RH trunk copy cat

I have always loved the Aviator coffee table trunk from Restoration Hardware. I thought this piece would be perfect for an interior design project that I am working on, but with a price tag of over $1000 and the fact that it is no longer available, it wasn't an option. Instead I decided to try my hand at a DIY replica. I found an old foot locker at the thrift store for $9.99. The hardware was already a gold that was very similar to my Restoration Hardware inspiration. I taped over it so that it wouldn't be covered with paint. I used metallic silver spray paint to cover the rest of it (it was green before). When I removed the tape, I was so surprised at how similar it looked to the RH trunk. It is much smaller and is being used on the hearth, not as a coffee table, but I absolutely loved the end results. Now I want to do one for my own house but I get bored doing the same projects again and again, so we'll just have to see about that.

Restoration Hardware Aviator Coffee Table compared to DIY foot locker

Luggage meant to stay at home

I really like the look of stacked vintage luggage and trunks and have been working on a way to incorporate the style into my decor. Although some of my inspiration came from the luggage stacks that reach from floor to ceiling, I settled for a cute little trio. I found each of the three pieces at the thrift store at different times. It has taken a couple of months to find what I wanted but now I am so glad that I didn't settle.  

House Beautiful

Country Living

Pottery Barn

The first piece that I found is a camel-colored leather suitcase. I sat my bird cages on top of it it for a while in front of my window. I never really liked it there. I guess I knew it was going to serve a greater purpose.

The next piece to come home with me was a wicker suitcase. I call it a suitcase because of the shape and leather handle but it is probably some type of picnic basket. Whatever it is, a coat of ivory spray paint gave me exactly what I wanted and I think it looks a lot like the piece in the Pottery Barn image above. 

The final thing that I had been searching for was a trunk. I had seen a few, but they were all either priced too high or the wrong size. Last week I finally found this one and it was only $14.

I taped off all of the metal parts and spray painted the trunk ivory. I added a thin brown glaze so that the trunk would be a slightly different color from the wicker piece. 

Now that each piece looked the way that I wanted it too, I moved them to my bedroom to find the perfect spot to stack them. That spot was finally determined to be at the end of my bed. Not only did they add an interesting focal point to my bedroom, they also double for extra storage space.