Old beat up steamer trunk

Question

To restore or not to restore, that is the question? Any ideas on what I can do with this? The top has a slight bow to it so hard to use as a table. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

Fonda Finney · Answer

Blanket storage?

Julie Moyna · Answer

Yes!!!!!  Restore or actually even just clean it out.  I have a few I have posted in my profile.  I love trunks!  First if it's musty, I line the bottom with fabric sheets until I'm ready to clean it...they really help. That is a great piece for sure!!!!

Goldrushgal · Answer

This one is actually in such good shape I would restore..I found one on the side of the road with many missing parts that I decided to give it a white shabby chic look. If mine would have been in as great a shape as yours would never have painted it. I have a camelback one that I restored for blankets which needed many layers of paint removed. Turned out great.  I bet with a good coat of paste wax yours would be beautiful.  And if the inside smells musty put some charcoal brackets wrapped in newspaper inside and close the lid for a few weeks.

Tracy Jo · Answer

I bought it a few years ago at a garage sale for $30.00, figured it was a pretty good find. Thanks for the feedback.

Kimberly A · Answer

Absolutely restore it!!! My sister just restored two. They were my great grandmother and great grandfathers that they got for travel on their honeymoon in the late 1800's so they had huge sentimental value to the whole family. You can buy thin cedar sheets to reline it or just clean it and wallpaper the interior. One of ours had cedar and the other was wallpapered. Just sand or wire brush the metal and repaint it with Rustoleum paint. You really can get it back to nearly new. 
Use it to store anything including out of season clothes, blankets, anything that is more seasonal such as holiday items, etc.  Just use it and enjoy it, you will be so glad you did.

Country Design Home · Answer

I think I would restore it, although I have seen many painted ones that are simply stunning. Up to you, but yours looks like it is in pretty good shape so I might keep it as is and just enhance it with some polish or refinishing glaze. Good luck! Show the after please!

Lisa · Answer

I love these style trunks, I revamped one about 2 years ago and I use it as my blankets, extra sheet storage now, but first I used it under my tv which held the normal cable box, dvd player and stuff like that, It was a conversation piece that got alot of attention. I paid $75 for mine.

Angelia Christenson · Answer

My hubby would want it restored and i prefer the look it has now. So hard call for this house...sorry if no help but id put at foot of bed if no other trunk or chest is at foot of beds already. It would also hold dang near ALL my cds which would suit me just fine versus having to dust them all the time cause they are displayed currently in alphabetical order by genre...ha. (hubby would have to build me some trays for the inside to keep them organzied though.

Lynn Rainsford · Answer

I say yes, take it apart, sand and re-stain it, put a clear coat of varnish on it, and it will look like a million. I did this to a trunk 36 years ago and have used it as my night stand/ blanket chest since. Love it!!

Anna Erishkigal · Answer

The paint on this trunk is a bit more distressed than would look good in most people's houses. We have an antique upright-grand we touch up with genuine carnuba wax shoe polish (black). Perhaps you might try that with brown to minimize the scratches while keeping it's value as an antique? Or Minwax has a 'wood filler' for stained wood that is really a form of stained wax. Also, please disable the lock. Children can get locked in these and suffocate.

Shelly Janczak · Answer

I have a trunk that I leave the lid open to display all my souvenirs from my honey and my travels and adventures.....

David Rupp · Answer

Check the value it could be worth a lot more like it is !

NurseJen · Answer

Wow! That is a beautiful trunk! Can't wait to see what you decide to do with it!

Susan E · Answer

Minwax makes a product 'WoodFinish Stain Marker' which is stain in a felt tip pen. It actually lasts a long time. I use it to touch up the nicks on my grandmother's mahogany bedroom furniture. Won't work if you have a chewing toddler in your household though.

Charlotte Fairchild · Answer

A nautical varnish went on my trunk that looks similar to yours! Norwex makes a freshner with more natural chemicals, and fewer of them to boot. I have thought of putting new fabric in mine. I don't have to do much. Just make boxes and place inside the trunk. In one trunck I worked on I used contact paper (I was 19 years old).

