Vintage Trunk Makeover to Cottage Delight | Wallpaper | Elegant Upgrades

[@robincivis9501]

Yes!!! Nothing else...just yes!!!

[@elegantupgrades]

Ha! I’ll take a ‘yes’! Thanks, Robin!

[@lorrainewhitlock5377]

As you said it is super cute! I really like the concept I never thought of it before. Lovely finished 😘🥰🌹trunk!

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks, Lorraine! Just a quick little flip!

[@roshawndalight7470]

Absolutely adorable. Love it! 💖💖💖

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks, Roshawnda!

[@kimhough7753]

I love it Taryn! So cute! 🥰🥰🥰

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks, Kim!

[@carol-annskinner4828]

Love it! Thanks Taryn 😊

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank YOU Carol-Ann!

[@ondinadixon1875]

❤️❤️ IT Taryn 👍 ❤️ The white and the paper just looks beautiful

[@elegantupgrades]

I’m so glad you like it, Ondina! Thank you!

[@VintageAndPainted]

Love this piece Taryn

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks, Sarah! These little guys are so quick!

[@thefeays]

Awww....make me cry! One of the two things that came along with my family every time we moved was my dad's trunk just like this. (The other was his desk, which was my first refinished piece). We still have them, though he's gone.....

[@elegantupgrades]

Don’t cry!!! I’m so happy that you still have them, Tawney. I’m sure they hold so many lovely memories for you. That’s one of things I love about old furniture and photos. We get to keep them and treasure the memories that come with them even when our loved ones are gone.

[@sharonromer6606]

A really cute piece ❤

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank you, Sharon!

[@carolinedubose5136]

Cute trunk revival!! I wish I had my old black trunk so I could do something similar. The wallpaper worked out perfectly!!

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks, Caroline! It is too bad you don’t still have yours, but I see them pop up all the time! Perhaps you will find another that you like.

[@pollyporter-campbell7493]

Very cute piece! Love the feet.

[@elegantupgrades]

Aren’t they cool! And super easy to install! Gotta love Amazon.

[@martinebangs6520]

Hi Taryn, I love these suitcase/trunk/valise, I especially love them painted and decorated like this one, great work....Take care...

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank you, Martine! I appreciate that!

[@kimlmiles1]

It’s adorable!! Love the paper.

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks, Kim! I liked that it had a vintage feel to it.

[@lindatorres7003]

You did the complete opposite of what I would have done at every step almost and I’m in awe 🫢 it’s so pretty. Love it

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank you, Linda! If I did it again, I would go a different route as well. But that’s just because I like to keep ideas flowing. I love that there are so many ways to do something.

[@juliahelland6488]

Very cute 😍 I have a trunk just begging for an update. Thanks for sharing ❣️

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks so much! And I see you have made it through a couple videos and commented- I really appreciate it, Julia!!!

[@tonyaclaxton9169]

Sooooooo cute!!❤

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank you, Tonya!

[@jenniferlawrence8533]

I need that in my bedroom!

[@elegantupgrades]

Haha! If shipping wasn’t an arm and a leg I’d send it to you, Jennifer.

[@jenniferlawrence8533]

I am only in Minnesota !

[@denisegilliam842]

Adorable Sauce!!

[@elegantupgrades]

Haha! I love that, Denise! Thank you 😊

[@angelika77st]

It looks great. Thanks for sharing your video. 🎉

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks for watching!

[@LoriM222]

I love what you did with this trunk!! The color, the paper, and wow, those legs look perfect on it! Now I want to do one!

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank you, Lori! You should do one! They are incredibly satisfying because they come together so quickly. I’m like- woohoo! I finished a whole project in two days 😂

[@tamnywheeler4689]

So adorable! Another perfect piece!

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks, Tamny! Isn’t it- and so so so easy!!!

[@statementdesigns]

I love all the details Taryn❣️

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks, LaVonne!

[@deborahmatatall]

This is such a fun little trunk! It’s very fresh and would look wonderful in my fairy cottage tree house (which I do not have). I love the flowers and those legs.🌸

[@elegantupgrades]

Ugh, I really want a fairy cottage tree house. I’d even take a fairy cottage ground house. Just any fairy cottage really, I’m not particular.

[@deborahmatatall]

@@elegantupgrades 😂😂😂😂😂

[@debraneria4242]

How adorable is this Chest....it's So fun and cottage Rustic farmy ...Love this ..and You Finally Was able to use the Bits. .you're amazing and the sweetest Friend....I Know you're enjoying yourself (is why you're not Home yet😂😂❣️❣️) ..enjoy yourself my friend ❣️❣️🥰👍

[@elegantupgrades]

Isn’t it so cute!?! And just about the easiest thing to do. Oh yes, it’s been amazing here. I’m hoping to move, but it is all in His hands so I’m just doing my thing until it’s time to move forward. Although, I do hope wherever we end up moving will have an internet connection 😂

[@debraneria4242]

@@elegantupgrades you Look Happy my friend ..Keep Your Head up honey and Keep Doing you And Baby Boy🙏❣️❣️❣️

[@donnastroud9294]

I love it.

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank you, Donna!

[@akmb8211]

Beautiful😍

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank you!

[@hephzibah1966]

It’s just. Cute

[@elegantupgrades]

Thanks, Caroline! And so so simple to do!

