An "It's about time" makeover

I've had this cedar chest for about 10 years. I've never really loved oak and the southwestern fabric was just awful. I may live in Arizona but that doesn't mean I have to decorate my house southwestern. It was definitely time for an overhaul.

Before

(without the cushion on top)

This project was a combined effort from my husband. We sanded it, wiped it down and taped off the inside.

I believe we applied about 3 coats of Rustoleum Colonial Red.

Then we sanded the edges a bit and applied stain to the distressed areas.  

Here it is with the nasty southwestern seat cushion. It definitely looked better than with the oak but it still wasn't cutting it. After much searching we found a fabric we both liked. The best part was it went very well with the hardware before. Now the hardware just needed help. We spray painted them an Espresso color also by Rustoleum.

And the finished product...

I love it so much. I don't want to hide this piece any more. I want this to be in the family room where it will be seen and enjoyed.

~Melanie