Suitcase Cabinet

I found this old suitcase at a local antique shop and decided it must be the newest addition to my walls. I have a "dump space" next to the door where I put all the items I carry with me everyday. Sadly it is also full of stuff I use from time to time, but not often enough to clutter up the space. This suitcase now holds items like my umbrella (ready for a rainy day), extra sunglasses (for when the regulars go missing), and coupons for more building supplies. I can even check my makeup before leaving the house for the day.

Hard shell suitcase

Mirror

Silicone calk/glue

Various papers (I used a ruined copy of Tale of Two Cities, maps, and a couple old children's books)

Hard cover book about a 1/4" thick

1/2" board

Paintbrush

Mod Podge

2 1/4" - 2 1/2" screws

1/2" screws

3/4" screws

Drill

Leather

Rivets and riveting tools

Saw with adjustable angle

Flat blade screwdriver

Hammer

Box cutter or X-acto knife

Wooden boxes for drawers (I got mine at a local craft shop.)

Leather Punch

Nuts and bolts (long enough to go through the front of the drawers)

Plywood

Magnetic metal plate

Tear the fabric from the inside. This was quite easy on mine. Simply grab a pocket and pull hard.

Coat the inside with Mod Podge to smooth out any leftover fibers and apply a layer of paper.

Coat all the paper with Mod Podge.

The top bowed a bit from the moisture, but tightened back up as it dried.

Give it a few hours to dry.

Cut a board to fit from top to bottom.

I used scrap boards and already had some cut to lengths I liked. I just trimmed them a bit. If you're using a full length board, measure and cut horizontal shelves to lengths you like.

Place them on top of the center board and space them to allow for your wood boxes to fit between them.

Mark one horizontal board where it crosses the center board.

Mark a notch that is slightly beyond the center of the board.

Cut into the board with your saw and use a flat blade screwdriver to hammer out the section.

Use this first board to mark all the other horizontal shelves in the same place.

Cut these in the same way as the first.

Lay the horizontal shelves over the center board and mark their placement.

Mark the center board and cut in the same way as the horizontal shelves.

All the shelves should fit together and fit in the case with the boxes in between.

Mod Podge the boards everywhere except inside the cuts.

Give it a few hours to dry.

Place your shelves inside and mark the sides of each board on the bottom of the case.

Pull the shelves out and drill two or three holes along the length of each board's marks.

Place the center board into the case, ensuring it is lined up with your previous marks, and screw (with 3/4" screws) into the boards from the back of the case.

Repeat for each shelf.

Cut a piece of leather for the handle of each drawer.

Use a leather punch to put a hole in each end.

Mark the holes on each drawer.

Drill a hole just inside of each mark.

Mod Podge the front of each drawer. You could cover the whole drawer if you want, but I liked the wood.

Wait a few hours for drying.

Use nuts and bolts to attach the handles.

Mod Podge the front of the case.

Trace your mirror onto plywood.

Measure a couple inches from your mirror marks.

Cut out the resulting shape.

Mod Podge the plywood.

Use silicone calk/glue to attach the mirror to the plywood. I felt it was quite secure, but if you're worried, you could use some mirror hardware around the edges.

Use silicone calk/glue to attach the plywood/mirro to the front of the case. This will be secured further in a later step, but you need it to be held in place while you screw it on.

Cut the pages out of your book if you haven't already to use for Mod Podging.

Create a template on a piece of paper by spreading the book open at the desired angle. Trace the edges of the book and add about a 1/2" to the sides.

Use the template to cut two pieces of leather.

Wet the leather sides and fold them as shown.

Press them firmly between a towel while folded.

Create a template for rivet holes. Folding a piece of paper a couple times and making cuts on the folds works well.

Mark the holes on each side flap of the leather.

Put holes on your marks with a leather punch.

Lay each side of the leather onto the book and mark the holes.

Drill holes in the book on your marks.

Apply rivets.

Cut and rivet a loop and strap.

Lay the plate and book over the mirror so that the bottom two corners of the plate and top two corners of the book overlap the plywood.

Measure the distance from the top of the case to the bottom of the plate. Record this measurement.

Measure the distance from the bottom of the case to the top of the book. Record this measurement.

Measure and mark these measurements on the inside of the case.

Use 3/4" screws to screw the plate into the plywood on the front of the case.

Repeat with the book.

I used a french cleat to mount the case to the wall.

Simply put, cut a board in half at a 30 or 45 degree angle. Screw one half to the wall and the other half to the case.

Here you can find simple instructions for making a french cleat.

Because the cleat juts out from the back, you need another small piece of wood in the back at the base of the case. I used a scrap piece of the wood from the shelves. Screw it to the wall (with 2 1/4" - 2 1/2" screws) through the inside of the case. This will keep your case parallel to the wall.

Remember to screw into a stud or use anchors.