To start with I had to take out all the old nails that were sticking out and then got to work stripping the old lead paint away and sanding(which was a nightmare but made me more determined not to give up).
As the piece started to clean up nicely I was able to apply the treatments and clean up the piece leaving the outer paint on the front, back and sides.

I wanted to keep this outer paint protected and part of the design so I applied multiple coats of clear varnish carefully sanding between coats.

Once I managed to remove the paint from the inside I painted it black inside and set to staining the lid and fitting a magnetic catch. I had a small dented hole in the lid which I was able to cover with the magnetic fitting plate keeping the trunk lid closed securely.

As time went on I decided the metal handles had to go and I purchased some jute rope to make the handles.
I remember my late grandfather showing me how to whip handles together and I impressed myself how well they turned out on this project.

As I spent a lot of time on this project and a lot of money I wanted to give it some legs that didn’t cost an arm and a leg and set about with various wooden handmade designs, however before fitting them I came across an antiques shop who had 5 Bullet shells for £90.
I knew straight away these would be the pieces I needed to finish the Ammo Box.
I tried to leave the shop but my legs would not let me and with a bit of haggling I walked away with the 5 shells for £80.

Once adapted to fit as legs the shells finish the piece off as a very unique piece of furniture.

Money and time was no object on getting it to look right.
Even the decommission label that was on the inside was used as part of the design to make this perfect.

For me it was all about preserving the history, I wanted to make a piece that can be functional but still hold the history of what is a box that is atleast 80 years old!

I like the thought that this box has not rotted away and can continue being useful for a long time to come.

Price £349
Free UK shipping

Please contact me for international enquiries as in some cases I may be able to extend the free post offer depending on your location.

The post Genuine 1945 British WW2 Ammo Box Chest / Trunk first appeared on Paul Riley Interior Design Effects.

The original handles help to keep the cabinet locked closed. With holes in the handle you could add an additional small padlock if necessary.

The inside was sanded and finished in an Indian rosewood stain which blends with the outside perfectly.

Inside I have built a small cubby hole with a pull down door. I cleaned the original webbing and used this to support the door along with a magnetic catch to keep in place.

The handle I have kept for over 15 years just waiting for the right project! Which again gives the piece a vintage/ authentic look.

The cubby hole is large enough to comfortably fit 9 regular sized wine glasses or a mixture of glasses/ wine bucket and accessories etc.

The wine bottles are supported by inserting the bottle into the holes in the side then gently resting on the relevant shelf.

This is enough support for the bottle however green webbing has been fitted for additional support and to finish the look.

I had cut and fitted three long bolts under the cubby hole to act as support rails to hook the webbing in place with special hooks.

The shelves were made from original stocks (these are the original supports that hold the guns and ammunition in place inside the ammo box) and were again sanded and finished in Indian rosewood.

The shelves were stepped in design and can accommodate different size bottles on different shelves. I used a few bottles as a template for this but I’m sure bottles can vary.

To ensure the door would open and close the box was lifted from the floor on small feet made from the pieces cut from the side. These give a subtle lift and help support the unit.

The original hinges are still easy to open and not stiff.

I incorporated LEDs into the design and after some research I was able to source the best quality waterproof LEDs that are connected to a battery pack below the bottom shelf which I have modified a magnetic window switch to. This gives a feature to open the door and the LEDs switch on which helps to save battery life. With a good set of duracells these will last for ages.
The LEDs have multiple pattern combinations and can act as great mood lighting.

This is a completely One Off item and a real centrepiece/ talking point.

More details to come

Price:TBA

Please contact for more info

The post Industrial/ Shabby Ammo box Wine storage first appeared on Paul Riley Interior Design Effects.

The cable reel features:
Hand made numbers using painted black screws (they were originally black but looked better with a darker black).
I was able to create Roman numerals using the screws by half screwing each screw in place.

For the centre of the reel and for the clock I used a silent extra longer spindle mechanism with large 39cm minute hand with smaller 31cm hour hand held together by a custom centre fitting made from an upcycled sprayed black disk saw blade and a small metal disk.

The final colour was carefully selected for its effect it gives over time.
The reel was finished with three coats in a dark stain beeswax which over time can produce an amazing rustic look.
The beeswax builds up in the gaps and creates a grey almost dusty look on the woodwork if the item is not cleaned/polished. This gives the item a very rustic aged look and gives great protection for the wood.
The reel can be polished using regular household polish or beeswax polish which brings out the colour again and hides the grey.

The Diameter of the whole clock is 79cm.

Price: TBA

These clocks can be made to order for a similar item or we can discuss other themes/ colours and incorporations into the design.
Please contact me to discuss your requirements.

The post Handmade Industrial Style Cable Reel Clock first appeared on Paul Riley Interior Design Effects.

The table was made with an upcycled cable reel.
Hand carved the patterns,
Resin poured to finish.

The table was covered on both sides with a high quality yacht varnish which gives a clear and smooth finish to the table top aswel as great protection both indoor or outdoor.

Would look great in a Garden or Conservatory where it can get lots of UV light to give a toxic green glow, alternatively you can use a UV bulb/torch to charge the light.
The darker it is the better the table glows.

The base is a restored black cast iron heavy table base.

Table size 100cm diameter table top
Overall height 71cm also.

The post Toxic Green Glow In The Dark Epoxy Cable Reel Table first appeared on Paul Riley Interior Design Effects.

The post Industrial Cable Reel Table With Mystical Purple Glow In The Dark Resin Burnt Inlay first appeared on Paul Riley Interior Design Effects.

Custom made using pyrotechnics to burn the numbers and stained and varnished in multiple coats for a hard protection.
Wood is reclaimed weathered wood.

The post Custom Owl Clock first appeared on Paul Riley Interior Design Effects.