Uploader now closed. Thanks for playing, everyone, this was a good one! Is there anything more gratifying than finding just the right art and wall decorations that bring the rooms in our midcentury and vintage homes to life? Last weekend, Michael uploaded this photo of 27 felt pennants from the 1950s-1960s that he purchased for $10. “I think I’ve just started a new collection,” he said. “They’re perfect for those vast expanses of paneled walls in the basement rec-room.” Yup: Perfect! In this weekend’s community photo share, let’s see the wonderful and unusual items you have found for your homes. Click on through to see all 249 photos of readers’ wall decor uploaded — there are some great ones!
Upload photos of your favorite wall decor, below… Tips:
- If you can figure out the settings, please set your camera to no bigger than “medium” images, so files aren’t too large — large files really slow down the slide show.
- (2) Uploader DOES work but message you get on screen *may be* funky and confusing. Upload ONCE and trust the image it there — I just need to “set new photos free” from my control panel and will be checking throughout the weekend to do so.
- (3) Terms of Use apply.
- (4) If you wanna continue to work on improving your photo skills, check out Kate’s tips on taking great room shots.
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
I am LOVIN the Nancy Drew books and the thrift store plates!
I loved Nancy Drew mysteries as a kid too (her adventures were always more exciting and glamorous than the Hardy Boys’). I’ve thought about blowing up some of the illustrations to be framed and fill up a wall, gallery style, but the large shelving unit to display the covers is ingenious!
Thanks Michael! I grew up thinking I *was* Nancy Drew
so that corner of the room makes me very happy.
Thanks Pam!
I was just about to comment about those gorgeous plates myself, then saw your comment. You just made my day!
Amy, those Nancy Drews are wonderful! I would sit in that chair reading all day! And the plates are mine : ) Thank you, and thanks Pam, for making my day!
The plates are fantastic, Laura, and I may have to copy your idea for our dining room.
And I am often found in that corner, reading The Hidden Staircase (my all-time favorite). The books used to be stored in a “pie safe” and they were basically hidden, so I’m very happy my clever husband came up with a way to display them.
Love the idea with the Nancy Drew books. I have my sisters from the 40s and mine from the 60s. Looks great!
Thanks, Deb!
Lots of neat walls. I covet the prints of the man and woman dancers (I Love Lucy). And, I really like the collages of old ads on fun paper. Now that’s a great way to display Nancy Drew…I have my own collection in my bookshelf.
Thanks, Tammy!
Must. Have. Gravel Art!!! Also, that furry thing on the table, what is that! haha…
Can we get a tour of Scott’s House??
The two dancers on the wire frames because my mother had them and the movie posters, especially the Vampire one….too funny.
Needless to say any metal sculpture is appreciated and a secret reminder that I’m not a “real” hoarder because my brilliant one is long gone….and other lies I tell myself.
what kind of program are you using for this? so much fun!!!!! adding more photos now
Just uploaded a pic of my office wall border… Florida Gator Booster licence plates. I have nearly every year from 1977 to the present.
I have been collecting Asbury Park pennants for about a year….I am up to around 10……$10 for all those pennants is a score!!!! I average paying about $10 a piece…….it’s my favorite way to decorate though as you can see from my photo!
Mitzi always has a lot of great vintage posters in this vein on her etsy shop, check it out: http://www.etsy.com/shop/vintagegoodness?section_id=5505537
Yeah, I don’t know if I’ll stumble across such a great find again. So now that I’m a vintage pennants collector (just add it to the list), I’ve been looking at what’s available on eBay and Etsy. I just spent $43 for one pennant from my favourite childhood amusement park! Craaazzzyyy…
Just this morning discovered these awesome retro school library posters: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vblibrary/sets/72157623618957199/with/4480092802/#
Would love to have these for my office at school!
Those library posters came up in my google alerts- totally heart- remember – reading is fun-damental!
Also love those kitchen wall clocks!
Kitchen wall clocks equals happiness.
I agree; what a great display!
Lots of fun things. I love the plates against the white wall. All of the colorful collected clocks are fabulous. The Nancy Drew books as art look great–such ingenious shelves!
I love all the clocks!! I have to say, though that #32 — the clock and plaque combo is a jaw dropper!
The clocks and the ouija board are so funny. Current time is all well and good but how about future time, or past times? A wonderful display with just the right touch of whimsy….fabulous!
yeah! that is my kitchen wall with the clocks and Ouija board – my older brother tortured me and sisters with that board growing up – but his predictions always included the words “only time will tell”. That is why it is now on my kitchen wall with the vintage clocks.
Betsy, you made my day- that is my kitchen- now we are making a counter to go under the clocks using old Cafe Bustelo coffee cans.
dede @ vintageandflea.com
Oh my! I love, love, LOVE the platter/plate display! I have a couple of the same ones! I have a very small display on one of my kitchen walls. I’m addicted to dinnerware, stoneware and platters.
Everyone’s decor is so wonderful to see! I think we’d all have a bit of each other’s stuff if we had the room!
