Retirement for a tired suitcase

It's pretty awesome to find a gem on the side of the road, such as with yesterday's roadside rescue. To find two in one week? Ridiculously awesome. Last week was a pretty good week...

Descent smelling, good condition, camel color leather suitcase left out for trash pick-up during an evening walk?
Don't mind if I do!

I had two similar ideas for this item: keep it together and create a bar cart, or break it in half and create two bedside tables. Since I am in need of a couple bedside tables for a design project, (which I can't wait to share with you soon), I decided to separate the two halves of my suitcase. It really was very easy to do and required just a little cutting with handheld garden shears. 

The next part I forgot to photograph, but it's easy to explain. I set up a couple wooden TV tray tables outside with some cardboard underneath, and sprayed them with satin black spray paint by Rustoleum. Then I set one suitcase half on top of each table and screwed them onto the tabletop, (one screw per corner of the table, so 4 total per table). 

The final product

I love the details that make these tables so unique. I didn't try to remove the handle or the locks or change the quality of the leather. I really kept the character of this old suitcase in tact, right down to the leather packing strap.

Leather suitcases are popping up in home design a lot these days, especially now that few people actually travel with leather suitcases anymore. All we have in our closets here are rolling suitcases or duffle bags! How about you? Would you decorate using a leather suitcase?

~Chelsea