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July 31, 2015

DIY Toy Chest With Lid From Vintage Shipping Crate

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Disclosure: This post is in partnership with True Value. 

On August 25 my grandparents will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. Yes, you read that right. They are both 93, still doing amazing and just as in love as they were 7 decades ago. They are such a special couple and I truly feel blessed to have them in our lives. Over the past few years they have slowly downsized their belongings and I’ve been really fortunate to inherit quite a few pieces from them. Today, I’m sharing the latest item I received and talking about how I turned a piece of my family’s history into a DIY Toy Chest With Lid.

Turn an old shipping crate into a toy box by building a lid with hinges2My grandparents got married in San Francisco right before my grandpa was shipped off to WWII. He was stationed there for a little while my grandma lived in Washington State. I’m unsure of all the details, but during that time he shipped a box to my grandma and it came in this beautifully crafted wooden box. On the side is an inscription “San Francisco via Hong Kong” and on the other side is the original mailing label. How amazing is that?! I would probably pay money for this piece even if I didn’t know the people personally, it is just that unique and special.

Shipping Box LabelOne thing I would like to know is what could have possibly cost $1,000 back in the 40’s?! Must have been something pretty special.

Toy Chest Made From vintage shipping crateWe were already looking for toy chests for each of the kids’ rooms (and just about every room of the house) and I’m so glad I was able to take a vintage piece with meaning and turn it into a functional piece for my son’s room. It was a really simple project and something you can do with any old box.

Mail Crate CornersOh how I wish boxes like this were still made today. Could you image this beautiful box arriving on your door step? I can dream.

Hinges for toy chestI’m going to show you how easily it was to finish the box and build a top for it.

Supplies: 

– microfiber cloth

– 120 grit sand paper

– gloss polycrylic (and paint brush)

– pre-finished 6″X1″ pvc board (amount will vary depending on size of box)

– (2) 2″X1″ pieces of wood

– (6) 1″ wood screws

– wood glue

– white paint

– black metal handle

– black hinges (2)

Before crateThis is what the box looked like before. It had been sitting in their garage for a long time. It was covered in spider webs, the paper was peeling off and it needed some TLC.

Prepping the CrateI use microfiber cloths daily. I love them. These are typically used for drying cars (you can find them in the automotive section), but I have found they are the perfect way to wipe off dust and particles from a piece before I paint or seal it. Everything sticks right to the cloth and makes the process so easy.

I gave this box a good wipe down and then took 120 grit sand paper and gently sanded down the corners of the box. I didn’t over sand, I really just wanted to smooth out the sides. I am the type of person who likes the original distressed look of a piece and I wanted to keep the original wear and tear intact.

Prepping Crate Part 2Some of the corners were a little rickety, so I took my nail gun and added a few extra nails to keep it secure.

To finish the box, I gave it two coats of gloss polycrylic. I typically use satin, but I really like how the gloss looks on this piece. It gave it a really rich look.

 

Building the top of the crate

Now onto the top. Guys, this part is SO easy. You will be making lids for all your crates now. First, you will want to measure the top of your box. My cut pieces will most likely be a different size than yours. I used pre-finished pvc board for my top. It does cost a little more but it gave it a smooth finish and is easy to work with. To secure the three piece together, I cut two 2″X1″ pieces of wood and secured them using wood glue and wood screws. I also gave the top 2 coats of white latex paint.

NOTE: The only tricky part about this entire process is making sure you place the stabilizing pieces at least 1-2″ from the outside of the box so it opens and closes smoothly. You don’t want those pieces rubbing against the sides of the box. 

Crate Top HardwareWhen securing the top to the box, I used two black metal gate hinges and then added a handle to easily open and close it.

Mailing Box Turned Into Toy Chest

I originally made this box to be an outdoor toy box since toys tend to overtake our garage and backyard during this time of year. But it just looked too good to leave outside so I moved it into Little Man’s rustic bedroom.

Turn an old shipping crate into a toy box by building a lid with hingesIt matches his decor perfectly and I love having family heirlooms in each of our rooms. I can’t wait to show you the full reveal of his rustic space soon!


I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

About Taryn Whiteaker

Taryn Whiteaker is the voice of style behind TarynWhiteaker.com (formerly Design, Dining and Diapers) ! Taryn is a previous PR/Marketing professional who got back to her creative roots after becoming a mom and now shares her passion for home decor and design for the world to see. Taryn lives in the greater Seattle area with her husband and three kids and loves coffee, the outdoors, and exploring with her family.

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Filed Under: ALL POSTS, Before and Afters, Default, DIY Home Decor, DIY Projects, Organization, Sponsored

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ann says

    August 2, 2015 at 10:54 am

    Cool box! I’m so envious of your shipping box and wish my grandparents had saved things like this.

