How I turned my sentimental hope chest into a French chest with a little makeover!
I’ve had this hope chest forever. It was my sweet 16 birthday present from my parents.
It has been with me through every move.
It’s been used as a TV stand, a bench, a place to set my stereo onto, at the foot of my bed and a storage unit.
But I actually did use it as an actual hope chest when I first received it and I held on to some precious items from my grandmother as well as special keepsakes.
It was time, though, for a well needed makeover.
Here is the only before photo I could find of my hope chest.
Please excuse the awful shot.
Awww, I miss my cat, Juliette.
You might have noticed this image on my Instagram feed.
I had painted it years ago and added a brown glaze to it but I was never crazy about it.
I tried out various Fusion Mineral Paint samples and I loved the two on the left (Casement and Lampwhite).
I could not decide which one to go with. Casement was too white and Lampwhite was a touch too grey for me so I decided to mix the two together.
Now it is a very, very pale grey.
I tried out gilding paste for the first time and love how easy it is to apply.
It comes in a tiny pot. I stirred it around and put a blob on a paper towel.
Then using cotton swabs I added the gilding paste in the grooves of the design and along the feet.
I used only enough to make it a faded gold look but you could add more and buff it off as you go.
It’s very forgiving and easy to work with.
You can see my lion wardrobe in the distance. I still can’t believe how massive that thing is!
I’m so happy I still have this hope chest going on x number of years 😉
The new makeover is perfect to make it more ‘French’.
GIVEAWAY
There are three ways to enter!
1. Visit Fusion Mineral Paint HERE and tell me what product you would love to try.
2. For a 2nd entry, follow Fusion Mineral Paint on Instagram HERE, then comment again with your Instagram name that you have done so or already do..
3. For a 3rd entry, follow So Much Better With Age on Instagram HERE, and comment again with your Instagram name that you have done so or already do.
Fusion Mineral Paint is sold at merchants listed HERE
Buy Funky Junk Old Signs HERE
This giveaway is good worldwide. You must be over the age of 18 to win. Void where prohibited. Winner will be deemed by random draw. One ‘semi-finalist’ will be drawn from each of the blogs participating in this blog hop, and then the final winner of the $150 Fusion Mineral Paint will be drawn by Fusion from those semi-finalists. Winner must enter with valid email and reply within 3 days of winning email sent to you. This giveaway ends Monday, May 18th, at midnight EST. Winner will be announced in this blog post by May 20th.
Congratulations to Lucy Auburn, winner of $150 of Fusion Mineral Paint
Disclosure: Thank you, Mineral Paint, for providing me with the paint for today’s project! All opinions are 100% my own.
Bliss says
May 11, 2015 at 5:49 amWhat a great way to update something that means so much to you. And I can’t help but notice the “lion” in the background too!
Angie @ Knick of Time says
May 11, 2015 at 6:05 amBeautiful!! I haven’t tried the gilding paste yet, and am looking forward to it.
Rust says
May 11, 2015 at 6:08 amVery nice! What a gorgeous chest. I have an ancient armoire that’s been shelved and converted a pantry that could use a facelift. The ‘Damask’ color would look nice on it. Love the built in topcoat.
Rust says
May 11, 2015 at 6:08 amI follow Fusion on instagram as rusthawk1.
Rust says
May 11, 2015 at 6:09 amI follow you on instagram as rusthawk1.
Shawnna says
May 11, 2015 at 6:31 amOh I just love the hope chest!! So pretty!!
Tymes Past says
May 11, 2015 at 6:40 amI like all the colors but I think Inglenook would be nice to try.
Debbie Dion Hayes says
May 11, 2015 at 6:53 amLove how you tried out the colors. What a great way to see the subtle differences. And how easy just to mix! Lovely project with lots of sentiment!
Carol S. says
May 11, 2015 at 7:01 amLove the Iglenook.
Carol S. says
May 11, 2015 at 7:01 amFollow on Instagram (Artfully_Rustic).
