How Eduardo the Antique Trunk Became a Bookshelf: A Makeover Story
Our guest room has a new occupant and I’m just a little excited about it…
This is Eduardo.
Sure, he’s got baggage. After all, in his previous life, he was a trunk.
He looked like this when my husband brought him home several months ago.
And even though he looked rough, we knew on the inside he was full of potential.
So, over the past few weeks, we decided to invest a little time in him and see what he could become with a little T.L.C.
We waxed him up on the outside…
And removed all the junk from the inside…
Then Dave made him a nice new liner and cut some shelves to fit…
And I got busy painting and giving him some new legs.
And when he was all done, he had become the perfect piece for our Vacation Cottage Guest Room.
And now Eduardo the trunk has become Eduardo the bookshelf.
And a very handsome bookshelf he is, too. (If I do say so myself.)
I love that his new interior gives him vintage charm,
I think he’s gonna like it here.
To see more of our guest room (featured in this year’s Feb/March Issue of Cottages and Bungalows), click here.
I’m sharing this story with a few of these friends.
Sourcesand stories:
The liner for the trunk is a custom-printed piece Dave made (he’s in the graphics business), but fabric or wallpaper could be used for a project like this as well.
We bought the legs at Home Depot for around $3 each.
Shelves and legs spray-painted in Rust-oleum’s Satin Heirloom White.
Shutter above and items on the shelves were all thrifted or gifted.
Rug under the desk is this one from Ballard Designs.
Find more about all other pieces in the room in the previous guest room posts!
50 Comments
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August 9, 2013 @ 1:40 am
Amazing!! Love it! And the gorgeous room as well 🙂
-Rachel @R & R Workshop
August 9, 2013 @ 2:07 am
Thanks, Rachel! So glad you like it!
August 9, 2013 @ 2:16 am
Gorgeous! I love the vintage feel. Pinning!
August 9, 2013 @ 2:22 am
Thanks, Rachel! I love the vintage feel, too!
August 9, 2013 @ 2:31 am
Absolutely lovely!
August 9, 2013 @ 2:43 am
Thank you! I'm really enjoying it 🙂
August 9, 2013 @ 3:14 am
What a phenomenally cute idea! It is so adorable.
August 9, 2013 @ 12:57 pm
Thanks! It was truly a joint effort by me & my hubby!
August 9, 2013 @ 4:59 am
That is the coolest idea. I so may copy you some day. Thanks for sharing your brilliant idea!
August 9, 2013 @ 12:57 pm
Awesome! I'd love to see someone else's version of one!
August 9, 2013 @ 5:10 am
I love a great furniture repurposing!!
Kristy @ 4 the love of WOOD
August 9, 2013 @ 12:58 pm
That makes 2 of us! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
August 9, 2013 @ 1:27 pm
I love this! The trunk is amazing, but what you did to it is amazing!
August 9, 2013 @ 5:21 pm
Thanks, Susan!
August 9, 2013 @ 3:51 pm
LOVE IT!!! I pinned it to my Awesome Furniture Board. 🙂
Denise
August 9, 2013 @ 5:21 pm
Great! So glad you are inspired!
August 9, 2013 @ 11:08 pm
Oh my goodness! I'm pinning it and I have a trunk that I started redoing, but hadn't put the legs on yet for a coffee table….but now it just may go in a whole new direction – literally!
August 10, 2013 @ 1:31 am
That's great! I'd love to see yours, too, when it's finished!
August 10, 2013 @ 4:01 am
Great Job, pinned! Love the pinstripe liner choice
August 12, 2013 @ 1:01 pm
Thanks! I love the liner, too 🙂
August 10, 2013 @ 4:35 am
This is awesome and has so much character! Pinned 🙂
~Katie @ Upcycled Treasures
August 12, 2013 @ 1:02 pm
So glad you like it!
August 11, 2013 @ 4:35 am
Yeah, I love it! I think it's great that your husband seems just as "in-to-it" as you are! Thanks for sharing the story!
