Browsing Tag

living with pets

    ORGANIZING

    New Uses for Old Things: Vintage Suitcases

    vintage suitcases etsy photo

    Easy spot to at second-hand stores and garage sales, vintage suiteases come with built-in charm (and, usually, a not-so-pleasant smell). Battered corners and silky linings tell tales of the suitcase’s travelled past, and you can instantly imagine the trips taken and memories made by previous owners.

    vintage suitcases etsy photo

    It’s just as easy to imagine taking one of those suitcases on a new trip, albeit one which tranforms it as creative storage, a cozy bed for Fifi, or a modern tech-savvy charging station.

    Here are just a few of the most creative suitcase re-purposing projects we’ve spotted. (Look for links to full DIY in the Sourcing section below!)

    It doesn’t matter if you’re a cat person or a dog lover, your furry family member will feel right at home with a stylish space of its own.

    vintage suitcase pet bed diy

    Of course, suitcases make lovely seats for your less furry family members too – just add legs, upholstery foam and pillows.

    vintage suitcase chair diy

    Did you see this colourful train case-cum-charging station on Design*Sponge last week? Most charging stations tend toward masculine styling, so we loved that the suitcase’s original girly colour was preserved, and the colourful feminine lining that was added.

    diy suitcase charger device design sponge

    Thinking outside the closet is the key to giving these suitcases a new lease on life. Create an organized and portable crafting station for kids (or mom!), or a picnic-party-in-a-box that will be ready to go when spring weather arrives.

    vintage suitcase craft organizer diy

    vintage suitcase picnic basket diy

    Anyone who’s visited the home of a musician knows how instruments can take over the home. This guitar stand from the master Macgyver-ers at Readymade keeps things corralled, and folded up is easy to tote on stage or to band practice.

    vintage suitcase guitar stand diy readymade

    Of course, don’t overlook the suitcase’s original intent: storing clothes. Britsh artist James Plumb created custom chests and fitted suitcase fronts to the drawers for a one-of-a-kind look.

    vintage suitcase chest of drawers james plumb

    SOURCING:
    + “Journey in Blue” Vintage Suitcase Print, Simply Hue Designs on Etsy, $25 USD
    + Cat Bed DIY by Camilla Styles
    + Doggy Day Bed DIY by Covet Garden
    + Vintage Suitcase Chair DIY by See Kate Sew
    + Charging Station DIY by Design*Sponge
    + Craft Suitcase by Inspire Co.
    + Picnic Basket Suitcase DIY by Funkytime
    + Guitar Stand DIY by Readymade
    + Suitcase Chest of Drawers by James Plumb via Bless This Stuff

  • ooboo pet haven
    ORGANIZING

    Ooboo Cat and Dog Haven

    Cat toys, like kids toys, can invade your living room. This is why I like the handy cat storage on the roof of this stylish faux-leather cat and dog house. Since…

  • cat cabin by loyal luxe
    HOME + GARDEN HOME decor

    Cat Cabin by Loyal Luxe

    Maud Beauchamp and Marie-Pier Guilmain are the two young Quebec industrial designers behind Loyal Luxe. They created a cool cardboard Canadian style cabin for cats that is shipped on a flat…