Antique Suitcase Gets a Makeover

Belle Jaeger
by Belle Jaeger
5 Materials
$20
5 Hours
Medium

This post is a little DIY inspiration as we take an antique piece and give it a totally new purpose. An antique suitcase gets new look, as it maintains it’s integrity but definitely looks chic, hip, and fresh.


https://www.gullycreekcottage.com/antique-suitcase-gets-new-look/

A friend had an old suitcase that had been in her family for many years and she wanted a use for it, instead of having it tucked under a bed.

I took it and made it into a small accent table with minimal effort.

The before and after ----this suitcase had seen better days! Now it's useful and adorable!

How the suitcase looked when I got it. I removed the hardware to clean it. I wiped down the entire piece and sanded it lightly before applying 2 coats of chalk paint I mixed up. (Dove color)

The suitcase drying after the first coat of painting and ready for a 2nd coat.

Antique table legs found at our local antique store. Wiped them off and sanded lightly before 2 coats of paint.

Trimming the legs for the perfect height prior to the painting.

After two coats of paint and ready to attach leg hardware

Drilling on the hardware for the table legs and drilling holes for the screwing mechanisms

Stencil for the top lid

Stenciled using antique medium in mahogany

Putting all the shiny (freshly polished) original hardware back on.

I loved the way the table turned out. It is now a perfect functional piece that will get lots of use.

With new paint, table legs and shiny hardware- she looks stunning.

The inside bottom was lined by decoupaging scrapbook paper for a more finished look.

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Belle Jaeger
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  • Dl.5660408 Dl.5660408 on Oct 20, 2019

    It’s absolutely gorgeous! Might I ask where you got the beautiful stencil?

  • Ginger Ginger on Oct 20, 2019

    Hey, you could also replicate this using an old dresser drawer and making the lid out of scrap wood. Oh my, the creative juices are going mad! End tables ??? HMMM!

  • Judy Persohn Judy Persohn on Oct 20, 2020

    How nice!! I love this piece. Your work is beautiful.

    I have an old steamer trunk complete with compartments, drawers, and fixed hangers. Lined with blue velvet. Out side is black with the straps and old nail head studs. Any Ideas on how to remove the weird ball thing inside which holds a big mold smell. It is also covered in velvet. Any suggestions? I really want to add this as a table in one of my rooms.

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  • Kyralee Kyralee on Oct 21, 2020

    Absolutely love it! You've given me some inspiration. I have a small wooden suitcase that I would love to turn into a table-top box like this with maybe some small bun feet. Yours turned out so nice.

  • Belle Jaeger Belle Jaeger on Oct 21, 2020

    Thank you Kyralee! Hope you share pictures of how yours turns out!

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