sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,580
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Jul 23, 2014 16:20:08 GMT
The top is as black as the sides. I'm not a great photographer. I guess the flash made it look light. My main question is should I coat it with something? I kind of like the old looking color of it. Also that missing piece of veneer on the front-- any suggestions to make it prettier? 
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Post by bianca42 on Jul 23, 2014 16:24:30 GMT
My parents have had an old trunk in the living room as the coffee table for as long as I can remember. It's not coated with anything. When we were kids it was just plain and mostly had our toys on it. These days it usually has a seasonally appropriate table runner and some little decorative things. It has held up very well.
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Post by colleen on Jul 23, 2014 16:27:38 GMT
You might want to rub in some furniture wax. It makes for a nice finish and a little protection. But I don't think I would spray on lacquer or anything. It's cool!
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Post by sisterbdsq on Jul 23, 2014 16:28:03 GMT
I would linseed it. As far as the missing veneer...I don't know.
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Montannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,486 
Location: Big Sky Country
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Post by Montannie on Jul 23, 2014 16:31:21 GMT
Maybe a piece of tempered glass, small enough to clear the corner brasses?
ETA: It's a goreous trunk!. If you want to fix the veneer, I wouldn't try it yourself unless you're handy. Find a furniture repair place.
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Post by Dictionary on Jul 23, 2014 16:36:27 GMT
I agree with the others a nice oil would do wonders, you might want to consider a glass top if you are worried about further damage or stains to the top. It looks great BTW!
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,038
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Jul 23, 2014 16:36:37 GMT
I like the wax or linseed oil ideas. As for the missig piece of veneer, I think it adds to the charm. Either that, or spin it around so the missing chuck faces the couch. Nice find!
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,894
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Post by CeeScraps on Jul 23, 2014 17:25:38 GMT
Missing veener....turn the trunk around! (Live with it turned around before you do anything else with it.) I wouldn't mess with that as I would not be able to match it.
For the top you could get glass. We have a wagon as a coffee table. I've put old photos and memorabilia in it. Some of the paperwork is from when homes were on lock-down due to diseases.
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Sue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,240
Location: SE of Portland, Oregon
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Post by Sue on Jul 23, 2014 17:33:48 GMT
Since you aren't planning on having the missing veneer replaced right away, I think you could consider brushing on some watered down black paint in that area just so it wasn't so glaringly different than the original finish. This would still allow you to replace the veneer in the future without causing additional problems.
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sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,580
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Jul 23, 2014 17:40:02 GMT
Since you aren't planning on having the missing veneer replaced right away, I think you could consider brushing on some watered down black paint in that area just so it wasn't so glaringly different than the original finish. This would still allow you to replace the veneer in the future without causing additional problems. I like this idea! |
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Post by anxiousmom on Jul 23, 2014 17:43:06 GMT
Just a hint from a girl who buys old beat up furniture all the time...make sure you either treat it for, or examine it for termites before you bring it inside permanently. Some pest control services offer a service where they will fumigate it for you in a sealed room, or you can tent it yourself.
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sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,580
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Jul 23, 2014 17:45:09 GMT
Just a hint from a girl who buys old beat up furniture all the time...make sure you either treat it for, or examine it for termites before you bring it inside permanently. Some pest control services offer a service where they will fumigate it for you in a sealed room, or you can tent it yourself. Damn I hadn't thought of that! I bought it from my next door neighbor. She had it in her garage. |
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Post by anxiousmom on Jul 23, 2014 17:47:05 GMT
Just a hint from a girl who buys old beat up furniture all the time...make sure you either treat it for, or examine it for termites before you bring it inside permanently. Some pest control services offer a service where they will fumigate it for you in a sealed room, or you can tent it yourself. Damn I hadn't thought of that! I bought it from my next door neighbor. She had it in her garage. I, unfortunately, learned this one the hard way. A couple thousand dollars later to treat my house and I learned to never, ever bring the distressed older furniture in the house without checking it out first.  |
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Post by Ellie on Jul 23, 2014 17:49:36 GMT
I was also going to suggest either linseed oil or wax. It's a cool trunk--I'd love it!  |
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Post by my2apps2 on Jul 23, 2014 18:09:46 GMT
I don't have any suggestions, but it sure is a lovely trunk! I wish I could find things like that, I just never seem to have any luck.
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gloryjoy
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,332
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Post by gloryjoy on Jul 23, 2014 18:22:21 GMT
No ideas but that's a great looking trunk!
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stampinchica
Junior Member
~I just got some juice out of the fridge & I swear I heard the wine say "what the f*&#?"~
Posts: 68
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Post by stampinchica on Jul 23, 2014 18:45:12 GMT
Treat, oil and a glass top - it's beautiful already. You'll just need the minimal of work done.
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M in Carolina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,128
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Post by M in Carolina on Jul 23, 2014 18:51:45 GMT
I have been looking for a great trunk like that. I love it! I think the wax will protect the wood without making it look glossy. You could definitely use a bit of thinned out paint to blend in the missing veneer.
