I am so excited that Design*Sponge enjoyed my newest project! She asked me to comment and leave some additional information about the fabric I used, so here goes! I purchased this purple and navy satin print fabric at Joann etc for a whopping $6/yd! Don’t you just love finding something you love on sale?!?! I just thought with it being such a neutral classic steamer trunk the unexpected burst of color would just make me smile every time I opened it to pull out a board game! If you have any questions about it please let me know! ENJOY!

I LOVE how you kept the outside so nice…and the inside is such a lovely pop of colour! Keeping the natural wood on the outside and the modern colour on the inside was definitely a great choice. <3

nice work! I would love to know more about how you refinished the exterior of the trunk. I recently inherited a humpback trunk that’s very weathered on the exterior, and smells heavily of mothballs on the interior, but has great potential. I just don’t know where to start with refinishing it! Any help you could offer or resources you could point me towards would be appreciated, thanks!

First of all I am jealous that your uncle found a trunk auctioned off for $2. What a deal! My boyfriend and I have been searching for a wooden truck for so long. How were you able to restore the hardware or did you paint it? It is hard to tell from the pictures

I would love to know, the process you went through. I have some old trunks but wouldn’t know where to start. Did you strip it and stain it? What did you use on the rust? And for the legs, did you just screw them into the bottom?

Wow, this is one of the best before and afters I have seen, because the improvement isn’t just obvious (like a coat of paint) – you’ve revealed the beauty of the wood, and added to it with the fabric. Love it!

what a beautiful trunk! that’s a great find and I love the ‘hidden gem’ on the inside – that fabric is so vibrant and lovely!

Reminds me of the trunks I used to find at barn sales. I got my first one for $25, and painstakingly refurbished it. The second one I never got around to working on, and ended up selling it to someone else.

Great piece!

I’m so glad you all like the trunk! I got so many of your inquiries about the process I used that I just posted a blog that has a step by step tutorial! Let me know what you think and when you’re all done refinishing yours I’d love to see them!!! http://chicmapsbynikki.blogspot.com

Well Done! I had a bit of a freak out when I saw the ‘during’ photo and thought to myself, “Oh no! She’s going to paint that beautiful trunk”, but the surprise was well worth it. Respectfully restored and with a quirky detail on the inside. :) I cant wait to see what more things you do.

Really great job – I love the fabric she chose :)

Love it! I really like this series in general. It promotes recycling, which I do with clients furnishings they no longer need or want. Very green. Very nice.

What an amazing transformation. The trunk looks great and what a fun textile choice for the lining!

I loved the country flower bouquets. They were unique, chic, and classy, but yet still felt slightly country, yet non-intimidating. I also loved seeing john robshaw’s new linens! well done!

Why do we have this need to ‘clean stuff up.’ The trunk has character and tells a tale. It’s all been sanitised by a tacky characterless fabric.

I have a trunk like this and need to do that same. Thanks for the inspiration!