Blog Parties

Monday, June 14, 2010

I finally got it done!!!

Did I tell you that I was the queen of procrastination? Well I am. And here is proof.

See this bare wood trunk? I've had it for over 15 years. That is fifteen years!!!! 15!!!

I purchased it from JC Penney online in it's unfinished state for about $100.00 plus free shipping. I had always planned on painting it. But year after year, after year, after year, it sat in it's unfinished state. Getting dirtier, and dirtier and dirtier. You get the picture.

If not, here is the proof of how dirty it got. Fifteen years is a long time to go neglected.

I finally decided enough was enough. I had procrastinated this project long enough. Plus I had a little motivation from Donna over at Funky Junk Interiors. She is having a "Gitter Done" party this week. So I had to "gitter done".

So I got to work getting hubby to sand it down for me to get rid of the 15 years of neglect. Looked like new when he was done sanding. Too bad I didn't take a photo.

Then I started painting it white. Did you notice that I said that I started painting? Hubby didn't like the sloppy way I was painting, so he took over. Works every time! I'm good at getting other people to do my work.

Once it was all painted white. I thought it needed something (it was really hubby). He suggested we add a wood applique. I thought it was a great idea. Why didn't I think of that? So off to Home Depot we went.

This is the one we picked out. They don't have much of a selection. I think this was our only option. We glued it on the front and added some new wood plugs as a few had gone missing over the years. Painted the brass handles ORB and had hubby finally put them on. I then distressed and antiqued the entire trunk (yes, I did do this part of the project).

And here is the pretty lady now.

I'm pretty happy on how it turned out. What took me so long?

The wooden applique was just what this trunk needed. Thanks honey for suggesting it!

The back.

The handles were originally brass and had never been put on the trunk. I spray painted them Oil Rubbed Bronze (ORB). Much better than brass.


This was a pretty easy project. Why did I procrastinate it so long? If I had known how fabulous it was going to turn out, I would have done this years ago. Like fifteen!!!!

On top I placed a little vignette of some thrifty finds.

The subway art tray came from Target a few months back. I got it on clearance for around $10.00. Clearance has to be one of my favorite words.

I would love to travel to all these places some day. The only ones I have seen are the Golden Gate Bridge, Big Ben, Vatican, Roman Colosseum (hubby's favorite), and the Eiffel Tower (my favorite). Someday I hope to see all the rest.

The urn was a recent thrifty find from an antique store in Riverside, CA. It was only $2.00!!!

My fleur de lis finials also got a mini makeover. They were originally brown and came from Dollar Tree for a buck each. I spray painted them Heirloom white & then antiqued them. I love how they turned out.

I still need to make a burlap runner for the top of the trunk. I hope that I don't procrastinate that too much longer. Knowing me, burlap will be out of style by the time I get around to it.

Thanks for stopping by & taking a look at my long awaited trunk makeover aka: "Gitter Done" project. And I hope that I won't procrastinate the next project as long. Do you have a project you have procrastinated? Can you beat 15 years?



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26 comments:

  1. My hats off to you and your husband. It looks just great.

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  2. Too funny! I did that with a coffee table that I had for years! Even sold it to someone I knew and then rebought it a couple of years later! Love your made over finials! I bought a gold one at the thrift store the other day and I wasn't sure what to do with it but now I know it will look good white!

    Thanks,
    Jody

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  3. wow! 15 years you say? hahaha
    It looks great, I love everything about it. You've done a great job gittering it done!
    gail

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  4. Congratulations to you and your hubby for a job well done! It looks awesome.

    Have a wonderful day.

    Gail

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  5. Oh my gosh. Exquisite! 15 years? If there was a contest for the longest procrastination, I'm totally thinking you'd win! Unless I upgrade my dinosaur computers. Then you'd be in trouble for top spot. :)

    I love the finish, lovely tones peeking through. And your hubby made an awesome call on the applique! It totally suits your piece!

    So glad GD helped to inspire you!

    Donna

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  6. Wow, that sure came out looking fabulous, Kim...even if it did take 15 years!

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  7. Good Morning my friend...girl you are too funny...15 years hey I'm right there with you ha ha!! Love how your "Olden" trunk turned out just beautiful my Dear friend...you (hubs) did an awesome job on it ha ha!! May you have a wonderful day on your piece of Calif. girl...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  8. What took you so long indeed. It looks great. We put that same medallion on our mantel that hubby built. Love that vignette with the tray, too. Have a super week.

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  9. Great job Kim...I love the chest and arrangement on the top...very pretty.

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  10. That chest turned out great!

    I came here via Met Monday and hope you can visit me sometimes over at Pittypat Paperie.

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  11. WOW! That is gorgemous!! Love it! 15 years, huh? I bet that feels fantastic; it certainly looks fantastic!!

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  12. Kim... this trunk looks fabulous!! I love it! I love the applique and the handles and your display!! I can't believe you had this stored away for 15 years!! It's such a beautiful piece now!! Your post made me laugh... too funny! Thanks for stopping by my blog!!

    Kendra

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  13. It looks awesome!! Better late than never (that's one of my favorites.....only because it applies to me.... a lot)!!

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  14. Great job! It looks fantastic! :o)

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  15. What? Who are you and what did you do with my Sister. She never gets anything done. IE see her blog of her PRE-Vacation!!! Ha Ha Ha. You should have done this while on Vacation!!!

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  16. And here I thought I procrastinated a long time! You have me beat. Your trunk turn out fabulous. I went looking at HD for those appliques and ours didn't carry them anymore! I like the one you added.

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  17. Hmmm I think I have a little table that I started stripping the paint from about 20 years ago. Three moves later it is still only half stripped. Maybe I'll keep that one for Donna's next Gitter Done.
    Your trunk looks really fab btw. Be glad that you get to enjoy it instead of waiting for it another 15 years.

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  18. WOW!!!!! I have to say that I love it! It looks like a magazine. Thanks for sharing. I am your newest follower.
    Bonnie

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  19. I love, Love, LOVE it!! It turned out BEAUTIFUL!! XXOO, Damaris

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  20. Fabulous job. Okay it inspires me to gitter done on a few projects I have at home. Thanks.

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  21. Great Job!! It always makes me feel better when I get a project done!!

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  22. Holy long time on that project....but oh so worth it...it turned out gorgeous....I know I have told you this before...but no harm in again...you have great taste...and really have a good eye! Have a great weekend. Debbiedoos

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  23. Ok, I'm not going to argue with you on the procrastination thing because wow, 15 years is a bit long. But look at it this way, 15 years ago you might have done something to it that would be out of style now so you would've had to re-do it anyway!

    It looks fantastic, I agree that your hubby made a great decision with the applique:)

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  24. Wow, that turned out beautifully! I LOVE it. I'm impressed! Great job. I'm loving your blog...

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