Old Trunk Makeover using Modern Masters Metal Effects Blue Patina Aging Solution

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Old Trunk Makeover using Modern Masters Metal Effects Blue Patina Aging Solution

“Crystal, could you use this trunk? If you want it, it’s all yours!” read the Facebook message from my neighbor that popped up on my iPhone. I opened the message and saw a photo of an aqua blue, gold and black trunk with stars and moons painted on it and paint splatters on the lid. My neighbour had been using it to store photos in and no longer needed it after a big purge. This was the photo attached:

Screen Shot 2014-11-10 at 2.27.59 PM
“YES!!!!” I messaged back. “I can come and get it right away!!!” 5 minutes later the trunk was being moved into my garage and I was already brainstorming how I was going to refinish it and how it would be the perfect piece of furniture to store my purse, The Hubs’ work bag and the kids’ backpacks in each night. I imagined that it would also double as a coffee table to replace our old and worn ottoman in our living room. 

There it sat for months as I tried to figure out what to do with it. One day my friend Tara (from Suburble) was hanging out at my house and I decided to take her down to the garage and get opinion on what I should do with it. She is the DIY queen after all! 

“Oh,” she stated matter of factly. “That’s a no brainer. You should use Modern Masters paint on it. Use the metal effects line and patina it!”

“Do what with what now?” Obviously I am not a DIY queen, but lucky for me, Modern Masters is easy for all levels of painters to use– newbies and expert designers alike. I spent quite a bit of time on their site, going back and forth, trying to figure out how I wanted the trunk to look. Our couch is chocolate brown and has aqua blue accents so it seemed like a good color palette to go with. I decided to achieve the look with Bronze Reactive Metallic Paint and Blue Patina Aging Solution.

 In case you are a newbie like I was, here is what I used for repainting my trunk and the process that I used.

Old Trunk Makeover using Modern Masters Metal Effects Blue Patina Aging Solution:

Materials used:

I also ordered Sapphire from the Metallic Paint Collection since I wasn’t 100% sure of my vision but didn’t end up using it. 

Tutorial:

  • Sand your trunk lightly. Wipe down your trunk to clean off any dust, dirt and grime. You could also patch any dents at this point if you wanted. I decided not to, I felt the dents added to the rustic feel of the trunk. 
  • Lay out your drop cloth and put your trunk on top of it.
  • Prime your trunk using Modern Masters Metal Effects Primer and allow to dry thoroughly. 

 Old Trunk Makeover using Modern Masters Metal Effects Blue Patina Aging Solution Primed Trunk

Old Trunk Makeover using Modern Masters Metal Effects Blue Patina Aging Solution- Trunk with painter's tape

  • Pick one side of your trunk (I started with the lid) put a layer of Bronze Reactive Metallic Paint and spray Blue Patina Aging Solution on top of the wet paint. The aging solution is very liquidy and will run if you tilt the trunk, so spray on one side at a time and let dry before you flip the trunk and start on the next side. 

Old Trunk Makeover using Modern Masters Metal Effects Blue Patina Aging Solution- Paint reactingHere is an image of what the aging solution looks like after it is sprayed on and starts reacting and drying.

Here is a great video from Modern Masters on how to use the blue patina aging solution:

  • Once you have done all sides of the trunk and it is dry, remove your painters tape and you are all set! The aging solution acts as a natural protective finish. 

Voila! Old trunk before:

Old Trunk Makeover using Modern Masters Metal Effects Blue Patina Aging Solution- Before

Old trunk after: 

Old Trunk Makeover using Modern Masters Metal Effects Blue Patina Aging Solution- After

Old Trunk Makeover using Modern Masters Metal Effects Blue Patina Aging Solution- After 2

I really like how it turned out. It looks rustic, aged and the blue patina gives it that pop of aqua blue that I love so much. Added bonus, the Modern Masters paint was easy peasy to use which makes it a great project for beginner painters to tackle.

What do you think? Do you have any old furniture that you’ve been wanting to give a facelift?

Thank you to my friends at Modern Masters for sending me the paint to refinish my trunk with. The people there are wonderful to work with and so great about giving advice on any projects that you are wanting to tackle. All thoughts and opinions in this post are 100% my own. 

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