Tracy Jo · Answer

Thanks so much for all the helpful comments, I will post a picture when I'm done.

Kim snead · Answer

I have an old trunk I bought at a flea market. We polished all the metal on it with drumel brush, then I oiled it really good. Looks great. I wanted to preserve the original look, think of all the places the trunk has been. Oh if only it could talk, what stories it would have!

Julie Moyna · Answer

I don't know why question seems to have been flagged or reported?  Anyway to answer your question...I always throw some new lining inside when I am going to store anything. Either decoupage or shelf lining.  Just to be safe.  And always like I said, fabric sheets. Especially when putting blankets, or linens inside...cheers!

Veronica Shultz · Answer

When I buy an antique, I believe that if I get more use out of a 'restore' then I do so. Even if that means painting. I want to enjoy my purchase and not worry about it's resale value.

Wendy Johnson · Answer

nice trunk, I am commenting because I want to see what you choose. Hope you dont mind. I love old trunks. I have one my grandmother gave me when I was a teenager but I have never changed it.

Marie farrell · Answer

If you want to use as table use thick clear Glass cut to size.
regarding restoring i would check the age and value first
I have a medium size one and i choose to do touch up staining and on the inside i place all the perfume samples from magazines in the trunk with our winter blankets ...

Carol Ann McDaniel · Answer

Some one already messed with it by drilling holes and putting in rope handles. I have restored and utilized many, many trunks. If you want original go to vandykes and get replacement hardware and straps. Plug holes to keep out critters. Paint on a thin coat of beeswax and mineral and buffout. 
To be really useful. Remove the ropes. Add handles. Add a solid bottom, either in or out and add low wheels. Paint with poly and you have a moveable side table. If it was lower you could use it as a coffee table. I've been using a 1.5 foot thick one as such for forty years. It had a pressed paper top that we coated with poly.
We also used two in poor condition as our rural mail box by building a frame to set in concrete. Then another frame to connect them. Then more concrete. The top trunk has two large rural mailboxes that were antiqued bronzey. There are address numbers in the flip down Lids and on front on tge lower trunk. The entire thing gets another coat of poly every year. Woe the stupid head that tries to bash these mailboxes.

Julie · Answer

I have the exact same trunk. Can't wait to see what you decide to do with it. At present I use mine on a covered patio to store garden fertilizer, tools etc.

Darla DeMorrow · Answer

Think 'outside the box'. Are you interested in repurposing? Maybe set it on it's end, fix it open permanently, put shelves inside and use it as a bar, a bookshelf, nightstand, any type of vertical storage. For young kids, you can set it on it's end, secure it open, hang a rod, and use as a mii closet for dress up. Stick it on a covered porch for a dramatic plant display anchor. Put it in your closet or bedroom, line it, as someone mentioned, and use it as your donation box, where you put things you are ready to donate. Make a trip every time the box is full. Hope you find a great use for it.

Jan B · Answer

Yours is a more rare trunk in that the top is rounded - very nice lines! I have a similar trunk from my grandfather that I've been looking at for 25 years, wondering what to do! I'm torn between paint or decoupage. Enjoy your project. Looking forward to seeing what you do.

Mssmatch · Answer

Top is 'rounded'-?-- I see a flat top In photo,I have several hump top trunks that have an obvious rounded top

Deborah Dustman · Answer

@Tracy Jo  I have one like this, too, but haven't done anything with it since I bought it at an antique store for $35. I am excited to hear about and see what you do with it.

Jeanette S · Answer

I would try to just clean it good and follow Kim Snead's advice. I would then use it as an accent piece...it would be pretty anywhere...and use it for storage...maybe the winter coats and outer gear.

Mssmatch · Answer

Then, u have a bow top steamer trunk!  Post pics after u decide how u r going to fix it up

Jenelle · Answer

Personally I would Redo it I found this on pinterest http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/03/ba/23/03ba23342cb1816e5923263c73f52b4b.jpg

Old beat up steamer trunk

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