Jason, I adore those Venice paintings. Lucky you!
Oh geeze – did I USE enough exclamation points? Sorry….some of them were uncalled for. I blame the bourbon.
You missed two, Hannah….;o)….tell the bourbon to make an effort next time!! <—–
*sits on hands*
Hannah, I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned how I love your unexpected choice of Patty Hearst and the SLA banner so, consider it mentioned.
JustAnotherPam – Thank you for noticing! there’s a story behind that avatar…
I’m 58 yrs ‘young’ (not old minded by any means). In the 70s when Patty Hearst was on the lamb with the SLA I got pulled over for being her. The ‘fuzz’ drew his gun on me and all. I was headed for the first day of my new job in a white VW van (boyfriends). I saw a cop give me the double take, and I knew my license was expired, so I tried to scoot around a few blocks to lose him. He caught up and pulled me over, gun drawn, cautiously asked for my ID, and said “You do know Patty Hearst has been seen in the area in a white van…?” Um…no. I was let go at that point. My 15 minutes of ‘fame’.
Wow, that’s a crazy story, Hannah! I remember that whole period when they were looking for Patty Hearst. And I had to laugh when you said you tried to lose the cop for a few blocks. LOL!
you mean, when she tried to lose the fuzz…
Yeah, yeah, that’s what I meant.
Yeah, it was one for the diary, heh? I never get tired of sharing it either when the opportunity arises.
Pam – I stand corrected…it was the fuzz, the heat, the man.
Man, I’m just not paying attention. I did use the correct term for the era. *doh*
Is it hannah or is it Tanya? I like how Hearst was rehabilitated and was making movies with John Waters.
My 21 year old nephew saw a picture of Patty as Tanya (actually it was the same image as your avatar) a few months ago. This is what he said “That chick is hot. What movie is that from?”….
Her SLA name was Tanya.
Great story!
I’m a year older than you so I think you got lucky with that officer, very tense times to be mistaken for Patty when you’re trying to outrun “the fuzz”.
Peace
I’ve always loved it too!
Danke!
The fashion shots from the department stores….sweeeet. One of those once in a life time finds and so well displayed too.
Thanks! I have a large collection of the ads and other memorabilia from Ayres, Block’s and Wasson’s, the 3 “classy” department stores in Indianapolis. I still miss them
ACK HEART ATTACK! I NEEEEEEEED that Kroehler salesman sample set, Michael. aaaaackkkkkkkkkk that is the coooolest thing i have ever seen since the last coooooolest thing that i have ever seen! Can you shoot some more pics, close ups, etc that i can show on the blog. Oh, and I hate you.
That’s hysterical, Pam!
You have no idea how much fun it is to see you excited like this…..not blasé been there done that bone in your body. Most likely the secret to why you have such a successful and all around delightful blog.
Pam, remember we don’t use the “H” word.
Meanwhile, I love almost everything here…..and especially the Koehler salesman sample. How sweet.
party pooper.
Sure thing– I’ll head back downstairs now and take some more/better shots.
Pics have just been sent. WARNING: I think I went overboard. Hey, at least you’ll have lots of choice!
Let me know if you don’t get them– the size of the email may be too large. In that case, I’ll send them in smaller ‘chunks’.
I love them! Will show this week, you lucky duck.
Pam, they do sell decaf these days, you do know that, right??
Which picture is it? I can’t ferret it out…
Never-mind…process of elimination – most recent pic.
Hannah, don’t miss the second to last, with the boards hanging on the wall. I am still trying to stick my eyes back in my head. I want them too. Kroehler kit fight!!!!
I did check it out. Would LOVE to see those close up and in person.
These are GREAT! Thanks, Pam, for letting us share with each other. I love seeing what makes people happy.
Deb… love your use of the thermostat in your decorating. Sherri… my little sister just learning to read called my parents’ NuTone radio the “nut one,” and we still refer to it as that today.
I love all those vintage paintings, too. They are so evocative of an earlier time. I was listening to a broadcast on the Florida Highwaymen artists, who painted “Old Florida” in the 50s and 60s, and sold them on door to door. I have been trying to score one or two of them. The broadcast said that Florida no longer exists. Well, it does, just not in the bigger cities or beach towns. Christa’s hall bath picture is very like their style, really caught my eye.
Anne from NYC has a flamingo painting that looks like a Highwayman one. I missed that one earlier somehow. They are getting really hard to find at thrifty prices, up in the upper triple digits, four digits.
I have that exact Flamingo print hanging in my guest bedroom. I bought it over ten years ago at the Detroit Modernism show and probably paid $125 (from what I can remember). I had to have it, though. LOL. I’ve seen it in movies – one in particular was a scene in a Florida hotel room in the movie The Right Stuff (Ed Harris scene).
