A Vintage Suitcase Makeover
Restore an old and rusted vintage suitcase into a brand new looking piece of luggage. Learn some techniques to help makeover your vintage piece.
I restored an old and rusted vintage suitcase into a brand new looking piece of luggage. This makeover isn’t too difficult and doesn’t have to be perfect because the imperfections add to the vintage charm.
Guess where I found this old thing?
If you have been coming here at all for any length of time you will know it came from my basement. I am starting to believe that everything from the dreaded basement must be vintage. This old suitcase was in really bad shape. It had scratches all over and the metal framework holding it together was bent out of shape.
I certainly had a big job ahead of me. But if there is one thing I love, it’s a good challenge. And so we begin with my vintage suitcase makeover.
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How to Paint a Vintage Suitcase
I started with the sides and painted them using my favorite Enchanted by Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint from DecoArt. It went on nice and smooth and I ended up using 2 coats. I created my own color because I’m a pain like that. I mixed in some white to the Enchanting to make a really soft olive color.
The next step was to take care of those awful looking corner bumps. I used DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Burnished Brass and rubbed them to a fine sheen. I think gold would have been too much in this case.
I used the same polish on the inner frame parts that close. In order to get straight lines, I pressed up a piece of cardboard on the edge and then just painted along.
The edge clamps were also treated in the same manner.
The outer framework was refreshed with a black acrylic color.
Now for this vintage suitcase, I had an old world look in mind. You’ve seen those old suitcases that had straps on them. Well, I wanted to create that look. I taped them off and painted them with my Enchanted color. Painting these straps gave me a backache. But one must suffer for one’s suitcase.
I then had to go back and retouch up some areas. As one point, I remember taking a hammer to the areas of the frame that were bent out of shape. You can see below that it is still out of shape, but that is as good as it’s gonna get. Anyway, I want you all to remember that it is a vintage piece. Can’t make it too perfect or it’ll lose its charm.
And here she is, my beauty!
Doesn’t she look just spiffy?
I am really loving the contrast between the brass and the black frame.
I chose to leave the bottom blank. No point in breaking my back all over again.
At one point I had considered painting the straps all around the vintage suitcase but realized that the clasps were not symmetrical. They were placed at different dimensions away from the ends of the suitcase. Even the central edge clamp was off center. You can see it here where it is not centered with the handle, whereas the bottom clamp is.
By painting the stripes all around, I think it would have called more attention to the irregularities of the suitcase.
While working on this project I found a site on the internet, Brettuns Village, which restores trunks and old suitcases. It is very informative (that’s how I learned the names of all these pieces) and it even has a page on how to restore your own vintage piece.
Of course, I’m not finished yet. I’ll show you what’s inside very soon.
I really love the softness of the color, it makes the hardware look so clean and the brass stand out. I would definitely consider this vintage suitcase makeover a trash to treasure project. Do you think I chose the colors well? What about that brass? Do you have any old pieces like this?
And now for some rest…
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Great job! I really like the new look.
Carol, I am really loving this transformation.
She’s beautiful Mary, so glad you found her in the basement and the backache was soooo worth it. She really looks amazing.
Yes that backache really was worth it. I look at the before sometimes and cannot believe it.
That was impressive transformation! I had my doubts but you pulled it off.
That suitcase was parked in my hallway for half a year, after it had been rescued from the basement. So it really was long overdue.
I love this! I love the colors you chose, too. I agree that gold might have been too much, but the brass color is just right.
I was going for that feel, you know the olden days when people traveled on the Orient Express.
Mary, I can’t believe this is the same suitcase!! You did an amazing job at restoring this piece and making it beautiful once more. I really like the color combinations you chose. The difference in the clamps makes me wonder if it was taken apart at one point or had to be fixed. Hm, it’s like a mystery suitcase lol. I can’t wait to see what’s inside the case.
Yes it is. And it took me a long time to restore it because I wanted to do the right thing. I even ended up on the internet reading about authentic suitcases.I suspect that it may have been hand made or something, because machines are pretty concise.
