Blue thrifted chest refresh

A while ago, Mark picked up this huge antique trunk for $7 from a Salvation Army. While at first glance it appears to be wood, it's actually painted with a faux-wood finish in two shades of brown latex paint.

The straps and hardware were painted over and the whole thing smelled terrible. It actually sat in a corner, unused, for a year until I decided to tackle the project.

Citristrip and a scraper took care of most of the paint, and a q-tip dipped into lacquer thinner worked the little bits of paint around the brass tack hardware.

I actually uncovered a manufacturer's mark under a few layers of paint on the top.

When the paint was all stripped, I put a new finish on of very light Tiffany blue, left the strappings black, and sealed with 

an extra-durable water-based polyurethane, so that opening and closing and moving this thing around the house won't scuff it up.

The inside of the trunk was a moldy and smelly blue paper. It was stained and lifting up and disintegrating in some places. I sprayed it with vinegar and water and scraped it out like wallpaper. It came out pretty readily. I cleaned all over the inside of the bare trunk and sealed it with the clear poly to take care of any residual smell.

I picked up a few remnant pieces of canvas from the local craft shop in a few complimenting patterns that I thought would go with my paint scheme. Cutting and measuring very carefully, I used mod podge to glue them into place in the base and lid.

I repeated the steps on the shelf that sits inside, which was covered in pink paper. 

Now that the trunk is clean, pretty, and free of smells, it lives in my bedroom holding extra sheets and blankets.