August 12, 2013 @ 1:02 pm
You're welcome. I think we make a great team 🙂
August 12, 2013 @ 1:19 am
This is a genius idea and so full of character!!! Love it! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
August 12, 2013 @ 1:02 pm
Thanks, Jenna!
August 12, 2013 @ 3:47 am
Just Fabulous…and SO clever!!! I love it!
August 12, 2013 @ 1:02 pm
Why thank you!!
August 12, 2013 @ 12:13 pm
I loved this so much I added you to my weekly arts and crafts round-up on my blog this week! And a link to your site. On Artbiz Rx
Naomi Novella
August 12, 2013 @ 1:03 pm
That's so sweet! Thank you!!
August 12, 2013 @ 1:48 pm
I love this! I have a trunk that I've been thinking of turning into a storage Ottoman, but I couldn't figure out how to get the legs in securely. Did you glue the boards in the bottom before screwing in the leg bracket thingys?
August 12, 2013 @ 2:31 pm
No, we just used the screws for the brackets to hold the shelves in as well. Good luck with yours!
August 12, 2013 @ 5:14 pm
He is beautiful! I am giving an old 1940's Steamer trunk a facelift right now. We call him Stanley because there was an old shipping tag still on the exterior. It was last shipped from Germany to Indiana in 1954. There were several layers of shipping stickers underneath. The owner was Sgt Major Stanley. That's all we know about our trunk. The exterior was a mess though, so he has to be painted. I'll be posting about him next week sometime. It's been a long and loving process restoring him.
August 13, 2013 @ 7:58 pm
That's great! I love it when pieces have some history. I'd love to see yours finished!
August 13, 2013 @ 4:55 am
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this! What a great combination of vintage and charming! And I love your story. Please, oh please, can I love Eduardo from afar?
August 13, 2013 @ 7:58 pm
Ha! Glad to have you in the fan club 🙂
August 16, 2013 @ 4:02 am
I freaking love this. Like totally love this. I want to make you my feature this week, you just have to link up!
http://www.sowderingabout.com/2013/08/on-display-monday-14.html
August 16, 2013 @ 5:54 pm
Ha! Thank you! I'll get over there & link up 🙂
August 16, 2013 @ 2:44 pm
I LOVE this! I have done several trunk repurposes (bench,coffee table,ottoman, etc) but this is WAY cooler! Fortunately, I have a trunk I have set aside and have done nothing with since I couldnt decide on my next project and wanted something different…bookshelf it will become!! 🙂 I am in love!! Thanks for sharing~! I shared this on my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/upcycledantique.
August 16, 2013 @ 5:57 pm
That's awesome! I would LOVE to see your version when it's done!
August 16, 2013 @ 3:26 pm
What a great and cute bookshelf he has become!!
I love your idea so much, I might try that next time I see an old trunk 🙂
Thank you for the inspiration!
I'm going to share it on my Facebook page Vintage Breeze.
Have a great day!
August 16, 2013 @ 5:57 pm
Thank you so much!
August 16, 2013 @ 6:40 pm
now this is truly amazing. I love that you used him like this, in the corner. the whole room is awesome.
August 17, 2013 @ 12:54 pm
Thank you! So glad you like it. I love how the room has come together 🙂
August 16, 2013 @ 7:57 pm
Fabulous transformation!! What a great repurpose.
August 17, 2013 @ 12:55 pm
Thank you!!
August 16, 2013 @ 11:44 pm
Fantastic job! Thanks so much for sharing your talent and finished product.
August 17, 2013 @ 12:55 pm
You're welcome! Thank YOU for stopping by 🙂
August 22, 2013 @ 3:23 am
Seriously awesome! LOVE it! I want one back….really, really, bad.
November 25, 2019 @ 12:20 pm
I just love what you guys did with this old suitcase; it will help to do mine!
Thank you.