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23 Comments

  1. OK I don’t believe in tearing apart vintage thing. How do I clean the liner? I’m not tearing it out.

    1. Lora Bloomquist says:

      I’ve never tried it, so can’t advise you on that, sorry.

  2. liz kingham says:

    Hi Lora
    I have recently bought an old Antler suitcase so will definitely try your cleaning methods on the outside. The inside is a lined with a satin like fabric that is dirty so I think I might try taking it out and hand washing it in the hope of re-using it. Would the same soap be ok for outside and inside? Also, the front panel where the fastenings are is quite weak. How would you recommend I improve its strength?
    I’m in southern England and it’s been raining here since about August and now Autumn so not many dry sunny days around but I’ll still give cleaning a try, just expecting drying time to be a bit longer!
    Thanks
    Liz
    (Nov 2023)

    1. Lora Bloomquist says:

      Your antler suitcase sounds divine, Liz! Yes, any gentle soap will work. Just don’t let the water sit on the surface long. To strengthen the front panel…hmmm. Maybe glue in a thick cardboard piece to the inside? Many suitcases that I’ve revived were made of cardboard inside. It’s stiff, but still more bendable than wood. Good luck!

  3. Just saw this article and I loved your ideas! I’ve used your suggestions for restoring the interior and it worked like a dream! As per your suggestion, I added some antique book pages and it looks amazing! I was wondering if you had any suggestions for sealing the outside against any potential water damage. I believe my suitcase is a vinyl-type but we’re hoping to convert it into a side table. I wasn’t sure if the options you shared would be durable enough for all table potentials. Would love it if you could provide some feedback. Thank you very much!!

    1. Lora Bloomquist says:

      Glad you found it helpful, Aly! Vinyl-type suitcases are probably already moisture resistant somewhat, but I would seal the outside with a couple of coats of paste wax. I linked to some in the article. Have fun repurposing; sounds like a fun project!

  4. Linda J. Poole says:

    Thanks for the information in restoring vintage suitcases. I can pick up some of the products you mentioned locally (none of them are available now on Amazon – I checked earlier).
    I recently picked up a small brown vintage case, and mostly I know what I can do to improve its appearance. The one thing I am still considering is one of the sides has come partly detached from the back panel (originally stitched). I thought I might get some cloth sticky tape in brown and seal it from inside the case. I am not going to be able to stitch it, or glue it. I wondered if you had any suggestions. With thanks.

    1. Lora Bloomquist says:

      I think that sounds like a great idea, Linda! Don’t know if I’ve ever heard of cloth sticky tape; I need to look that up! Let me know how it goes!

  5. I have a suitcase I am trying to find out who made it , and year it was made. Can I send you some pictures and maybe you can help me?

    1. Lora Bloomquist says:

      There are so many varieties out there, Paul. Sorry, I doubt my minimal knowledge would be helpful. I am better at providing decorating ideas. The best way to get more information is definitely to search on google and Ebay. The internet is a sea of knowledge, which surpasses one persons. Good luck!

  6. I have had a love affair with old suitcases for a while. Recently I found one with “Cunard Line” round stickers on it at a local thrift store. So cool. I store material in some of them. I love your ideas.

    1. Lora Bloomquist says:

      How fun! Yes, they’re wonderful for storage. Glad you enjoyed the ideas!

  7. hello, just wondering if you had any suggestions for replacing the leather trim on the exterior of the suitcase. I have one that unfortunately the leather was pretty dry rotted and started to fall apart as soon as it got wet. I ended up trimming away a lot of the dry rotted portions but need to some how patch or replace it since the trim is integral to the integrity of the suitcase. the trim is sewn threw the wood to hold it in place but I was hoping to use maybe glue to secure a patch on rather than trying to replicate the sewn in method. I don’t want to rip out the interior because it’s original plum satin and in pretty good condition.

    1. Lora Bloomquist says:

      I usually try and embrace the imperfections of old pieces. Like wrinkles, they’ve earned that wear and tear:) My only other thought is to glue jute rope around the perimeter, the kind you can get at a hardware store. It would add a different texture, but give it a nice-looking trim. Good luck!

  8. LOVE this idea!! It can even be done with one of those card board box ones that you can by at the craft stores!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
    hugs,
    Debbie

    1. Lora Bloomquist says:

      Your welcome, Debbie!

  9. Jenny Staniforth says:

    Hi Lora , Greetings from Australia ! I found your post whilst looking for info on how to refurbish a suitcase for a wedding for guests to put cards in . I need to line a suitcase with fabric and have some lovely Timeless Treasures fabric called Sakura, with cherry blossom branches on a pale cream back ground . The suitcase has strong checked paper lining which is firmly stuck in some places and a name and address with thick dark marker inside the lid . i think this will show through if I dont line the fabric, or the suitcase first , Can you give me any ideas or tips on howto mange this and line the case with fabric ?
    Many thanks

    Jenny

    1. Lora Bloomquist says:

      Hi, Jenny! Welcome! I think the idea of using an old suitcase for cards is wonderful; I helped a friend do it a couple years ago. Your cherry blossom fabric sounds lovely! I’m wondering if you could just paint the inside with a stain blocking primer first, so you have a white base. You have a couple options to attach the fabric inside: you can use a fabric glue and glue around the edges, turning the edges under a little, or you could decoupage the whole back of the fabric to the inside of the suitcase. The decoupage way is easier, but you may get some bubbles. Just use a light coat. You can always finish off around the edges with some cute fabric trim, too! Good luck! It will be a great piece to remember the special day with!

  10. What a treasure trove of suitcases you have, Lora! Great storage and restoration ideas. Thanks for sharing all of your posts with us at Vintage Charm.

    1. I have amassed quite a collection over the years, Diana! I especially love the old brown, Sound of Music types! There’s always room for one more though;)

  11. I have quite a few old suitcases too. I did have to put hanging tags on them with the contents written on them because I kept forgetting what was in each one! You have some great tips!

    1. Hang tags are a great idea, & especially because I can be so “out-of-sight, out-of-mind”! Thanks for commenting!

  12. Me too, Tania! Their textures are so beautiful and they’re great storage! Thanks for commenting! Love your blog.