{"id":464,"date":"2012-02-02T13:28:42","date_gmt":"2012-02-02T18:28:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=464"},"modified":"2014-09-03T22:20:18","modified_gmt":"2014-09-04T02:20:18","slug":"the-wardrobe-trunk-restore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=464","title":{"rendered":"The Wardrobe Trunk Restore"},"content":{"rendered":"

TB and I stumbled across today’s little gem at the Restore in Asbury Park. \u00a0Once I laid eyes on this old wardrobe trunk I knew I wanted to bring it home. I had wanted an old truck as a coffee table for years but never could find a cool one and not just a crappy one from Target. \u00a0There was some trepidation though because although there was no major damage it still wasn’t exactly in the best shape. \u00a0Usually that wouldn’t stop me because with wood I can bring it home, strip it and refinish it but that wouldn’t work here. \u00a0After we wandered through the store and came back for a second look we were in.<\/p>\n

Here is what it looked like when I got it home.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I knew nothing about old trunks so I took to The Google for some help in where to start. \u00a0These trunks were the suitcases of their day and were meant to carry everything you needed on trips. \u00a0For the most part they are made of a wood frame with a canvas outside cover, many times painted, with leather and metal trim to protect the edges from wear and tear. \u00a0There are many different sizes and shapes depending on their original purpose. \u00a0Ours is a wardrobe trunk. \u00a0It is meant to stand up on end and be opened like a book.<\/p>\n

Here is a shot of the inside and it’s parts. \u00a0One side had drawers (the tall one in the middle has a hat stand) while the other side had a bar for hanging clothes. \u00a0When you got to your destination you just opened the trunk up and you had your closet all ready to go.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

While the purple floral fabric is lovely, we weren’t going to be using the inside for anything so I left it be. \u00a0The outside was our concern. \u00a0I wanted to keep some of the character while not looking cruddy in my living room but wasn’t sure what to clean the canvas with. \u00a0What I found on The Google was this was a trunk sold by RH Macy’s in the 1920-1930s and after making it this long I didn’t want to ruin it.<\/p>\n

My first choice for gentle cleaning is\u00a0glycerin soap (Dover Saddlery has it here<\/a>). \u00a0I used it all my life to clean my horse saddle and its hard to mess up. \u00a0\u00a0 The object is to use a damp sponge you have wrung out very well and rub it over the soap bar. If there is any kind of lather you have to much water for leather cleaning although here I used a bit more water since it was canvas. \u00a0Once I tested a small spot and saw this wasn’t going to harm anything, I set to work. \u00a0 A soft toothbrush worked much better than a sponge and you could gently loosen dirt in the fabric. \u00a0The bonus is that it also cleans all the leather trim very nicely. \u00a0Glycerin soap also kind of moisturized everything and gives a lovely finish with the bonus that it doesn’t need to be rinsed off. Here is a picture of one of the sides half done.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s a dramatic difference but it did take awhile! \u00a0That big white patch is a sticker a previous owner applied that doesn’t want to come off. \u00a0I cleaned it the best I could with this soap and there is still some glue residue. \u00a0I could have used a stronger cleaner but I worried it would get damaged so I left it and call it character. \u00a0 My goal was just to clean it up not restore since I like the worn look.<\/p>\n

Here is the after pic. We tried it for awhile as our coffee table but it was so high it was uncomfortable to put your feet up. \u00a0It now is the place for our TV. \u00a0Opie likes the change since he can now see all the food on the lower table and knows if wants to beg for it or not. \u00a0(Like he is\u00a0choosy!)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We like to pretend that the “C.G.” painted on the side was for “Cary Grant” but the purple floral fabric inside suggests we may be wrong. \u00a0But it’s not like our guests are going to see inside so I may just continue telling that story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TB and I stumbled across today’s little gem at the Restore in Asbury Park. \u00a0Once I laid eyes on this old wardrobe trunk I knew I wanted to bring it home. I had wanted an old truck as a coffee…
Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":467,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,77,183],"tags":[63,65,64],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/ridiculousredhead-trunk-half.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1J4KT-7u","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":928,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=928","url_meta":{"origin":464,"position":0},"title":"An Old Wood Steamer Trunk","date":"August 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"While at a garage sale (my friend \/ wedding officiant was having, of all places) I found this very sad little steamer trunk. \u00a0Time had not been kind to it and I wasn't sure if I could do anything to help. \u00a0Since I knew the guy and he gave me\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Before & After"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/casey-after-1774-crop.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":229,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=229","url_meta":{"origin":464,"position":1},"title":"Gray Drop Leaf Side Table","date":"October 25, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"On a little break from the house painting I bring you today's Before & After.\u00a0 This gray drop leaf was redone for Kelly Sherman Design and can be purchased here. I found this side table at our local Restore where is was mixed among the dining room sets looking like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Before & After"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/gray-drop-e1-574.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2440,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2440","url_meta":{"origin":464,"position":2},"title":"The Habitat Luncheon Rocking Chair Before","date":"March 16, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I have been hard at work on my pieces for the Habitat for Humanity luncheon and I thought I would share another before with you. \u00a0Today I have for you a rocking chair. This was the second piece I had picked out. \u00a0 I admit it doesn't look like much\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Before & After"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Ridiculous-Redhead-Habitat-Chair-Arm-Before.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2497,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2497","url_meta":{"origin":464,"position":3},"title":"The Habitat Luncheon Dresser After","date":"May 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I have for you the last of the Habitat for Humanity pieces, the dresser. \u00a0 The dresser, along with the desk and the rocking chair, will be auctioned off this Thursday at the Women Build Luncheon with the proceeds going to Habitat. \u00a0If you would like to attend the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Before & After"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Ridiculous-Redhead-Habitat-Dresser-After-Side.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2426,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2426","url_meta":{"origin":464,"position":4},"title":"Featured Designer at the Women Build Luncheon","date":"March 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"This past Tuesday I got my official invitation to be a featured designer at the Habitat for Humanity's Women Build Luncheon!!! First, lets back up a bit so I can explain how this came about. \u00a0As we talked about late last summer, I wanted to start getting out and talking\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Furniture"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1578,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=1578","url_meta":{"origin":464,"position":5},"title":"Sewing Machine Desk","date":"May 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Happy Thursday everyone. \u00a0I am so happy to be working on furniture again. \u00a0Lots of furniture! \u00a0I have recently had a few consults for custom work \u00a0and I feel like I am back in business again. \u00a0For so long I wouldn't take on custom work because I a) had a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Before & After"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/KSD-sewing-machine-desk-4.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/464"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=464"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/464\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1038,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/464\/revisions\/1038"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}