An Antique Heirloom Trunk Goes Chippy...and Floral

I love a custom job...and this one was pretty special.
Three family heirlooms  in need of some attention, all for a lovely client. 

The beautiful trunk shown below is an inherited piece 
that belonged to our client's  grandfather.
It had been collecting dust in storage and had succumbed to 
a bit of graffiti work from her children or grandchildren.
It also had  some pretty decent damage to the veneer.

The Tower of Befores

A little freestyle artwork by the young ones...

The client wanted to integrate the piece into a bedroom that is being renovated. 
The colour palette is silver, icy blue and dark blue and two greens.  
We took our inspiration from an upholstered chair and 
coordinating pillows in the room.

We used the upholstery for inspiration

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint 
 is the ideal choice when wanting to maintain a genuine vintage feel
on an antique piece like this one.
It spoke perfectly to the vintage heritage of the trunk.
Although Boxwood and Luckett's Green were close colour contenders,
Artissimo was the ultimate winner in the end.

The trunk was painted with one coat of Artissimo, without Bonding Agent,
 to allow the chippy magic to happen...
which it did to perfection!

Chippy goodness

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Artissimo

To complete the foundation work of this project, 
the very thirsty back of the trunk was treated with a coat of Hemp Oil.
This took the wood from dry and rough, to gorgeously silky! 
I'm consistently impressed and amazed at what 
Miss Mustard Seed's Hemp Oil does for tired wood.

Hemp Oil restored the dry wood on the back of the chest

Next up...the real magic happened when
For The love Creations Artist-in-Residence (my niece Jill!) 
set out recreating the amazing floral pattern onto the trunk. 


Once painted it was finished with a coat of Hemp Oil
and then Furniture Wax with the tiniest amount of Antiquing Wax
mixed in for a very subtle aged effect.

We take great pride in our custom work and
we couldn't be happier or prouder of the result.
Our client now has her restyled, renewed grandfather's trunk
 as a proud centrepiece in her home.


Time for the fun...the photos!


All photography below is by The Monday Project
an Adelaide-based startup you can find at hello@mondayproject.co

The end result lovingly restored

Close up of flower trailing down the front

Overhead view

Close up of top and front

Chippiness with hand-painted detail

Overhead of floral detail and the perfectly-chipped top

Love the whimsy of this paisley on the trunk's side

With the custom pillow that inspired it all...

It's all here...for the love...
Sada