For a long time, I’ve hoped to use an old coal chest to store Cora’s toys and an old coal bucket to store her diapers. They’re not what most people would think or want to use in their home, but they’re what I’ve wanted.
I found a really well kept coal chest in an Oxfam a few weeks ago, but I was tired and wasn’t in the mood to lug it home [plus, I had Cora and the pram]. I went back a few weeks later and as you can guess, it was gone.
Until now, we’ve been using a rather elite plastic bag to hold Cora’s diapers. As for her toys, they tend to stay on the living room floor or end up in a paper bag next to her crib. I can’t see either her diaper or toy bags from the hallway, but I know they’re there. Lurking. And they bother me. I know the mess is only going to get worse, so until I find an unobtainably pristine child-friendly secondhand coal chest, we can use my old storage trunk. I bought it years ago from Argos and it’s served us well, but the current colour is too close to the colour of our walls. I’ve kept it for sentimental reasons, but I’d like to update it and make it look a bit more sophisticated – if possible. It’s a basic wooden chest, but I have no idea what to do with it. I was thinking of turning the top into a padded seat [and even adding a buttoned chesterfield-style top], but the rest; clueless.
I’m still on the lookout for a secondhand chest and bucket, but in the mean time, I really don’t know what to do with this one. The only colour I’m vetoing is WHITE. It can’t be painted white because of those god forsaken dicoloured Ikea shelves. White only magnifies how yellow our landlord’s shelves are [I’ve considered painting them, but that would be more hassle than it’s worth].
I’m kind of thinking painting it black and adding a chesterfield buttoned top, but I really don’t know. Any and all ideas would really be greatly appreciated. What would you do with it if it was yours?
Love your blog 🙂 Love the chesterfield top idea – on a very mad, out-there idea …What about padding the whole lot, sides and all – with a lighter padding than the top – and using a crazy vintage-like aged leatherette effect material…and adding wheels so it could move with you as wherever you need it – or even just changing the legs – cut off wooden legs and replace with metal ones?? Or even decoupageing the sides ??? Sorry – so many ideas 🙂
You've given me so many ideas. I didn't think about changing the legs at all! I'm not sure about covering the whole thing (just because I'm hoping to keep the cost of updating it really low), but you've given me a lot of ideas. Especially decoupaging it! Oh. OH.
I definitely like the idea of padding the top with chesterfield buttons – that will look gorgeous! Maybe you could paint the box the light pink of your bedroom drawers and pad the top in black? Or pad the top in grey with black buttons? I like the idea above of cutting the legs off and doing something different! Looking forward to seeing what you do! xx
I'd suggest something entirely different for toys, as baby will be trying to get her own toys out before you know it. Perhaps you might put away some of those books on lower shelves, & use that space for toys, perhaps in little-finger friendly baskets, tubs or boxes.