Sharonf says
May 11, 2015 at 7:41 amLove so mang but inglenook is so pretty
Sharonf says
May 11, 2015 at 7:41 amMany not mang
Sharonf says
May 11, 2015 at 7:59 amInstagram sharonf52 …love the color
Dan says
May 11, 2015 at 7:50 amLove the gold trim!
April says
May 11, 2015 at 7:50 amLooks beautiful Jamie. As always great taste and I love that you have kept this piece and updated it. The color choice is very nice and I love the gold gilding.
Kari Beckett says
May 11, 2015 at 8:13 amI follow you on Instagram as kkaisner
Kari Beckett says
May 11, 2015 at 8:14 amI am now following Fusion Mineral Paint on Instagram.
angie says
May 11, 2015 at 9:13 amI would love to try the paint In Champlain. All your painted pieces are gorgeous! Thanks for the inspiration!
angie says
May 11, 2015 at 9:17 amFollowed Fusion Paints on IG — angiemarie65!
angie says
May 11, 2015 at 9:18 amAlready a follower on IG — angiemarie65.
Funky Junk Interiors says
May 11, 2015 at 9:18 amWow… what a stunner! The touches of gold are amazing and perfect for this piece.
Such a beautiful compliment to everything you have in your home!
Tara says
May 11, 2015 at 10:34 amOoooh… I’m happy to see you tried the gilding paste and liked it! It’s such a lovely colour, Jamie – great job! Now tell me this: where are those handles from?
Beverly says
May 11, 2015 at 10:38 amNice job your hope chest. I was given my Lane maple hope chest 55 years ago by my maternal grandmother. I would like to paint it with limestone.
Jamie | anderson + grant says
May 11, 2015 at 10:50 amLovely! It is so nice that you’ve been able to repurpose a meaningful piece of furniture in so many different ways…..And I’m sure that there are many more years of use that it will see.
Denise says
May 11, 2015 at 12:28 pmI want to try Fort York Red on an old dresser I have.
Susan Homeroad says
May 11, 2015 at 1:20 pmThat hope chest came out gorgeous! I love the 2nd color detailing! 🙂 pinned!
Michelle says
May 11, 2015 at 3:07 pmPrairie Yellow would be fabulous on an old armoire we use as a cocktail bar in the back garden. Dreamy yellow!
Sally says
May 11, 2015 at 7:26 pmI like Algonquin and Lamp White. I have some chests that I need to paint and these are calling my name. I like the way your hope chest turned out, it is stunning!
Sherry Fram says
May 11, 2015 at 11:17 pmI would like to try the gilding paste or the sand stone texture.
Sherry Fram says
May 11, 2015 at 11:19 pmI follow Fusion Mineral Paint on Instagram with the name nananurse60.
Sherry Fram says
May 11, 2015 at 11:20 pmI follow So Much Better With Age on Instagram with the name nananurse60.
Nancy MacGregor says
May 12, 2015 at 12:44 amI would love to try the following Fusion Mineral Paint colours: Sterling, Champness and Renefrew Blue on a couple of end tables.
Carol M says
May 12, 2015 at 4:48 amMy favorite Fusion color is Coal. I have an old desk that would look great in it!
Carol M says
May 12, 2015 at 4:49 amI follow Fusion on Instagram as msmisk.
Carol M says
May 12, 2015 at 4:51 amI follow betterwithage on Instagram as msmisk.
theresa J says
May 12, 2015 at 9:12 amI would love to paint an old bookcase in Prairie Sunset
theresa J says
May 12, 2015 at 9:13 amI follow Fusion on instagram
tweetyscute
theresa J says
May 12, 2015 at 9:14 amI follow betterwithage1 on instagram
tweetyscute
Cheryl says
May 12, 2015 at 10:09 amI would love to try their Buttermilk Cream on a bench I have.
Love that make over and the two paints together make it great!!
Cheryl says
May 12, 2015 at 10:10 amI’m following Fusion on Instagram under downsprigglane.
