Wooden Transport Box into Coffee Table

I got myself a sturdy, very nice looking wooden transport box with metallic reinforcements and a good size to be used as coffee table.
The transformation seemed pretty straigh forward, but as usual it involved some deep thinking... the lid of these things is intended to simply go on top of the box -like the one on a biscuits can- and gets fastened by bending the metallic hooks on the sides of the box. I wanted to turn it into a trunk, so had to flatten the trim on the lid side that would swivel and find a way to reinforce the wood areas in which the hinges, clasp and handles will be fastened: check out the pictures of the making process below to see how I finally achieved it!

To add to the industrial look I have also stencilled the word 'Frágil' ('fragile', the equivalent to 'handle with care') on the lid, and 'B' plus '12' on the sides of the box. They stand for 'Barcelona' and the year of making -minus one. Nothing to do with superstition at all, I love number 13 (I was born on a 13th!), but the stencil #3 is too similar to the capital B and looked weird, ha ha. They are painted on a toned-down cherry red, like the inside of the box, that goes very well with the natural wood grain and the chromed metallic bits. The whole surface has been protected with clear varnish and polished for a satin, smooth finish.

The casters have thick rubber wheels -won't damage the floor- and stand over 20kg each, while still moving smoothly: you can store virtually anything inside this coffe table trunk!

Measures: 57 x 46cm, 40,5cm high

The making process: In the first picture, the transport box before its transformation and the main parts used in the project. On the right, cutting the reinforcement boards to measure

Drilling the holes in the boards that will support the hinges at the back of the trunk; bending the hooks that fasten the base to the sides

Sanding the wooden surfaces; cutting and bending the metallic trim of one side of the lid, so it can be opened once it's attached to the box with hinges

Fastening the hinges and the front clasp: I've used the 'buttonholes' originally intended for the metallic hooks of the sides

Painting the inside in bright brown-red; trimming the tips of the screws

Stencilling the numbers and letters on each side of the box, and finally adding two wooden boards to join the 'legs', plus four industrial rubber casters (varnishing and polishing not shown)