apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Thank you! As a passionate traveller, I always have trouble getting rid of old suitcases that have lots of stories to tell - this is a great excuse to keep them and the memories!

Beautiful!

brilliant!

I agree with bromelia. It strikes to the core of this traveller's heart!!

Great use for a suitcase, very contemporary look.

wow, how awesome is this!

Neat idea - though if you travel, don't you need your luggage? I'm coming up on vacation and trying to figure out how to pack things with my two small suitcases. I'd give anything for one of these in its original state.

I kinda love this! So clever and fun!

ChrisGal, even the best luggage becomes worn in time - wheels and zippers are the weak links. When it's no longer fit to travel, it still holds lots of memories and it can be heartbreaking to part with a trusty travel companion.

As to your packing, if you take enough for three days, you should be able to live out of your suitcase almost indefinitely. One carry-on going out, with another folding bag for purchases along the way. Pack a swimsuit, toiletries, enough underwear and half the shoes and outerwear you think you'll need. In most places in the world, you'll be able to buy whatever else you need and the shopping will add to your enjoyment. Personally, I always take a comfortable lightweight dressing gown and bedroom slippers - great for relaxing after a hard day of vacationing!

awesome idea! now I just need to find another spot on one of my walls...

Love these!!!

bromelia -- I understand that you could just buy things as you go, but after PAYING for the vacation, sorry but we aren't going to be able to buy a new wardrobe for vacation. Maybe this will help - I'm going to spend my week long vacation in a cabin in TN. This means I will be doing anything from riding rides, hiking, eating out in a restaurant, window-shopping (since I only plan to buy one or two things), etc. So I need more than two outfits to cover it. And since there is no washer/dryer and the cabin is conviently in the middle of nowhere, where do you think I could clean my clothes?

ChisGal, is there a sink in the bathroom?

What an awesome idea! Gorgeous!

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ChrisGal, for a week, I typically would bring just a duffel or roll on (that I carry) and a smaller tote. I also pack a bag for the return trip that I can end up checking if I need more space. (I love my duffel bags from LL Bean--flexible but sturdy). My packing strategy is to include enough underwear for each day (even though you can easily wash in a sink...) and enough "base" shirts for one a day--with only 1 or 2 sweaters and 1 pair of bottoms for every other day. For a week or less, I don't really do laundry...it's too tedious on vacation unless you're over a week. In my student days, I managed 2 prs of pants for an entire month! (Granted, that's not for everyone, and not for me in my current life). I pack 2 pairs of shoes--usually one that I feel is relatively "dressier" that will do well for dinner or whatever. Though, generally, I look like crap on vacation!

ChrisGal, it depends on how fussy you are about your clothing. I've gone on weeklong cross-country vacations on the back of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle the last fifteen years. This means 1 saddlebag for me, 1 saddlebag for my husband & the tour pack for parts/purchases. We generally pack enough underwear/socks for each day, jeans/shirts for every 3 days and leathers/jacket. Everything gets thrown away as it comes off (except for the jeans/shoes & leathers). If it rains you hope for a nice room with a large heater to dry stuff ^_^. Tennessee's not that formal a place, the south's kinda "who cares" on clothes as long as you don't stink and your not flashing anybody, you're fine!

This is pretty cute!

Thanks for insulting my family, merlin - most of us are from Tennessee.

I'd rather pack the clothing I need for the week and not have to pray I find somewhere to clean my clothes. I'm not one who won't wear a pair of jeans twice, but I won't wear a shirt more than once without cleaning it.

Still, most of the suitcases above have clasps/buckles - they still should be functioning.

They might be "functioning" still, but let me tell you, there is no way I'd lug one of those fully packed through an airport when i could have a lightweight modern rolling suitcase.

I guess I was raised not to ruin things that are functioning just fine. I guess it's a little something called respect for your items - but coming from older siblings, I learned to cherish my things.

That didn't come out right -- I meant it with having many older siblings, I was more than lucky if I got anything that worked properly handed down. But it was all I got, so even if it was old, I wouldn't have ruined it in this fashion. All I can do is shake my head at those photos - I kinda hope they are heirlooms and that their family gets p*ssed.