Preserving history while creating a unique design aesthetic is one of my favorite things to do. When we ran into this perfectly worn old trunk at an antique store, it was love at first sight, and it has been a piece in our home ever since! This is how we turned an old trunk into a new table.
It was a magical moment. We were passing through one of our favorite towns in the Rocky Mountains when we pulled into a small antique shop to take a break from driving. Sitting in the corner, with books piled high to hide her beauty was this little beat up vintage trunk with loads of personality.
I fell in love with all of the metal edging, the old hardware and it’s rustic beat up appeal. It felt like something a sailor carried off on a boat for a long journey. It was love at first sight.
I scooped it up for just $25 and knew it would soon become a table for our living room, which we could store blankets or books in.
Using inexpensive table legs we purchased and stained with a walnut finish for less than $5 each at Home Depot, we took the trunk off the ground with new legs creating a simple, yet effective side table for the living room.
Due to the age of the trunk and near cardboard materials that made up it’s body, we had to cut small wooden pegs to affix to the trunk first, before drilling in the holes for the legs. The rest is shall we say, history!