Flea Market Find: Steamer Trunks
The onetime travel staple today sees stay-at-home use as table, storage and seat
Michelle Gage
April 22, 2016
Michelle Gage is a Philadelphia-based interior designer with an affinity for playful prints and whimsical designs. Her career began as a buyer for Anthropologie Home where she was tasked with selecting everything from art and antiques to decorative textiles. In 2015, Michelle embarked on her own and founded Michelle Gage Interiors.
*** Please note, as of 2019, we have stopped sharing our new work here. To view our recently-completed projects, please visit michellegage.co.
Michelle Gage is a Philadelphia-based interior designer with an affinity for playful... More
Steamer trunks and flea markets go together like peanut butter and jelly. But though the trunks are a market staple, they are highly sought-after, and differ greatly in size and condition. Prices are just as varied: For a top-quality oversize piece, you may spend up to $500, while a small one in rough condition may run as little as $50.
The key is key. If the trunk you’re lusting after needs a key to be opened, don’t leave the flea market without it. This is especially important if you plan to store valuables in your trunk.
Buying tip: Make sure that you’re able to open the trunk — even if it doesn’t require a key, it may need some WD-40 to loosen its hinges. Once you get the trunk open, don’t just walk away. Inspect it inside and out before purchasing.
Buying tip: Make sure that you’re able to open the trunk — even if it doesn’t require a key, it may need some WD-40 to loosen its hinges. Once you get the trunk open, don’t just walk away. Inspect it inside and out before purchasing.
A trunk makes a perfect coffee table. Rich in history, a piece from the 1900s can add character to a space. Wood stain can spruce up a plain piece and bring it into the modern era.
Many trunks you’ll find at flea markets were used by soldiers as a place to neatly store their belongings at the end of their bed. This idea is not lost on us today. A vintage trunk at the foot of your bed serves not only as a place to put on your shoes, but also as one to house them.
Trunks come in all sorts of conditions, from impeccably cared-for to sorely neglected. If you’re drawn to pieces that show their age, you could score a great deal.
Buying tip: Think about where the trunk will live in your home. If the location is a high-traffic area where wear and tear is likely to occur, maybe you don’t need a piece in perfect condition.
Buying tip: Think about where the trunk will live in your home. If the location is a high-traffic area where wear and tear is likely to occur, maybe you don’t need a piece in perfect condition.
Trunks were often toted around as sturdy luggage back in the day. Accordingly, they frequently have leather handles and straps to make the transport of these large items easier. Although you may be tempted to pass on a piece whose straps are no longer functional, don’t be so hasty. You probably won’t be using it the same way, so think of those straps as purely decorative now.
Often you’ll find a vintage trunk covered in stenciling, which can provide clues to its origin and use.
Modification tip: Put casters on your trunk if you want to make it mobile. If you see one with casters already attached, you can probably assume that they were added later.
Modification tip: Put casters on your trunk if you want to make it mobile. If you see one with casters already attached, you can probably assume that they were added later.
A worn wooden trunk in a punchy color is a fresh find. Don’t try to repurpose this style. A color like this is unusual and a great way to bring life to a white space.
Brass nailheads and hardware make these pieces pop. If the metal is a little dull, you can polish it up — lemon or baking soda is said to do the trick on solid brass. It’s worth throwing in a little elbow grease to restore your trunk.
Buying tip: Don’t dismiss a piece with less-than-perfect hardware. Score a deal and spiff it up with some cleaning remedies or a trip to the hardware store.
Buying tip: Don’t dismiss a piece with less-than-perfect hardware. Score a deal and spiff it up with some cleaning remedies or a trip to the hardware store.
A stack of suitcases can bring interest to a wall. It’s rare to find a set that’s all in the same style and color. If you discover a bunch in various shades, a little spray paint goes a long way.
More flea market finds:
Vintage Signs | Vintage Ladders |
Brass Animal Figurines
More flea market finds:
Vintage Signs | Vintage Ladders |
Brass Animal Figurines
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I have a trunk that came to the u.s. from Italy when my great-grandfather immigrated here in about 1905. it has the import tag where it entered in Galveston. some day, after some renovation, it will have a special place in my home.
You have a lovely home, Sharon Harris. I would love to see a houzz story feature on your house!