Thanks for a chance at winning!!
Cheryl says
May 12, 2015 at 10:13 amI’m following you on Instagram under downsprigglane.
Thanks again for a chance to win!!
JanC says
May 13, 2015 at 9:49 amWould love to try Fusion Mineral Paint. Tried to follow the link in #1, didn’t work. I know follow you and fusion mineral paint on Instagram. Would love to try the products..
ginette4 says
May 14, 2015 at 10:51 amI would love to try their paint..love the colour Ash, would paint my night stand in that colour
ginette4 says
May 14, 2015 at 10:52 amFollowing Fusion Paint on instagram
https://instagram.com/ginette4/
Ellen Casper says
May 15, 2015 at 9:29 amI’d like to try the Beeswax Finish
Ellen Casper says
May 15, 2015 at 9:29 amFollowing Fusion Paint on instagram – flagler2
Ellen Casper says
May 15, 2015 at 9:30 amFollowing So Much Better With Age on Instagram – flagler2
Lucy @ Patina Paradise says
May 15, 2015 at 6:22 pmI would love to try their embossing paste. Haven’t had a chance to do raised stencils for more than 10 years and there were no embossing pastes back then.
Lucy @ Patina Paradise says
May 15, 2015 at 6:24 pmAm a follower of Fusion on Instagram. patinaparadise
Lucy @ Patina Paradise says
May 15, 2015 at 6:24 pmAm now a follower of yours on Instagram. patinaparadise
Ashleigh Hall says
May 15, 2015 at 7:53 pmWow! Fusion’s colors are A.MAZ.ING!! I would love to try their Upper Canada Green paint on a piece I am refinishing now!
Laura says
May 16, 2015 at 8:08 amI would love to try some Coal Black on an old dresser. 🙂
Laura says
May 16, 2015 at 8:09 amI follow Better with Age on instagram and I am llaskey1117
Laura says
May 16, 2015 at 8:09 amI follow Fusion paint on Instagram and I am llaskey1117
Solducky says
May 16, 2015 at 7:30 pmInglenook is lovely!
Tina says
May 16, 2015 at 11:12 pmI like Casement and Upper Canada Green. What great paint! I want to paint the vanity in my bathroom.
Following So Much Better With Age and Fushion on Instagram……under the name bugmom2
I would sure love to win. Thanks for the chance.
Ashleigh Hall says
May 17, 2015 at 6:08 amI follow Fusion Mineral Paint on Instagram! andyashleigh
Ashleigh Hall says
May 17, 2015 at 6:09 amI follow you on Instagram! andyashleigh
Jan Schield says
May 17, 2015 at 9:10 pmI would love to try the transfer gel, something I have read about but never had the opportunity to try it.
Karen U says
May 18, 2015 at 8:53 amI really want to paint my kitchen cabinets with Sterling and lamp white!
Karen U
bj says
June 23, 2015 at 7:07 amthis is so awesome.i, too, have a cedar chest given to me for my 16th birthday and that was a loooong time ago (i am 77) and I’ve been wanting to paint it…you have just given me the inspiration I needed to get the job done.
I’m now following you thru email so you can show me what else I might wanna do. 🙂
[email protected]'sbox says
June 24, 2015 at 6:42 amI have a similar piece and have been contemplating painting it for years – you just might have given me the push!! Love how your turned out!
Linda says
June 24, 2015 at 4:25 pmAm following both Fusion Paints and Better with Age on Instagram under ldarling. I love the Algonquin and Upper Canada paints. The colors are lovely!
Judy says
June 30, 2015 at 4:37 pmYou did a great job. I will be featuring this tonight at my Sizzle into Summer party that opens at 8pm EST. Please stop by and pick up an I’ve Been Featured button. Thanks. http://diybydesign.blogspot.com
Jamie says
July 19, 2015 at 5:46 pmThanks so much, Judy!
Big hugs, Jamie
rohit aggarwal says
July 4, 2018 at 1:49 amthanks for the information