French Hope Chest Makeover

How I turned my sentimental hope chest into a French chest with a little DIY makeover!

French hope chest makeover with the white chest in the hallway.

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 memento keepsakes.

The hope chest with decor items on top of it.

It was time, though, for a well needed hope chest 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.

A picture of the hope chest with the lid ajar and a cat inside sitting on some clothes.

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).

The cans of mineral paint laid out to choose which colour.

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 paints together.

Now it is a very, very pale grey.

The painted hope chest with metal pulls and framed pictures on top of it.

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 of the chest.

Adding gilding paste close up of chest that is now painted white.

I used only enough to make it a faded gold look but you could add more and buff it off as you go.

Old antique books on top of the chest.

It’s very forgiving and easy to work with, plus I love the look.

Side view of the DIY hope chest makeover.

You can see my lion wardrobe in the distance. I still can’t believe how massive that thing is!

A large wardrobe behind the chest in the hallway.

I’m so happy I still have this French hope chest going on x number of years 😉

The new makeover is perfect to make it more ‘French’.

Fusion-giveaway with a picture of the paint.

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

Visit-more-Fusion-Mineral-Paint-Projects.11-PM


Funky Junk Interiors

Bliss Ranch

Organized Clutter

AKA Design

Knick of Time

Songbird

Suburble

Q is for Quandie

Homeroad

My Patch of Blue Sky

Beyond the Picket Fence

Clean and Scentsible

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.

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66 Comments

  1. What 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!

    Reply

  3. Very 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.

    Reply

  13. Looks 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.

    Reply

  16. I would love to try the paint In Champlain. All your painted pieces are gorgeous! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  20. Ooooh… 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?

    Reply

  21. Nice 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.

    Reply

  25. Prairie Yellow would be fabulous on an old armoire we use as a cocktail bar in the back garden. Dreamy yellow!

    Reply

  26. I 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!

    Reply

  30. I would love to try the following Fusion Mineral Paint colours: Sterling, Champness and Renefrew Blue on a couple of end tables.

    Reply

  40. Would 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..

    Reply

  49. Wow! Fusion’s colors are A.MAZ.ING!! I would love to try their Upper Canada Green paint on a piece I am refinishing now!

    Reply

  54. I 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.

    Reply

  57. I would love to try the transfer gel, something I have read about but never had the opportunity to try it.

    Reply

  59. this 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. 🙂

    Reply

  61. Am following both Fusion Paints and Better with Age on Instagram under ldarling. I love the Algonquin and Upper Canada paints. The colors are lovely!

    Reply

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