I have always loved the look of old passenger trunks that had the vintage shipping labels from exotic locals--the labels were beautiful.
If I had a trunk like that--after I cleaned it out and checked it for spiders/spider eggs and termites, I would wax it with a tin of furniture wax--in the most neutral finish I could find, not glossy.
I'd put a piece of glass on top to protect the vintage stamps that I would have arranged on the top of the trunk. I would probably use brass upholstery tacks on the corners of the top to raise the glass off the surface of the top. Vintage ones would be best and can be found in flea markets and ebay as vintage upholstery supplies.
I'd probably modge podge the stamps if I couldn't figure out a better way to accentuate the stamps without covering the wood surface.
My final plan for the lack of veneer would be finding a small vintage post card that looked like those awesome travel posters. I'd arrange a few of them-- in both portrait and landscape style-- around the sides of the trunk.
I love those artistic travel and advertisement posters. When dh just went to the US Open in June, He brought back a could of the artist rendered posters from this year's open and two previous that are in the style of the vintage posters.
If you wanted more of a modern, clean finish, I would use linseed oil on the trunk to protect it from water stains. If you have a smaller hardware/paint store near you, there might be someone who could give you the best advice on how to protect the trunk without changing the surface of the trunk. I'd probably use a thinned out crafter's acrylic paint in a matte finish to camouflage the missing veneer. Home Depot/Lowes also sells veneer pieces. You might find someone who could tell you what kind of wood veneer would match and could add the veneer and paint it to match the rest of the trunk.
I would also put either small feet, thick felt, or caster feet on the bottom of the trunk to protect your floors and make the trunk easier to move around. I would also line the trunk with something--even just felt on the bottom and sides-- to protect blankets, pillows or whatever else you want to store in it. Even a nice box or set of boxes that fit neatly into the trunk would be awesome.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,005
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Post by blue tulip on Jul 23, 2014 19:07:21 GMT
my mom has a trunk side table. it has a piece of tempered glass with little "bumpers" on teh bottomside- they look like slightly flattened clear blobs in teh corners. almost invisible, and gives teh glass top room to clear the brass fittings on the trunk top.
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sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,580
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Jul 23, 2014 19:18:24 GMT
I have been looking for a great trunk like that. I love it! I think the wax will protect the wood without making it look glossy. You could definitely use a bit of thinned out paint to blend in the missing veneer. I have always loved the look of old passenger trunks that had the vintage shipping labels from exotic locals--the labels were beautiful. If I had a trunk like that--after I cleaned it out and checked it for spiders/spider eggs and termites, I would wax it with a tin of furniture wax--in the most neutral finish I could find, not glossy. I'd put a piece of glass on top to protect the vintage stamps that I would have arranged on the top of the trunk. I would probably use brass upholstery tacks on the corners of the top to raise the glass off the surface of the top. Vintage ones would be best and can be found in flea markets and ebay as vintage upholstery supplies. I'd probably modge podge the stamps if I couldn't figure out a better way to accentuate the stamps without covering the wood surface. My final plan for the lack of veneer would be finding a small vintage post card that looked like those awesome travel posters. I'd arrange a few of them-- in both portrait and landscape style-- around the sides of the trunk. I love those artistic travel and advertisement posters. When dh just went to the US Open in June, He brought back a could of the artist rendered posters from this year's open and two previous that are in the style of the vintage posters. If you wanted more of a modern, clean finish, I would use linseed oil on the trunk to protect it from water stains. If you have a smaller hardware/paint store near you, there might be someone who could give you the best advice on how to protect the trunk without changing the surface of the trunk. I'd probably use a thinned out crafter's acrylic paint in a matte finish to camouflage the missing veneer. Home Depot/Lowes also sells veneer pieces. You might find someone who could tell you what kind of wood veneer would match and could add the veneer and paint it to match the rest of the trunk. I would also put either small feet, thick felt, or caster feet on the bottom of the trunk to protect your floors and make the trunk easier to move around. I would also line the trunk with something--even just felt on the bottom and sides-- to protect blankets, pillows or whatever else you want to store in it. Even a nice box or set of boxes that fit neatly into the trunk would be awesome. These are GREAT ideas! Thanks for taking the trouble of typing that all out. I don't know if I want to fuss with a glass top. (As far as removing it for putting things inside/taking them out of the trunk). But I like the idea of having that usable surface.... I have toyed with Mod Podging something like patterned paper onto the missing veneer area, but thought someone my ridicule me for 'ruining' a trunk or something. As far as lining it, I need to peel out the gross, crumbling paper lining. I was thinking about cutting cardboard pieces the size of the trunk bottom and sides, then hot gluing some fabric to big cardboard pieces, then hot gluing the card board pieces into the interior of the trunk. |
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Southern Side eyed Pea 