Great Looking Storage: Wooden Antique Crate with Casters

Great Looking Storage: Wooden Antique Crate with Casters

contributed by Marcy @ Antique Chase

A few months ago,  I was at a tiny little flea market looking for goodies.  Nothing was calling my name. Sometimes it happens, you come home from a flea market empty handed.  (My husband is probably reading this and saying to himself "When does she evercome home empty handed?")

So.. as I was getting ready to leave the market empty handed, I saw it...

An old but perfect wooden crate (click on photo and you can see it tucked in under my sofa table).

I asked the seller "how much?" and she told me she didn't think it was for sale! She explained to me that it was her packing crate for bringing her breakable dishes to the flea market.

Honestly, I don't know what's worse, seeing a 'sold' sign on something you really really want or being told an item you want to buy is not for sale.. ugh!!

I got really lucky when the seller's husband overheard our conversation and he decided to sell me the wooden crate. Thank goodness for husbands!! I think I paid $15.00. (Note: the wheels did not come on the crate.. discussion to follow).

Things I love about this crate, first off would be the color of the wood. The tone of the pine is soft but warm and not orange. It has no water stains, no mold, and is really sturdy.

Best part..it doesn't smell. Been there, done that!

I love the wood grain, the graphic writing, even the font they used! (what this font is called?) 

I also love how deep the writing is impressed into the wood

Pine knots, roughness, and old nails

Love the side supports

So, back to the wheels which I added recently. I had a set stored in my garage waiting for the perfect project. Since this box gets heavy with all my magazines neatly organized inside {I mean thrown in}, I figured the wheels would help me move the crate around.  As you get to know me you will understand my obsession with moving everything around, constantly! 

The wheels were very rusty and I was concerned about damaging my carpet. I purchased some rust cleaner and had to soak the wheels in a bucket for three days! Even after a good soak and scrub, there was still some remaining rust. One of my friends suggested I spray the wheels with a clear protective sealant. It worked perfectly. I have no rust on the carpet.

These wheels are bigger and heavier than they appear. I had my husband pilot drill the holes and we used short screws so they would not penetrate into the inside of the crate.

Every so often, I have to empty the box and purge my magazine collection.. This is an actual picture of my room today...magazines all over the floor.. which inspired me to do this post...

Love that I can store so many magazines and books out of sight! And now with wheels, I can drag my magazine storage crate from room to room... oh, who am I kidding, it's way too heavy... 

It just looks better together with the wheels, don't-cha think?

I hope this will inspire you to add wheels to something.

Also Check out these posts for great uses for antique crates:
Vintage Crates for BookCases
Chicken Crate Coffee Table
Make your Own Wooden Crates

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The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe

A few months ago I helped Mary and Jerry Hyder do some interior design work. She and her husband had just bought a duplex that they were and/or are planning to move into if /when their house sells. It all depends upon this crazy housing market.

I helped them pick out finishes and give little bits of advice, here and there. In fact, I just saw the almost finished apartment last night and they have done fabulous work! It is looking beautiful, and if they need I'm ready and willing to move in!

The apartment they are moving into is quite a bit smaller that their old house. She had me come and look at their furniture to help her decide what stays and what goes. I was totally blown away! When I went over to her house I couldn't believe my eyes. She had the most beautiful antiques. Crazy awesome!

There was a wonderful wardrobe with a big old mirror on the front, that she was mentioned that, she don't think they'd use this... I was like, Are you sure? Are you serious? Really? It's beautiful and just gushing over it. Actually, all the pieces were the same in that respect, really unique and utterly beautiful.

We worked on things for another little while and one day she called me and said they were going to give me the armoire that I loved! So needless to say I gave her my work for free.

We just picked it up last night. When we drove it home the door fell out, but thank heaven the antique mirror didn't break, so it isn't back together yet. BUT I COULDN'T WAIT to share it with you all. When we get humpty dumpty together again I will update this entry with that picture.

Justin was joking that it is our "Lion Witch and 'the Wardrobe' " - wardrobe, and that we need to get some mink coats. I think that leather might be more budget appropriate Or better yet my old blue furry blanket that had nothing to do with skinning an animal. Kitty can stand in for the lion and the witch (she had the mane and the temper). In fact, she already has an affinity to the piece, since it's arrival she somehow figured out how to get on top of it, maybe she flew her broomstick up there, and has been sleeping up there ever since. Buddy will have to be Mr. Tumnus, he's the nice, passive-aggressive one

p.s. Check out the beautiful "fiddleback" wood grain on the interior. It is on the shelves and all the interior walls. It is all solid wood, and totally authentic. (Jerry said that he got it from his Aunt's house, so I bet it is good and old, and it hasn't been refinished!@&#*!!! thank heaven)

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