started by removing the bottom section of the lock
removed the original finish on the edges using my Bahco 1” pocket carbide tipped scraper with the triangle shaped blade
started sanding the top using my SurfPrep random orbital sander with 100 grit – THE FINISH WAS THICK
switched to my 2.5” Bahco carbide scraper to remove as much as possible- this made sanding the top so much easier!
- I tried scraping and sanding the sides and it was a nightmare
decided to use Stripwell’s QCS Finish Remover and used Elite Toughtape attached to a sheet to block off the areas I was going to be painted
I truly thought this finish would be a lot easier to remove but it’s awful. Thankfully, I can use Stripwell INSIDE my house.
How to use Stripwell QCS Finish Remover
With the original finish becoming a nightmare to remove, I switched over to Stripwell’s QCS Finish Remover.
Here’s how I used it on this piece:
- sprayed QCS Finish Remover liberally over all the surfaces; let sit for 15 minutes
- I tested and then sprayed a second round; let sit for 25 minutes
used a putty knife to gently remove the finish; used an old plastic meat tray to put the removed finish
when I had removed as much as I could, I sprayed QCS Surface Cleanser to remove any remaining residue before sanding
Now it’s time to sand away the rest of the finish!
How to use SurfPrep sanders
Thankfully some of that stubborn finish came off with Stripwell! Now it’s time to finish sanding.
Here’s how I finished sanding the front and sides:
- used my SurfPrep random orbital sander hooked up to the dust extractor to remove
- started with 100 grit on medium to high speed
looking back, I should have reduced the speed so that the discs didn’t clog as quickly- also used my SurfPrep 3×4 with its foam pads to smooth out all the curved and delicate edges
- I love the square profile and how I can get right up to the edges without damaging it
there were a few little spots in the veneer that were chipped- used Gork’s Goodfilla wood filler in walnut to fill; used a putty knife to apply
let dry for a few hours- smoothed out these surfaces
Well that totally sucked. I’m just happy that that stubborn finish FINALLY came off!!
How to apply a paint wash
It’s time to apply the paint wash! For this, my friend chose Country Chic Paint’s Ethereal Mist. I’ll also be using this for the painted areas.
Here’s how I applied the paint wash:
gave the paint a really good stir
in a glass jar, mixed 1/4 paint with 2 cups of water (1:8 ratio)- usually I brush on and then wipe but I tried a new technique (courtesy of @ivylane.home) of brushing on and then just leaving it; this made me nervous so I wiped off but then didn’t like it at all; reapplied, left it and liked it a lot better
- let dry overnight
decided to apply a second coat just to even everything out
Paint washing can be very tricky to get even but with this new method, I found it a lot easier!
How to apply paint accent
For the actual painted parts, I used the same paint I used for the paint wash- Country Chic Paint’s Ethereal Mist.
Here’s how I painted the accents:
started by taping the inside of the chest along the edge using Elite Toughtape- for the areas that the paint wash had been applied to, Elite Sensitape was perfect
- this delicate tape does not lift the finish that’s underneath- it’s truly incredible!
for the first coat, I used Zibra Palm Pro- if I were doing a larger surface, I would have first applied BIN shellac in case of any tannins (wood oils) coming through but this was such a small area I gambled on it – and no bleed through!
- let dry for a couple of hours
- for the next coat, used my Zibra round brush
- let dry overnight
applied the third and final coat; the coverage of this was amazing!!
Usually I have to do more than 3 coats with lighter colours but was so happy that 3 was all that was needed.
How to apply Osmo Polyx-Oil
Country Chic Paint is durable on its own but I always like applying Osmo Polyx-Oil Clear for maximum protection.
Here’s how I sealed the surfaces:
- gave the Osmo Polyx-Oil a really good stir and poured into a tray
for the edges, I used a Elite flat brush and a microfibre roller for the flat surfaces- I made sure to apply a very thin coat to allow for the proper dry time
- let dry overnight (but only 8-10 hours required)
gave all the surfaces a light sand using a 400 grit foam pad
removed the dust with a tack cloth- this ensures a super smooth surface free of dust – and in my case, dog hair
- again let dry overnight
- gave all the surfaces a light sand using a 400 grit foam pad
- removed the dust with a tack cloth
for the 3rd (and final) coat, buffed in the oil using an Osmo Superpad- this means I did gentle circle with the oil until it was all absorbed into the surface
- finished with long even strokes with the grain to make sure no swirl marks remained
- again let dry overnight
All about finishing touches next!
Finishing Touches
I was so happy I achieved the inspiration picture that my friend sent me! Country Chic Paint’s Ethereal Mist was the perfect choice for the paint wash and the paint accent areas. As usual, Osmo Polyx-Oil provided the greatest durability for all the surfaces.
Here’s how I finished off the pieces:
- removed the tape
- used my DeWalt cordless vacuum to remove the little bit of debris that was in the inside
reinstalled the bottom part of the lock
to reinvigorate the cedar smell on the inside, I gave it a light sand using a 220 grit foam pad- used a tack cloth to remove any sanding dust
- 👴🏻 Used Grandpa Ernie’s sanding method for all the wood surfaces for a “smooth like butter 🧈” finish; let me know if you need a further explanation
did a couple of touch ups on the bottom- let dry
- removed the top part of the locking mechanism
it is a safety hazard to have these locks in tact; between 1977 and 2015, 14 children suffocated after getting stuck in Lane cedar chests
Knowing that this piece will continue to be used for more generations is the best feeling in the world. I’m so grateful that she trusted me with this gorgeous family heirloom.
I'd love to know what you think!