Asked on Oct 22, 2014

Red antique trunk to coffee table - change the interior?

This trunk was inspired by the colours of fall and had a deep oil glaze added to it. I love the way the outside turned out but I was wondering if we should have used a different fabric for the interior. Some folks don't care about that sort of thing as long as its clean but others do care. What do you think?
  37 answers
  • Clydene Forbush Clydene Forbush on Oct 22, 2014
    It is a beautiful color!
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Oct 22, 2014
    Thanks Clydene!
  • Joanethames Joanethames on Oct 22, 2014
    I love the trunk and wouldn't worry much about the inside, because only the owners will ever see it.
  • Symea Symea on Oct 22, 2014
    love it inside and out. wouldn't change a thing.
  • Witty Tzipporah Witty Tzipporah on Oct 23, 2014
    I'd consider lining the sides of the inside with a color other than white, probably one of the more subtle colors in the pattern at the bottom, to tie it all together. It looks really nice already, though!
  • Regina Messer Regina Messer on Oct 23, 2014
    If that is the inside "before" I wouldn't do a thing to it! It is gorgeous!
  • Wendy Croft Wendy Croft on Oct 23, 2014
    It's beautiful
  • Jen R Jen R on Oct 23, 2014
    I agree with others, I'd leave it as it is. Great job!
  • Lynette Trejo Lynette Trejo on Oct 23, 2014
    Love it as is! The inside is clean and classic, nice work!
  • Sharon Russell Sharon Russell on Oct 23, 2014
    I love it just the way it is, and I'd like to have it :)
  • Helen Engle Helen Engle on Oct 23, 2014
    Perfect!
  • Cindy Cindy on Oct 23, 2014
    Leave it ... it's great. I am not a big fan of white because it shows dirt so easily, but that can always be changed easily. I light color is perfect for inside tho. Love the fabric, seems to fit perfectly. Great job.
  • Sheila Pack Sheila Pack on Oct 23, 2014
    Personally, I would paint the interior walls of the trunk a nice rich red, picking up the deepest red in the fabric on bottom, covering what looks like a cushion? It would make the cushion (or base) look like it belongs there. The white is just a little stark on such a deeply colored piece (which is GORGEOUS, by the way!).
  • Mary Calley Mary Calley on Oct 23, 2014
    Love the piece! I have an old metal trunk I think I will do this to. My comment, as I am a seamstress, would be to have the pattern run the other direction, so it looks "upright" from the front. I would not change it now-it's beautiful.
  • Cathy Cathy on Oct 23, 2014
    Love, love, love the exterior red! Personally, I would paint the interior the same. The white really doesn't match the gorgeous red color. Wish I had one that beautiful!
  • Ruth Bobic Ruth Bobic on Oct 23, 2014
    Yes, I love it too! I agree paint the white to red or dark brown.
  • Debbie Debbie on Oct 23, 2014
    I think it looks terrific just the way it is!
  • Danielle Sallada Danielle Sallada on Oct 23, 2014
    It's beautiful! But I would line the sides with a fabric color that matches the bottom, or line the entire inside with that fabric. If you were to put anything in there as it stands right now, it would hide that beautiful fabric.
  • RIVER RIVER on Oct 23, 2014
    The white makes it look unfinished as if you were going to line it but never finished. I would get some material that looks like silk and some craft glue and pleat line it (sort of ruched) around the sides in the lovely oyster colour in the carpet this will keep it simple but rich.
  • Linda Linda on Oct 24, 2014
    Love the outside! I agree with the seamstress on the direction of the cloth pattern. I personally would like a color on the inside - one of the colors in the cloth. I would stay away from cloth on the 'walls' of the inside because I see them coming apart in the future. Congrats on your bravery!
  • Mary Thorne Mary Thorne on Oct 24, 2014
    Leave it!
  • Lisa Lisa on Oct 24, 2014
    I agree with Witty from Israel. It's Beautiful! Would you share your paint and glaze techniques please? LOVE it!
