Last spring I got an email from an Art of Doing Stuff reader who lives in my general area. She said she had spotted a vintage suitcase out for garbage pickup while she was out for her morning walk. She lugged it home, emailed me and asked if I'd like it.
Um ... YES. Garbage finds are my favourite finds and I didn't even have to go root through garbage for it. I didn't know what I was going to do with the suitcase but I knew I could think of something.
The suitcase was in relatively good condition, but definitely couldn't be used "as is". I'd have to fix it up, clean it up, paint it up ... something.
One year ago the title of this post was going to be "How to Paint a Suitcase!". By spring it was going to be, "How to Turn a Suitcase into a Gardening Shed!". Around July I decided the title would definitely be "Put Wheels on a Suitcase for Easy Underbed Storage!. Then fall arrived and the title became "Shove that old suitcase in your basement. It's ugly and a pain in the ass!"
But then I made a discovery. I decided to peel off the travel stickers that were on the suitcase.
One of the stickers was covering up a hole in the outside fabric of the suitcase. It looked like wood underneath.
I figured if I just peeled a little more of the fabric back I'd be able to see if the whole suitcase was wood. Just a little. Just enough so I could see if it was wood. If I was careful about it, I could always just glue the fabric back down.
Hmm. Not sure. Might need to peel a tiny bit more back.
Down to the basement to set up for suitcase surgery. I'd get everything ready and then come down in the morning to start working on it.
And I stuck to my plan. As long as you call 2:00 a.m. morning.
It was like an addiction this suitcase. I couldn't stop until I knew exactly what was underneath. Then once I knew what was underneath, I was satisfied and promptly walked away leaving it sitting on my workbench for the next 4 months. It runs in my family this sort of behavior. Rip something apart until you know what it's made of or what's going on and then walk away because your curiosity has been quenched.
Last month I got back to work on it.
To strip the suitcase I:
Table of Contents
1. Ripped the fabric off with my hands.
2. Scraped off some of the glue residue.
3. Sanded the rest of the glue off with a palm sander.
Now that the suitcase is stripped you have 3 options:
1. Leave it as is with no finish or sealant.
2. Seal it with a coat of Varathane.
3. Stain it and then Varathane it.
Even though I loved the clean look of the pale wood, I wanted it to have a bit more age and character so after MUCH debating I went with stain then Varathane to seal and protect the suitcase.
Are you wondering what this suitcase ultimately became? Is it underbed storage? A mini gardening shed? Nope, nope.
And yes. That is Rough Linen bedding. Smooth linen sheets and an Orkney duvet cover.
By putting the suitcase on an actual suitcase stand it instantly becomes the perfect height for a bedside table. Although it would look good on antique casters. Or on the porch with gardening tools. The one place it won't be going is the basement.
Tracie
Gorgeous! The perfect spot too. Love the bedding as well, so jealous....:)
Lynn
AH-mazing!
Gorgeous.
Perfection.
Quite like YOU!
{WOOD! who knew????}
Dawna Jones
I LOVE it absolutely brilliant!!!
http://www.dawnajonesdesign.com/
Jessica
What a serene and luxurious bedroom! The warmth of the woods and the crispness of the whites are a beautiful combination. Great things are worth waiting for, so be glad that it took you this long to refurbish the suitcase - a year ago you may have done something completely different with it!
Eric H.
Sweet looking suitcase, great project and a great find by your reader!
gogothrift@etsy.com
what's the name of the book, Karen?????
Karen
I will share that information very soon. :) ~ karen
taria
wow! I had no idea that those were wood. I have maybe 8 of them in the shed. You lucked out with the leather edges being in good shape. Can't wait to try this. thx.
Diana
Well done, well done!
Like it very much. It perfectly fits to the floor!
MelissaM
I think you are pretty cool. I mean, I thought you were pretty cool and all. But now? NOW I KNOW YOU ARE TOTALLY AWESOME BECAUSE YOU HAVE /THE BOOK THIEF/ ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND!!!!
Please tell me you read it and that you keep it out to 1) start fabulous conversations with others who have read it and 2) tell anyone who hasn't read it to drop everything posthaste and read it.
Karen
MelissaM - LOL. It's next on the list to read. I put it on the bedside trunk because it looked good there. I am currently finishing up a book that I absolutely *LOVE*. Love, love, love. The Book Thief is next on the list. :) ~ karen!
Debbie W.
Oh thank you for this post!!!!!!!!!! When my grandmother passed away last year, a suitcase just like this one was found hidden in the back of her closet. I took it, loving the oldness of it but didn't know how or where I'd even be able to use it - since mine is in quite a bit rougher shape than yours. Now I am itching to see what is underneath!! I love that you took something that has a history and brought it back to life. I always think that whoever the original owners were of these old pieces, are somewhere happy knowing that their things are being loved and appreciated!!
Melissa Leach
What an amazing project, well done! I'll be watching for roadkill recipes.
marilyn
gorgeous!!
Karen
Thanks marilyn! ~ karen
gogothrift@etsy.com
Love this project! I think we might be related. I also stop and start projects all the time. I usually have 2 or 3 going at once which drives my husband crazy. It's just the way we creative types
"do".
Julie
Looks fantastic Karen - can I have it back now you have done all the hard work? Only Joking Julie
Karen
It took me long enough didn't it?! ~ karen
Lynn
Love what you did with the suitcase, Karen!
Mary Kay
Karen - I would never of guessed there was wood under there - it came out fabulous!!
Gina
Awesome!!!
Jules
LOVE LOVE LOVE..huge fan of decorating my house with trash..
Emily
That is awesome! I am also a big fan of shopping at the "curb store." My current coffee table was picked up off the curb.
Reg
Really nice project. Garage sale season is coming up if garbage day doesn't yield any treasures. Sure free is better, but garage sales aren't expensive if you have something in mind.
My best garbage find was about 10 ft. of wrought iron fencing in two 5 ft. sections, a couple of years ago. It's still stored in the shed, but one day I'll figure out what to do with it.
mothership
I NEED those!!
how about turned on it's side- suspended from fence as a pea or bean trellis....
or as just another section of fence to protect a part of the garden while playing the exhausting game "are you smarter than a chicken"?
(mine are free range... and one can get over 5' fences.... my newest garden gate has SPIKES on top!- HAH! take that chicken!)
Juliet
Reg -
How about this, as a way to use your wrought iron fencing?