    Reply
  2. Mary Beth|Cupcakes and Crinoline says

    August 4, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    What an absolute treasure and a such a beautiful way to incorporate into your family’s home.

    Reply
  3. Vanessa says

    August 5, 2015 at 7:50 am

    What an amazing piece! That shipping label alone is enough to make me swoon!

    Reply
  4. Jeanie @ create&babble says

    August 5, 2015 at 10:06 am

    How fortunate you are to have this wonderful keepsake. I love how you made it functional!

    Reply
  5. Amy Anderson says

    August 6, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    What a special story – and it’s SO beautiful!!

    Reply
  6. Cassie, Lovely Weeds says

    August 28, 2015 at 8:07 am

    I just love this story! What an amazing piece to have in your home. The mailing label is what really gets me!!

    Reply

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Taryn Whiteaker

Hi and welcome! I'm Taryn and the voice of style behind Taryn Whiteaker Designs. I'm a wife, mom of three, and coffee lover, living in the Pacific Northwest! This is where I share my love for design, whether it's decorating our own home, tackling big DIY projects, creating inviting tablescapes, or sharing my personal style. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to subscribe to my mailing list to get all the latest updates! Read more...

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Which kitchen is your favorite? 1, 2, or 3? Coasta Which kitchen is your favorite? 1, 2, or 3? Coastal farmhouse, earthy contemporary or retro mid-century modern? I recently had the opportunity to tour all three of the model homes at the brand-new Poulsbo Meadows community by @tripointehomes.official . All three homes have completely different styles yet, are equally beautiful. To get each of these looks it all comes down to picking the right finishes and creating a cohesive look for your home. 

On the blog today, I’m walking you through how to mix different finishes together to get each of these looks. Plus, you get to see TONS more pics of the homes. 

The Poulsbo Meadows community is opening soon; you can join the interest list to learn more about the community and availability. #ad #tripointehomes #poulsbomeadows
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And this sums up my excitement right now.... our b And this sums up my excitement right now.... our backyard is all coming together!!!!! Gah I’m loving it so much. I’m been sharing tons of projects in stories over the past couple of weeks - I am (almost) finished putting in this turf with @paverturfgrids and I couldn’t wait to share a peek with you! Sharing tons more soon... but for now, I going to enjoy this... 
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Ps. I don’t think I’ve tried this jump since high school cheer and let’s not discuss how many takes it took! 
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IT’S DONE!!! I still have some finishing touches IT’S DONE!!! I still have some finishing touches to do with lights and styling but I couldn’t wait to share a peek! I seriously cannot believe our house is finally the way I envisioned it so long ago. Thank you all for the input on dark exterior colors, I couldn’t not be happier with how it turned out. I will admit I was a little hesitant with the shingle stain at first, but seeing it all together is so good. It’s the more modern PNW vibe I wanted for our home, I can’t wait to share even more. 
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So ready for the weekend! We will be hanging out w So ready for the weekend! We will be hanging out working on the backyard all weekend so tune into stories because I’ll be sharing lots of updates! 
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Have you thought about adding more smart home tech Have you thought about adding more smart home technology into your own home? #ad It's been something we have talked about a lot over the past year, and I am loving the new products we've recently added from @amazon and @ring to refresh our home! Check out this video to see how I use them in my everyday life and head to the blog to read more about each product and @alexa99 #askalexa #amazonhome #smarthome
Guess what?! Both our leather sofa and drum coffee Guess what?! Both our leather sofa and drum coffee table are back in stock! We love both of these pieces from @overstock (gifted), and they are used daily around here. I will say when it comes to leather couches, we all give this one a 10/10, it’s incredibly comfortable and a piece you will have fore a looooong time. 
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Not ready to close the books on spring break! I ha Not ready to close the books on spring break! I have a feeling homeschool is going to be a tad challenging this week 😉. We’ve really enjoyed the past week and low key weekend, it’s definitely getting us all a little more excited for summer and being outside a lot more! 
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One of my top questions is about the console table One of my top questions is about the console table in our entry way, I got it from Arhaus about 6 years ago and haven’t seen it in stock since... BUT they have two other ones on sale right now that have similar looks to them. I also rounded up a few more that will give you the same look. I linked them to this post in the @liketoknow.it app and will share in stories as well! 
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Got our dose of Vitamin D this week! Felt amazing. Got our dose of Vitamin D this week! Felt amazing. But I can’t wait to jump back into projects! Lots of new stuff coming up, I also have a fun video tour of the house coming up tomorrow! 🖤
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