Mary, You are a genius, my friend! So awesome and gorgeous now. YOU GO GIRL!
Thank you Carol. It took me long enough to do this. But it came out right.
I was reading and wondering how are you going to display this fabulous vintage piece! Now that I finished reading I am wondering about the inside! Great work!
I wanted to preserve the character of the suitcase. Can you imagine Indiana Jones carrying one on his expeditions?
You did a great job with the paint Mary! This vintage suitcase really got a great makeover! The brass edges look great with the white, I love it! Can’t wait to see what’s inside???
The outside had to be true to it’s era. I’m pretty sure this suitcase has to be at least fifty years old.
You did a great job restoring this suitcase Mary! It looks fantastic and definitely has the old world charm you were seeking! I love it! It’s hard to believe you found this suitcase in your basement, and even harder to believe it began looking like it did.
Yes Mandy, it looked pretty awful. In fact it still has plenty of dents but that is part of it’s charm.
Excellent makeover! Te result is so charming!
Thank you so much Marcela. I know you also finished a trunk recently. It is so exciting to bring these old pieces back to life.
I could not believe you would manage to restore this old suitcase and yet you did a great job! Well done Mary!!!!
I do have two old suitcases myself, they are wooden and they were made by my father, about 40 years ago. I am still thinking on how to revamp them!
I wish you a lovely new week!
It was a frightful sight before. If you are interested you can go to the site I liked up to above. They have lots of ideas and tips on how to restore old suitcases and trunks. I would love to see them.
Your suitcase looks so charming. If it could only talk what interesting stories we would hear. I like the way you painted the hardware and the soft green of the actual suitcase. The stripes give it the wow factor.
I suspect it must have belonged to my Father-In-Law many years ago. Maybe he used it when he was traveling over the Atlantic? Food for thought Debra.
WoW its beautiful,when I saw it first i taught eeek,great job
Mary thank you for that squeal of delight!
Your suitcase turned out great! I recently read a blog where the writer retrofitted a smaller suitcase as her sewing travel box. It was almost as pretty as yours. Happy week!
What a brilliant idea. Mine is pretty big, but that would be a great storage idea for sewing things. Even if you were not traveling. Thanks for the idea Zenda.
Love that suitcase! And what I wouldn’t do to be able to go ‘shopping’ in your basement! I think the stripes look fantastic…as do the brass clamps. It makes a perfect table…a fun little piece.
Can’t wait to see the ‘next installment’.
Hugs and wishes for a great week.
Lynn
Thank you Lynn. The way I’m going that basement will be empty soon. No, I don’t think so. I actually learned a lot about trunks and suitcases from the company I linked up to. There is always something new to learn.
Wow! That old suitcase looks so great now, I can hardly believe it’s the same one!
Tania
Tania it was one hot mess before. And even the framework was bent out of shape. I am so glad I did this.
Hello Mary,
truth be told: if you hadn’t pointed it out I wouldn’t have noticed the irregularity of the clasps, certainly not at first. Nevertheless painting the stripes was a great idea. Great job indeed!
Have a creative week,
Marjan
Marjan, I hadn’t noticed it either till I went to paint the stripes and realized that something was wrong. At least I painted them somewhere to give it a bit of interest.
It turned out really beautiful Mary! I love the brass details!
I think I made the right choice in going with the brass and not the gold here. Gold would have been overkill. Thank you Ntina.
Mary,
Your vision came to life beautifully! I love it!
Lisa
Thank you Lisa. It had been sitting outside in the hallway for quite some time after I bought it up from the basement but all good things need their time.
Great job Mary! Your vintage suitcase turned out great! Love the color, and the stripe. And the hardware turned out really nice. I think the brass color is a better choice then gold. My mom use to have some old vintage suitcase, which back then they weren’t vintage, and I remember her selling them at a yard sale years ago. If I only knew I would of brought them home with me.
You know Mary I think if you look really hard you could find a rabbit in your basement. LOL You have everything else.
This suitcase was a hidden treasure and one that I had not realized could be restored till I started this blog. Then the ideas started to flow. As for the rabbits Linda, well, you never know. 😉