the original house- with beadboard, hardwood floors & corner windows- which each of the 4 original bedrooms had . We did nearly all the work ourselves and I absolutely love how it turned out. It is one of my favorite rooms because it has so much sunshine streaming in and I love the french doors leading out to the backyard. More of my bedroom decorated for Christmas at my blog~ http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/201...

it says, "Frank Johann Aus Sinsheim", which translates to "Frank Johann of Sinsheim" [a town in Germany].

Anyway, dad has had the trunk in his backyard for at least 10 years, exposed to weather - rain, snow, heat, drought - you name it. He has known that I have always wanted it, yet I never seemed to be able to have the time or room in my car to take it... until it literally fell apart and collapsed into a lovely weathered heap of boards in his yard. At last, it fit into my car! In its dilapidated state, it was no longer a trunk, but POTENTIAL! So I did the next logical thing - I cut it up and made a shelf. Here is the fruit of my efforts... with the original iron handles and charming old text.