Upgraded Lane Cedar-Lined Hope Chest with Cushioned Top

Dimensions: Length 53 inches, Width 18.25 inches, Height 20 inches, Weight pretty heavy, probably 75 pounds at least. Do people still use hope chests? I hope so! Probably not for a dowry or trousseau, but they’re still great for storing blankets, heirloom linens or any treasured items, as the cedar repels insects and fungi and adds a fresh aromatic scent. This one has the famous Lane furniture company maker’s mark and item ID code on the inside. Great for a bedroom, living room, or den. Was $300, now $250. Click here to purchase.

The Story

This upcycle project maintained the basic structure of the original piece but updated and substantially transformed its appearance. And wow, did it need some help, as the pictures show—at least, on the outside; the inside was pristine, beautiful and strongly fragrant cedar. I found it on a sidewalk in my Glover Park neighborhood of D.C. A couple sitting nearby had just set it out, hoping someone would take it. Yes, thank you! I removed the casters and replaced them with four wooden feet that I hadn’t used on an Ikea shelving unit I’d purchased some years earlier. I removed the ugly Naugahyde cushion, and bought some thick foam, batting, and upholstery material from a Joann fabric and craft store. I bought the khaki-pale green paint (Benjamin Moore satin “Seaspray”) from Ace Hardware specifically to complement the fabric and aiming for a neutral tone that could work with many existing decors. (This was the first project on which I ever used this color and fabric combination, which I went on to use many more times.) Attaching the new cushion to the lid without damaging the inside was a bit of a challenge, which I solved by anchoring it into a new border of thin wood trim. I sanded the veneer surfaces, applied primer, then a coat of the new paint. I was really pleased with the outcome, having changed an old, dated piece into something new, fresh, and more feminine. I hope you agree.

Related Items: Patriotic Cushioned Bench with Shelf and Storage Baskets.

Items with the same paint color and/or fabric: Free-Standing Reclaimed Shutter Headboard, Triangle Stool, Upgraded Bentwood Rocking Chair, Three Small Shelves on Reclaimed Wood, Pin Board with Drawers and Pegs, Wooden Coffee Table with Drawer and Painted Legs, Console or Side Table Made from Three Wooden Bar Stools, Upcycled End or Side Table Made with Reclaimed Wood, Pin Board with Wicker Frame.