As I pack for Paris, I'm dreaming of a time when steamer trunks were the luggage of choice. If I had it my way, I would be packing my gear in a Goyard trunk (impractical, yes, but also glamorous!). As a self-confessed addict of vintage trunks, I count at least 5 in my humble home at any given moment. I think they are the most versatile of decor pieces, and they bring a sense of historic luxe and a hint of a life well traveled to even the most modern of spaces.

I love them with worn beat-up leather, humped backs, deco travel stickers, lined with Louis Vuitton's trademarked canvas, campaign-style metallic, and raw wood - they are all tres chic. They are seeped in history, and that just may be the prime attraction for me.

Design Notes

Serving both form and function - a vintage trunk makes an artful heirloom side table or footlocker, with storage to boot. It's no wonder Restoration Hardware set about mass producing the lovely campaign style chest.
I prefer to leave my trunks in their original fashionable worn state, but if the boho look is not for you, with a little polish most vintage trunks can be brought back to a shiny state of being.
For a matching monotone look, paint your trunk in a white or grey chalk paint.
An antique Goyard or Louis Vuitton trunk is the ultimate find. Auction houses and high-end antique stores are the best source.
Musty smell? Keep lavender in the trunk (along with your linens) to combat both smell and moths.