Who doesn’t love a vintage steamer trunk.
It’s traveled, It has experience, It’s been on adventures.
I’ve had this old canvas trunk for almost 10 years now, but have never been in love with it. (another dumpster dive find)
No, It’s not Goyard, or Louis Vuitton. or anything else pedigreed. But it has some decent qualities.
It no longer has a hinge, so basically it is just a bottom with a separate lid. Like a box.
The gun-metal hardware is pretty suave. (it was brass once upon a time) But those honey colored wood strips wrapping delicately around it are by far it’s best feature. Too bad they blend into the brown-ISH canvas.
I’m not to sure who H.M.K. was.
I have a theory that he might be – “His Majesty (the) King”
Yeah Right. Wouldn’t that be cool? You know, ’til we paint over it. Ohhh yeah, we’re going to paint it.
BLACK, we paint everything black.
I’m sure some of you purists are gasping right now. But trust me on this one, it’s going to be way, much, more better.
I started with a roll of frog tape. If you have never used frog tape, give it a shot. It’s some kind of voodoo for painting.
I taped off everything that I didn’t want black – all the wood trim and the hardware.
Stripes were painted on trunks to help porters quickly identify a specific traveler’s luggage.
This one is a winner.
Of course, I found a cool Louis Vuitton with stripes too.
To give my trunk some much-needed stripes, I started by spraying the center white.
Then I add a couple of strips of frog tape wrapped around the whole trunk.
I spray another layer of white on top of the tape.
This is a trick to make sure all my bleed-thru (if there is any with the frog tape) is white…..pretty clever.
I painted the entire trunk black. (Ralph Lauren “Granite”, same paint as our fireplace) The center stripe (between the 2 strips of frog tape) I painted Martha Stewart “Barn” red.
No special reason for these specific colors – these were just leftover paints in the garage.
When I peel back the frog tape…..the beautiful crisp stripes are revealed.
Beautiful, but just a bit bright.
I sponged over them with a little glaze mixed with a few drops of brown paint to tone down the bright white.
In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”, Jimmy Stewart searches for a big suitcase with plenty of room for stickers.
Stickers indeed.
All those ripped faded stickers….Drool
It just so happens that Jamie gave me a box set of travel sticker postcards for Valentine’s Day.
It was filled with 30 postcards inspired by vintage hotel labels taken from the Louis Vuitton archives.
I also found this tin of travel stickers on Amazon, 12 bucks didn’t seem like too much to pay.
This set offered more claim checks and shipping tags. I like all the red too, especially in the Cunard and White Star tags.
I’m a nut for all the graphics, but they were just a bit glossy for this project. Jamie scanned them and printed them on both card stock and regular paper, muting all the overly bright colors just slightly.
I laid them all out and gave each a spritz with coffee.
That’s right, coffee…..a spritz with a very watered down version and a second splattering with a strong one.
After they dried, and crumpled nicely too I might add, I just spread on Modpodge with a small brush……
….and then pressed them in place.
That takes care of the stickers……
Ready for the finished trunk?
Ba-Bam!!!
I think this could be a cool idea to reinvent an old dresser with stripes and travel stickers.
I painted the handles black too.
How beautiful are those wood strips now?
And it fits under the rustic coffee table we revamped last month.
Now that mangy old trunk looks like it’s been around the world.
Way, More, Much Better…
Go ahead………Admit it, I was right.
THE CAVENDER DIARY 
OMG!!! Spectacular!!! Great job, you two!!! WOW!!
Thanks Vickie!! We will paint anything black around here….usually it looks better
It’s so agonizing to be scrolling and having to hold out to see the finished product. You know with each step it’s getting more and more awesome, and you just.have.to.wait.for.it. Aghhhh.
Totally worth waiting for. 🙂
I always want to post the finished project in the first photo ( it’s usually the bet picture) but I have to make y’all wait ….just for that reason
Yes. You were right!
I know…….I dont’t write about the times I have been wrong, but Jamie could fill you in on a few of them
Wow – This is really impressive! You know everyone who reads this is going to be on the look out for a trunk they can make over to right?
I just saw a stack today at an antique shop…but they were about $160- 200 each…OUCH
Sweet… Remember that seel trunk we shanghied? ) Miss you, Marvey, as salways!
PS Don’t forget about your ward arriving at airport, soon.
Amazing! I wish I had your vision and talent!
Awww shucks, Cathy, we just paint everything black
Well done! Keep sharing, such a fan!
We try to be fun
So glad that you’re here watching!!!
Way more, much better is right! Where does one find those Louis Vuitton stickers?
They are available at the LV boutiques….Jamie picked them up on a trip to Vegas a few weeks ago
But Amazon has several styles of the other lables online
Really?? Y’all piss me off! In a GOOD way!!! 🙂 Wish I had half of your patience. The trunk looks fabulous! Just like everything else in your house!
Awww Ann, you are so sweet! (Just made me smile)
So glad that you found us….
Love, Love, LOVE it!!!…and it looks sooo great underneath your table! I found a trunk at a Goodwill, and put legs on it… http://made-2-love.blogspot.com/2013/02/up-cycled-vintage-trunk.html
BTW…we have similar couches…is yours from IKEA? I love how you laid the blanket across the bottom of the Chaise. I am sooo doing this! 😉
I know, I read your post. LOVE it with leggs.
That is an Ikea Couch…we are having some issues with it…wanna add another piece (long story, I’ll post the whole story soon).. I found a stack of trunks with wood similar to mine yesterday..they started at $165…AS IF..mine was free
The cushion on my chaise keeps sliding off…doesn’t match up with the velcro. Is this the same problem you’re having? Still LOVE the whole set though! I bought the same layout as Young House Love! =)
There is a “weird” noise of the air being pushed from the cushions when we sit on it……But the velcro seems to line up ok…Yeah, we saw the Young House Lovers set up too…..and painted the leggs like they did .
Unbelievable!! I did like the stenciled initials in the before pic – you could add yours 🙂
It was hard to paint over them, but yes, I can always add some
What kind of paint did you use if you dont mind me asking?
I used regular latex paint….except the white..it was 99 cent sparay paint.
I never mind anyone asking anything….
I wonder if you could spruce up an old foot locker to look as good? I’ll have to look around, I must have one. Ann
I think it would work just the same …..give it a shot
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Hi – I just picked up a nice steamer trunk today from a charity shop – not that cheap £65 – but its in really good condition – just deciding how to make it over ! – I love your site and the end result of your trunk looks amazing – I found you by searching for vintage steamer labels – thanks so much for sharing – Louize x
Since I’m a lover of all things old, & a fairly new student – yet ardent supporter of repurposed/refurbished furniture – AND since my partner & I are also two men in our forties, your site (& witty sense of humor) seems like something I’d enjoy getting to know more of…
Thanks for the DIY info on the trunk, as I am currently repurposing an old steamer trunk to create what will be our coffee table.
Thanks again!
Fred (& Bob)
Welcome aboard, Fred. It’s nice to be able to connect with other like-minded people like you…….and hopefully Bob as well. If you can actually read the first 400 posts…..don’t worry, We have lots more to share. Great to have you here!
Oh yeah, we’d love to see pictures of your trunk/coffee table when you’re done!
Wow you transformed a tacky looking old trunk into one with real character. You are sooooooo talented. I wish I could do a small fraction of the magic you are so incredibly capable of doing. Keep up the amazing work.