Bottom Drawer, Pirate Chest…..

I was given this metal trunk by my mum, to be used by my son as a pirate chest. As he is just entering his second year at university that period in the trunk’s life is over.

Originally it had belonged to my Aunty Belle. She was in fact not related to me, but she was a very good friend and neighbour to my grandmother. The trunk had been used as her ‘bottom drawer’. Marrying in the 1930’s, she had filled it with pre-marital gifts of embroidered linens and sheets and had kept it throughout her long marriage.

Now looking a little tired and very rusty, I decided to paint and stencil it,  in order to revive what is still a really useful piece of furniture.

I painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ in Graphite and added a liberal coating of both clear and dark wax. It was then stencilled using my Mini Kota stencil, keeping it really simple with just three motifs on the top. Finally I added some gorgeous vintage metal tassels which I bought in Delhi from the Rajasthani embroidery ladies.

Here it is, completely transformed, taking on a modern ethnic vibe. I wonder what it’s next re-invention maybe!