Hello, lovelies, and welcome back! Today I’m sharing how you can easily make an old flatware box beautiful. This makeover is so far from where it started that it might surprise you!
Before I get to today’s makeover, I wanted to let you know that on Thursday, I will be posting at 11:00 am EST instead of my usual time. I will have all the new Redesign goodies to share! I used some of them on my smalls for Thursday, so I can’t share until their official reveal at 8 am PST as they are on the west coast.
Okay, here we go!
I found this box for $3.99 at the thrift store:
It doesn’t have much beauty here, but I am going to make it beautiful!
Here is what the inside looked like:
Remove the Innards
I started by removing the lining. This is the least fun part, but it has to be done!
That piece that holds the silverware can usually be rocked back and forth and then removed.
Then, I just start ripping…
Until I have most of it out:
What’s left will be covered, so this is good enough!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Clean
I cleaned well with White Lightning, mixing one TBSP into a half gallon of warm water…
Then I swapped my water for clean water and gave it another good wipe down to remove any residue.
Paint
I decided on a gorgeous gray blue, Dixie Belle’s Savannah Mist, giving it two coats.
Then, I added half Cotton to it to get a lighter shade…
For stripes! I did that using FrogTape for delicate surfaces, peeling it off immediately after painting:
I know. I know! I use stripes a lot. But stripes are just SO easy to do that I can’t help myself!
Plus, they were a perfect backdrop for what I planned to do with this frame that’s been hanging around my garage for years:
But first, I needed to sand and seal the box.
Sand and Seal
I did not want any distressing on this box, so I lightly sanded to smooth using a fine grit sanding sponge:
Then, I sealed all over using Clear Coat in the satin finish that I applied using the blue sponge applicator:
Adding some fancy!
While that was drying, I removed the backing to the small frame:
Then I painted it in the same color as the box, Savannah Mist:
It looks so much prettier already!
Then, I pulled out what I had left of this Rare Birds transfer:
This one with the blue was perfect for framing!
I applied it to the original cardboard piece that was in the frame after painting it in Cotton:
I put it in the frame and then glued the frame to the top of the box using E6000 glue, allowing it to dry overnight with some weight on it like this:
Make an Old Flatware Box Beautiful. the Reveal
Here is how this old flatware box looks now!
I also added these cute feet…
They are actually small wooden dowel caps I found HERE on Amazon. I attached them with wood glue:
But the best part is on the top!
I had planned to add silver gilding wax to the details, but I loved the soft look of it as is and decided to leave it.
It didn’t have a knob before, but this small glass one was perfect:
The Inside
For the inside, I found a gorgeous blue floral fabric in my stash that I bought at Hobby Lobby ages ago for this dresser.
I used this method HERE to line it like I do all my boxes. I cut foam core for the top and bottom as well as fabric to cover it and fabric for the band around the inside of the bottom:
I hot glued the top in place, then the band around the bottom of the inside:
And finally, the bottom piece of fabric wrapped foam core was glued in.
And here is the interior complete!
A little closer…
I love this fabric with this color!
One more look at this beautiful bird…
Better, no??
And I’m so happy to have finally done something with that frame!
Flatware boxes are something I rarely pass up!
Here’s seven more thrifty flatware boxes for you to see!
See what I did with them all HERE!
One more done woohoo!
See what I’ve completed so far below:
Painted Pine Dresser
Update Lamps with Paint
Give a dated Shelf Vintage Charm
Update a Jewelry Box with Paint and Decoupage Paper
$10 Night Table Makeover
Update a Mirror with Moulds
Update a Flatware Box for the Holidays!
Yellow Painted Chair
Trashed $10 Thrift Store Table Makeover
Round Wooden Storage Case
Washstand Cabinet Makeover
I’ll be back with this round of smalls on Thursday:
I can’t wait to share the fun new Easter things Redesign has released!
UPDATE: See how cute some of these turned out HERE now!
See ya then!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
Oh so beautiful! I absolutely love one! The color is so beautiful and the fabric is a perfect match! I will never tire of your stripes or seeing your silverware box makeovers! It is so beautiful now!
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! Stripes are just so easy and I do love them too! Have a fantastic week! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, it’s definitely better and beautiful ! What a great idea to use that frame on the top. I love the fabric choice….i used the same fabric to line drawers and cover a seat on a desk/chair ensembles…in Savannah Mist ……
Christy says
Thank you so much, Janice! I’m so happy I was finally able to use that frame lol. I bet your desk and chair are gorgeous with this fabric and color! XOXO
Nana Diana says
Very cute. I actually have a curio box that was made that way but you can slide a picture into one side of the frame from ‘underneath’, if that makes sense. . I have had it for at least 30 years. Your’s is fancier though.
