I had purchased our previous coffee table at an estate sale about ten years ago straight from an in-law house with early 1970s furnishings. I liked it at the time (never loved it) up until this past weekend after I visited an acquaintance living in a 200 plus year old home. I loved the look of an antique blanket chest as a coffee table which they had in their living room, so much so that when I got home I decided I wanted a “new” coffee table. Antique blanket chests can be quite expensive and I don’t see them often at estate sales. Then I remembered the cedar chest in the sunroom!
When I bought it (also at an estate sale and it was packed with vintage linens) it was covered with watered down white paint, so we had covered it up and been using for storage and gardening supplies. Inspired, I went into the sunroom with a scouring pad, sponge and soapy water.
The inside, however, is as good as new!
I researched the name and logo, and it turns out that my chest was from 1916 or earlier! There is a cedar chest company with a similar name after one of the Roos brothers struck out on his own, but the logos are different.
I was able to scrub off the white stuff and most of the paint flecks. Afterward I polished it with Daddy Van’s Beeswax furniture polish which I use on all old wood in our house.
I love the way it turned out!
One of my other favorite repurposed coffee tables was an old wood lobster trap with a glass top that I had purchased at a seaside yard sale in the early 1990s.
What about you? Have you ever had or do you currently have a repurposed coffee table?
Simple Living New England 
How beautiful, nice job! I would have loved to see the before pic. I made my current coffee table out of 4 wooden crates. I stained, sanded, and polished with wax. Then I glued and nailed them all together and, voila! I was in to DIY projects then. I think you just inspired me to take on another project!
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Thank you! I wish I had taken a before pic! I didn’t think of it until I decided to blog about it which was when I had completed the project.
Your coffee table sounds awesome! Do you have any pics of it on your blog?
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I hate when that happens! I do have pics, but none on my blog. Maybe I’ll do a post of some of my projects!
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Yes, please do that!
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All I can say is that it looks great.
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Thank you!
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Wow! Great transformation! The color of the wood almost glows against the blue in the room.
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Thanks! (Although there is no blue in the room, so perhaps it emitting an antique blue aura!) 🙂
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That is so funny! On my phone, your sofa color is definitely a warm sea blue.😆
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Whaat? Wow, it’s olive! (I wonder how my recipes look on your phone?! ha!)
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😆😆😆 Always delicious, I promise!
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We have a nearly identical one as our coffee table! So I may be a bit biased when I say how great it looks. I like storing my winter sweaters and overflow linens in mine
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Cool and thank you!!
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Omg this is beautiful! I have a soft spot for antiques even though I don’t own any. The age and structure of this chest is amazing! Nothing from ikea would be able to stand the test of time like this chest can! Sorry I got too excited. 🙂
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Julie, thank you! There’s no need to apologize because I feel the same way about my antique and vintage finds! 🙂
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