Friday, May 28, 2010

Steamer Trunk Lamp - Repurposing Project



This project came about because I found an antique steamer trunk from around 1890. It was too good to throw away, and not good enough to put in countless hours restoring it. I loved the cast iron hardware and the naturally aged patina, so I decided to see if I couldn't use the individual components, to make a very unusual and showstopping table lamp.





The colors were very appealing to me. It seemed to have those Ralph Lauren leathery, cabin hues.



I scavenged the parts I thought I would need from it. The idea here was not to throw anything away. If I was going to dismantle an antique trunk, I wanted to make sure that the entire thing went to good use. By saving all the pieces from 1 trunk I probably have enough parts to make a dozen or so lamps.


if you are going to make one of these yourself, will need to make some sort of lamp body to nail everything to. I used some scrap that was laying in the back yard. I stole the dimensions from a lamp I had in my living room.





I wrapped the tin sheets around the wood body and tacked them in place. Then I used the cast iron decorative hardware to add a little personality. I didn't worry about holes in the tin, or defects. I just let this rustic looking old lamp, "speak for itself" .








Here is a closeup view.




What could be more fun than an animal print shade to top it off?







I have a few more of these lamps I am working on. I will post some pictures, as I complete them.




Hope you enjoyed the post.


Please be sure to visit my Link Party Directory to see who I am partying with today. It lists over 100 parties this week.

23 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow! That lamp turned out so cool! I especially love the animal print touch. :)

~Chelsea

Melissa said...

Very, very unique touch...

Ali @ Honey and Maple Syrup said...

Very cool and so unique. I have one of those trunks in the same state as yours, so maybe I'll make a lamp from mine too!

Cassie said...

Totally gorgeous!!!
I love this project!!
=)

Amanda @ Healthy House on the Block said...

Oh, Wow! What a great idea! LOVE it!

Kathy said...

Very impressive! There goes that imagination again!
loving it!
Kathy

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

OMG!!

That is one fantastic transformation!!

Debbie

Kathryn said...

I would never have thought to do that - very ingenious and it looks great!

Jenn said...

A lamp from a trunk? Who would have thought? Genius and super cool!

Arabella said...

That's awesome - I'm impressed!

Glad I found you through Coastal Charm...

Have a great week.

Marie @ Sally Lee by the Sea
"Celebrating the Coastal Lifestyle"

Kim, USA said...

Amazingly beautiful!!!



2nd time around

Lady Katherine said...

Just love how the lamp turned out!

Leslie said...

What a darling lamp! I love the animal print! Thanks for linking up to Hoo's got talent!

Nikki said...

Lovely!!!!!! Thanks for linking up to gettin' crafty on hump day... :)

Mad in Crafts said...

I would never had thought to turn that trunk into a lamp!

Thanks for linking up to the Mad Skills Party!

Unknown said...

This is great!! I really love the lamp!
Thanks for sharing @ Anything Related!
{Rebekah}

Barbara Jean said...

Incredibly gorgeous project.

thanks

blessings

barbara jean

Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said...

Fabulous job! Another inspiring project! I adore the leopard shade! Gorgeous! Thanks again for joining The Sunday Showcase. I greatly appreciate it! Hope you are enjoying your week! ~ Stephanie Lynn

Tara Beaulieu said...

That is a really clever repurposing! I wish I had the insight to look at something and see the possibilities of what it could become. Fixing up, yes, I can do but imaginative creating like this? No way! Awesome job!

Helena said...

Whoa. I was not expecting that. What an awesome use for a steamer trunk!

Thank you for participating in the Craft Therapy Session with Life in the Pitts

Anonymous said...

That is an incredible project, what a great way to "save" the trunk.

Unknown said...

Wow! Great idea! I like how it turned out!

Thanks for linking up!

I hope you join me today for another link party!

Ashley
www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com

GardenOfDaisies said...

You are soo creative! To be able to see past what is and imagine what could be....

:-)