Happy Tuesday- xo Diana
Christy says
Oh yes, I can totally picture it (no pun intended lol!). I love that idea! Thank you, my friend! XOXO
Julie A. Henry says
BEAUTIFUL…..THAT FABRIC WAS A BEAUTIFUL MATCH…HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Christy says
Thank you, Julie! I just had a small scrap of it left, but luckily, it was just enough! Enjoy your day as well! XOXO
Wendy Keliher says
I love this idea. I am going to make these for my sister’s for Christmas this year using a family heirloom picture in it. Thanks so much for the idea!
Christy says
Oh I LOVE that idea! What a treasure that will be! Good luck in your search for boxes! XOXO
Jackie C says
Love this! Everything about it! Those little dowel caps are adorable as bun feet! I can’t get enough of stripes, they just add so much to a piece. Enjoy the rest of your week 💟
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! I feel the same about stripes and the effort is minimal…win-win! Enjoy your week as well! XOXO
Gina says
This flatware box is my favorite of all of them! So unique and the color is so beautiful.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Gina! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one! XOXO
Cecilia says
From drab to fab! Love the pretty bird. And yay to finding a use for that frame. It adds so much to the box. It’s gorgeous now!
Can’t wait to see the new designs and how you used them on that batch of smalls!
❤️Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! I am most excited that I was able to finally use that frame lol! There are some really cute things comings and a new kind of transfer too! XOXO
Jewels L says
You out did your self this time! Love EVERYTHING about this. I’m gushing over that interior, amazing match!
Christy says
Aww thanks so much, Jewels! That fabric couldn’t have been more perfect for this box! XOXO
Josee says
Just marvelous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Josee! XOXO
Cyndi says
That is SO lovely. Very clever!
Christy says
Thank you, Cyndi! I’m so glad you like it! XOXO
Kathy from Jax says
This turned out absolutely beautiful. I love that you do a lot of flatware boxes that can be used for so many things. Can’t wait to see the other projects. Stay warm. Freezing here in FL too. I’ll visit you on Thursday.
Christy says
Thank you, Kathy! These boxes can have so many uses for sure! You stay warm too!! XOXO
Mariele says
I won’t lie, I was expecting the mirror to go on the inside so when you opened up the box, you had a hidden mirror, like an eyeshadow palette. 🙂 This was very creative. Beautiful job, and I love the fabric pairing~!
Christy says
That would have been awesome! I don’t see small mirrors too often, but I’m going to keep my eye out now! Thank you, Mariele! XOXO
Caye says
What a great idea, Christy! I would never have thought to use a framed picture on the top of any box. You couldn’t have designed fabric anymore perfect than your “scraps”. Wonderful. I’m still not a fan of wide stripes, but the frame distracted from them. You can make anything look good, girl!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Caye! I’ve never added a framed photo to the top before, but when I saw that frame in my stash, I was excited to try it! And yes, that fabric looks like it was made for it for sure. I do love my stripes lol! XOXO
p says
So cute. You are Aways thinking
The color is perfect with that gorgeous fabric !
Can’t wait for theSmalls on Tuesday.
Christy says
Thank you, P! I was so happy that I had enough of that fabric! See ya Thursday! XOXO
Michele M. says
Savannah Mist is one of the most beautiful colors at Dixie Belle. And paired with that interior fabric and that beautiful artwork – this is a stunning piece! It will sell so fast. GORGEOUS!
Christy says
I agree…it is definitely a favorite of mine too…might even be my number one! Thank you so much, my friend! XOXO
September says
When I saw the before of this makeover I did a double take because I bought this exact same box a couple of weeks ago at a Goodwill here in Texas for, you guessed it, $3.99! The funny thing is I have been on the lookout for flatware boxes ever since I subscribed to your channel years ago and this was the first time I have ever come across one, except at vintage malls where they wanted upwards of $25 for them. So, either folks here in Texas hang on to them or they get snatched up quickly. Luckily for me, I hadn’t done anything with mine yet because I was unsure what I wanted to do and whether that red was going to bleed. So thank you for the inspiration and the tutorial!
Christy says
Oh funny! I’m so glad I could offer some inspiration for yours! There are so many possibilties with these boxes…have fun redoing yours! XOXO
Catherine says
This was such a wonderful creative idea! Will it be in your shop?
My best friend is in Va Beach this weekend for her grandson’s wrestling tournament….can you tell me the name of the place you have your items? She wants to come by if she has time! I want her to buy this flatware box for me! LOL!!
Christy says
Thank you, Cathy! I was just in my shop today and it is still there! I think I messaged with you on FB? I’m in the Virginia Beach Antique Mall, open M-F 10-6, Sat 10-5, and Sun 12-5! I hope she can stop by for you! XOXO
Theresa says
Love this Christy! The frame on the top not only adds that extra elegance but what a great addition to place maybe keys or a watch, something that will be reached for again sooner. The colours you used are just perfect. Thank you for sharing and inspiring, Theresa
Christy says
Thank you, Theresa! I’m so glad you enjoyed this box, and yes…perfect to store everyday pieces! XOXO