This storage box started its life in a very different place.
Sourced through Marketplace from a family in Edinburgh, it came from a home being cleared after a bereavement. The box had been used in a garage for years — filled with tools, oil stains, scratches, and the honest marks of constant use. It was worn, heavy with history, and full of character.
Rather than remove that history, I wanted to keep it visible.
The box was carefully cleaned and treated with activated charcoal to remove odours, while preserving the marks and patina that made it special. I then built up multiple layers of paint, before sanding and stripping areas back to reveal depth, age, and texture underneath.
From there, I designed floral artwork in Illustrator and laser cut it into vinyl, along with the quote:
“Chaos was the dream of nature and Order was the dream of man.”
The flowers and text were applied by hand, then sealed under a clear epoxy layer to create a soft domed finish that adds both protection and a subtle sense of depth.
To complete the piece, the original hardware was replaced with a more characterful vintage handle, and the whole box was finished with a protective varnish.
It’s still a storage box — but now it carries a different kind of purpose: functional art.
A piece that sits between order and chaos, and between the past and a reimagined present.
