Suitcase Coffee Table

A month or so ago, Scott and I were out antiquing and going through a suitcase phase.  I found this suitcase for $12 and had to have it.  It was larger than most suitcase we were finding and thought it might work for a coffee table.  We just cleaned it up some and added some wooden legs from a hardware store and it works perfect!

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Coffee Table Redesign

Scott and I enjoy rummaging through thrift stores and antique shops.  We are always looking for that back area that has the "less desirable" things.  Items that need work or could be re-purposed but don't look great right now.     

The way this piece came together was kind of strange because the timing of finding each piece was perfect.

We were in the back room of our favorite antique shop and found this cabinet.  It must have been in a workshop or garage under a built in desk area.  The top and sides were not finished but the underside was.  It was $25 and we loved the huge drawers and handles on it.  Scott looked at me and said..."Well, here is our new coffee table."  ok?  So we struggled to get it in the back seat of the car and brought it home.

We sanded it up and used a furniture wax to darken it and seal it.  We had no idea what we wanted for the top though, so we started throwing around ideas.  Barnwood? Glass? Hum.... 

A day or so after we found the cabinet, I stopped at a garage sale a couple blocks from home.  I found this huge frame for $5.00 so I decided to buy it.  At the time, Scott was obsessed with frames so I was excited to get it home and show him.  He was very excited to see how big it was and then thought...wow...it looks the same size as that cabinet.  He brought it into the living room and laid it on the cabinet and it fit perfectly!

The frame needed a little attention since it was metallic gold.  He painted it dark brown and then used a brillo pad to rub some of it off.  The frame had a picture in it that was printed on cardboard.  We were going to take it out since it was ballerinas in bright colored dresses.  Scott suggested we try to wax over it and see how it happened.  It was beautifully toned down and we kept it in the frame and screwed it down to the cabinet.

Voila...  Our new coffee table!

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