Wall "Art"

I have a large wall in the living room that I've been searching for the right piece of artwork to put on.  I've looked at art fairs, county fairs, and fairly (I'm playing up this "fair" thing) every flea market you can imagine for the right piece of art.  I've wanted a large, interesting oil painting, but now I'm thinking I'd rather do something more unique and different.

One idea is to search for very vintage bandanas and frame them as art.  Here's a very old bandan I saw in an antique store's website which inspired that idea.

Vintage boating oars could be a lot of fun, mounted to the wall in a contrasting patern: paddle side up, paddle side down and again and again.   The hard part is going to be finding the old oars at flea markets and estate sales.  Or maybe "hard' is actually the fun part in the search.

Or a great big vintage surfboard?   I'm hesitant on this one, only because I don't surf.  And I feel weird having a big surfboard in the house knowing absolutely nothing about surfing.  Plus, everyone who comes over is going to ask "do you surf?"    And then I need to explain myself each time.  

Maybe for a guest house: a bunch of surfboards as a headboard?

Comments

[happyathome]

I like the surf board as a headboard idea. The oars are fun. Check out Freecycle for oars, always seem to be available. Another idea is antique fishing poles/flyrods,with maybe some lures on a corkboard. Good luck!

[Dawn]

What about a big collage of vintage botanical prints? I LOVE the surfboard idea, but if it's not personal or meaningful to you then I don't think you should display it in your living room. Perhaps a collection of vases displayed individually on floating shelves? Have fun!

[berton]

I like the oar and bandana ideas the best !! Good Luck with your decorating !!

[Kerri]

LOVE the oar idea for the wall. Not so much the surfboard though. I don't really think it fits with the overall style you're going for. On the flip side, the surfboards for headboards idea does seem interesting. I suppose we'd have to see pictures! There is just something about surfboards and an old Bucks county home that is hard to imagine.

[Ruth Gore]

How about an old sled like Rosebud? :)

[Summer]

Why stop there? Just start wandering through thrift stores and one day, the right large object will appear to you, and you'll stick it on the wall. I, too, have this huge space to fill under a vaulted ceiling. I also have a very big canvas, but... I'm conflicted as to what I should paint on it.

Ten million mason jars like Anthropologie's comes to mind once more... http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/how-to/mason-jar-pendant-lamps-053890

It has a how-to, but I'm not sure I'm ready for such an electrical project. Maybe I stick thrift store candles in it instead.

[jen]

So creative! Keep looking :)

[Ki]

Danny,

If I can't have the surfboards or paddles, how 'bout prints of your photographs...they are awesome!
Take care,
Ki
www.junkcamp.blogspot.com

[boodely]

There was just an interesting segment on Antiques Road Show about political campaign textiles, including bandanas like this one. People collect them, and the losing politicians are harder to find since most of their paraphernalia was thrown away.