  • Rob Bennett Rob Bennett on Oct 24, 2014
    Yikes!! Absolutely don't paint the interior.. that's too permanent!
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Oct 24, 2014
    Love the colour. Did you consider bun feet? Probably would have just put poly on inside. However, love the pattern and colour of the material. And one length does it instead of having seams..
  • Carol Tomlin Carol Tomlin on Oct 25, 2014
    GORGEOUS !
  • Jennifer Parsons Jennifer Parsons on Oct 26, 2014
    I have refinished several old trunks, choosing how to finish the interior was based on how the trunk was going to be used, for a childs room fabric or paper with prints that are appealing to a child, toys, dolls, etc. For the trunk, turned coffee table, consider cedar lining and storing extra throws & pillows.
  • Jan Jan on Oct 26, 2014
    I agree with a lot---love the idea for paper or wallpaper (really vintage) or paint it to match the outside but white is a shocker---do like the fabric
  • Wendy Johnson Wendy Johnson on Oct 26, 2014
    Love the fabric and red paint. Like the idea of wallpaper inside but dont find the white horrible ...nice job
  • DebLynn DebLynn on Oct 27, 2014
    I like the RED! Usually the trunks are Black or Brown. The fabric is fineā€¦. The white paint is too stark in my opinion but looks clean. A gold or tan would be more in keeping with the colors of the Fabric. Thanks for another great inspiring project. GET TO WORK
  • Ann Werline Ann Werline on Oct 27, 2014
    I have a steamer trunk that I redid with my mother years ago and it needs to be redone! That red is perfect!!! Please share the paint color and product you used!
  • Susan Renaud Susan Renaud on Oct 27, 2014
    I think it looks very classy with this fabric but I wonder why you didn't cover the entire inside with the same fab fabric. You've given me an idea for an old blue trunk that sits in my storage room. I think I'll be busy this winter. Also with such a large piece, I'd put wheels or casters on it.
    • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Oct 29, 2014
      @Susan Renaud I didn't cover the entire inside because the fabric is hard to work with since it stretches.
  • Stormie Remus Stormie Remus on Nov 30, 2014
    Porta Verde Studio said she mixed her own colors to get the red. I'm going to take a pix and compare it to Annie Sloans' chalk paint. I have a camera that will capture the red in the pix:)
  • Jeannie Andrews Jeannie Andrews on Dec 16, 2014
    @StormieRemus so what did you come up with regarding the paint? I love the red myself, and would consider it in my livingroom and even my kitchen and laundry, for a pop of color. I have just started using chalk paint, and have decided I love it! Wow does it paint fast and dry faster. I don't know about getting the deep red color that could be on this trunk, however. Let us know, I think there are a bunch of us who are curious about the color.
  • Porta Verde Studio Porta Verde Studio on Dec 23, 2014
    I've used ASCP Emporers Silk on another trunk (pic below) but it is not the same hue as this colour. This red is much deeper and brighter. Its actually the black glaze that tones it down and make is look so rich.
    • 861650 861650 on Dec 23, 2014
      @Porta Verde Studio Thanks for the great info about black glaze. Years ago, I painted three drawer fronts with red. Then, I mixed black craft paint and a little water. Lightly painted over the red, waited a minute then wiped it off. I did play with this mixture before putting on drawers. One great thing about this procedure is if you mess it up, wipe it off and start again. What I got was a rich red but "not in your face" red. Having said ALL that, you trunk is absolutely beautiful...love the legs too. I want two of theses! LOL!
  • Sheryl Sheryl on Dec 23, 2014
    Love it just as it is!! Great Job!!
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Jan 05, 2015
    I would keep the fabric on the bottom of the trunk...To break up the white I would decoupage some Steampunk or Victorian pictures with some of the colors in the fabric. You can let the white show thru, but make it like you scattered the pictures haphazardly on the inside. Hope this helps