[@hephzibah1966]

@@elegantupgrades oh nay nay just simple for you

[@merlin711oregon]

I have one to do! Thanks!😘

[@elegantupgrades]

That’s great! Let me know how it turns out!

[@Funkensense]

Very cute! I really like the white. It’s funny before I knew anything about “furniture flipping” or the right way to do this, I painted a chest like this for my bedroom with regular acrylic paint lol.

[@elegantupgrades]

How did it hold up?! Before I knew anything about it, I always did spray paint 😂

[@Funkensense]

@@elegantupgrades I actually still have it! it isn't heavily used so it's fine lol

[@wnomebrown]

I used spray paint before also... in college.

[@anatay10]

Hi there 👋🏼 I have one of these inherited from my grandmother. It's about 3x larger. I was wondering if you could offer any tips on refurbishing the inside? I haven't inspected it heavily but it looks like it's lined with paper. The inside of mine got a little moldy but I really don't want to throw the whole thing out. Thanks for the informative video. Your trunk came out great!

[@elegantupgrades]

Sorry for such a long delay in response. I hope you found some information that you needed to help you refinish yours. But if not- I would use vinegar on the inside to kill all the mold. (If the paper was too far gone, I would remove that first). Then I would either use a fabric or some type of paper (wallpaper works great) to re-line the inside of the old paper was unsalvageable. I have a ton of videos on decoupaging fabric and wallpaper, but essentially I just use a water based top coat to apply and seal it.

[@wnomebrown]

Really loved the ease. I want to paint mine. Got it from the dump. Thanks for paint and wax info, I was already thinking white. I actually love paper for just the border, not top. I'm thinking about painting a Scripture on top. But... what about the inside? Do you leave it? Are you not planning to use the inside? I'm thinking adhesive paper for that.

[@elegantupgrades]

I loved the inside of this one, it was in good shape with the original lining. But I have painting the inside of others as well as used wallpaper. So whatever you think your piece needs, I say just go for it! And I LOVE the idea of scripture on top!

[@LCLW63]

That is so cute!! I found your explanation rather clear on how to attach the legs. Just curious, what did you do w/the inside of the trunk? Love your work and am enjoying all your content so far as I just found you a week or so ago.

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank you! I’m so glad to hear it. On this particular trunk I left the inside because it was in good condition and I really liked the original plaid. But a lot of times I’ll either paint or use wallpaper if it’s not up to my standards.

[@susanc1179]

This looks really cool! Did you say you normally would have just put the wallpaper on the top? If so, would you have done that strip that you did too?

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank you! On my last one, I didn’t do a strip. I fit a whole piece within the frame of the top.

[@kimtsosie7143]

Beautiful, how much would that one cost me to buy?

[@elegantupgrades]

I believe this one sold for $150.

[@gabrielmerchant]

I've been hunting through craft videos tackling these guys to help give myself some ideas on what to do with mine, but mine has a particular issue that i haven't seen anyone else really have and I'm not sure what to do with it... if you see this, could i get your take on it? The issue I'm having is the "leather(?)" strips lined by the rivets are curled outward with frayed edges. Should i salvage them? How would i even do that? Or should i just remove all hardware including the strips and replace them? Would i need a rivet tool? I'm just so lost 😅 Anyway i really loved this video and the result! Gorgeous work! You certainly know your stuff c:

[@elegantupgrades]

Oh, I’m sorry I missed this comment and it’s such a late response. I honestly think it depends on what you are doing with the trunk and how much value it holds for you. If it’s a family heirloom, then I would try to restore as much as I could- and yes, I think you would need to replace the rivets. But, if you are doing it for resale or it’s just a fun thing you are working on, I would find another more practical way to deal with it. These trunks aren’t made of the highest quality parts- usually a type of fiber board covered in a fabric- sometimes leather but usually something else. The handles are usually leather. Is there any way you can steam the parts down a re-glue? It’s hard to tell without seeing what exactly you are dealing with. I really wish I could be more help to you.

[@MoanAhLisa]

You didn't mention the handles. On mine they are leather. Just wondering about that. Thank you for the tutorial.

[@elegantupgrades]

This one also had leather handles. I had tape around them to protect them from the paint, but in the end I went ahead and dry brushed them so they weren’t so harsh looking against the rest of the chest.

[@designabeej]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@thefacelessnurse3885]

I have one similar but the fabric on the top of the lid on the outside has gotten wet and peeled off. Is it best to just sand it down? Any other suggestion?

[@elegantupgrades]

If it’s the strange particle/thick cardboard type substance that this one was, I would recommend decoupaging over it. Pick out a prepasted wallpaper and apply it with a water based poly. The paper is thick and easy to apply and the poly will activate the adhesive already on the back and have almost a double duty “stick” and give quite a bit of rigidity- possibly even more than the original paper. If you gat a wipeable wallpaper it should be good to go. If not, you can add a couple layers of poly to the top to seal it. There are a lot of ways you can go about this, but I think this would be the route I would take. I hope it was moderately helpful!

[@teresagmusic]

What kind of paint should be used to paint these.

[@elegantupgrades]

i use a furniture paint, but I’m sure there are many different types you could use so long as you have a decent sealer. I typically stay away from latex, but that’s just me.

[@carolynswilley1253]

Love the chest

[@elegantupgrades]

Thank you, Carolyn!