Actually, it’s a Turner print made by the Turner Manufacturing Co. in the 50s. They were actually a mirror company but they commissioned artists to do original work. You’ve probably seen their mirrors with the flamingos painted on one of the sides. The frame of my print is made of segmented mirror. They come up fairly often on Ebay and the going rate is usually $200+. AnneK from NYC
That flamingo painting is the BEST! What I wouldn’t give to have that hanging in my bedroom – or living room.
My bedroom wall decor consists of posters/prints from All Posters dot com – of Natalie Wood, Audrey Hepburn, a Lolita movie poster and a Mary Tyler Moore pic. I did find a wonderful little harlequin at a yard sale earlier this season.
Oh, sorrow. Had that print and went all Craftsman-y and Mission about 15 years ago, and sold it.
NOW I want it back. (and my Mission furniture has all been banished to the dining room for now…maybe it’ll go altogether)
TO HANNAH! I came across a couple of flamingo pictures, one like Elena’s in the wall decor photos, in Mckeesport PA, near Pittsburgh. Maybe the seller can send them to you! It’s a pair for $30 and the phone number is listed too!
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/hsh/3161875755.html
Thank you for thinking of me, Janet! Those are beautiful too. From the tone of her post, I dunno if I’d feel comfortable calling her.
After I got this message, I did a search on Etsy and ran across this for $40:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/105194951/vintage-pink-flamingo-framed-paint-by?
Now, if I could just find it in gravel art. *snicker*
Love these all!
To the owner of the 3 cats: I think I bid against your DS on eBay, if that’s where he got them. Glad they went to a good home!
To the owner of the orange, white, and turquoise pole lamp: I have the turquoise in a stand-alone lamp that MIL gave us for Christmas.
The Patty Hearst story is crazy! Wow.
I love love love the bar in image #6! We collect vintage mannequins too- awesome touch!
dede vintageandflea.com
Thanks for the compliments on the bar and our mannequin. We located the bar at a thrift store for $35!! It’s good to know there are other mannequin fans out there!! She is not vintage but we try to dress her the part. Most of our friends just think we are weird, but we’re OK with that!! : )
$35? Nice deal!!!! I just uploaded a pic of our living-room-in-progress that shows our two headless white mannequins. Our home needs a lot of work since we just moved in but we think our headless gals gives the place a “Sleeper” vibe (as in the Woody Allen movie)
I would LOVE to see a close up of the Belart art piece you have on the wall behind the bar. It is FABULOUS! Where ever did you find it??
I got the Belart piece from a lady who was a yard sale fanatic. I had watched her house and pool (don’t ever do that for anyone!!), while she was on vacation a couple of summers. She didn’t like mid century at all, so would buy stuff that she thought I would like and pass the savings on to me. I ended up with a number of cool items and she save millions on house and pool supervision.
Got a few of those vintage mannequins myself….you are not alone
DeDe – what a riot about your nephew asking what movie that pic was from! I suppose you shared the story with him?
I had to pull his leg so I told him the movie was called, “Patty Hearst”. He loves 80′s movies, plus he thought the “star” was hot, so he rented it. After he watched the flick, he called to inform me, “that sh*t really happened!”. I told him I had no idea ; )
*ROFLMAO* OMG!!! LOL!!!
Hilarious on your part.
I always thought it was a travesty that Patty Hearst was convicted. But we didn’t know about the Stockholm syndrome then.
I wiki’d that – because it struck me that we did know about it then. It just wasn’t applied to her situation.
From wiki:
Patty Hearst was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974. After two months in captivity, she actively took part in a robbery they were orchestrating. Her unsuccessful legal defense claimed that she suffered from Stockholm Syndrome and was coerced into aiding the SLA. She was convicted and imprisoned for her actions in the robbery, though her sentence was commuted in February 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, and she received a Presidential pardon from President Bill Clinton on January 20, 2001 (among his last official acts before leaving office).
Stockholm syndrome was coined in 1973 – so must’ve been too new a concept for the courts to believe/recognize.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome
Anne’s mirrored Turner flamingoes made me smile. My great grandmother had the same pic over the couch in her wonderful living room (which is my decoration inspiration)
I had several of those pennants, mostly from Disneyland! Bet they’d be worth something now. lol
Off to view the other items!
Aack! I somehow missed the weekend upload. I LOVE these. So much fun.
Those wall hangings with the cruets and decanters are just AMAZING. So perfect for a kitchen or bar!
That was so much fun!
Hi there. This post is a BRILLIANT idea. I love it. My favourite is the green retro painting (image 7). it’s just so gorgeous, I’m looking for something similar for the wall in my creative space. I make vintage fabric wall art and have just done a post about it:
http://blog.fabulousvintage.com.au/2012/07/24/fabric-wall-art/
I’m going to upload some pics now.
Fab post, keep them coming!
Thanks. Bridget Fabulous Vintage
I just LOVE the way Betty Crafter put the Enid Collins box bags on her wall!!! Betty-if you see this, HOW DID YOU PUT THEM UP???? Fabulous idea and wonderful collection!
I love these kind of photo safari challenges! I did not post, because we don’t have much vintage stuff on our walls, save some chalkware fish in our bathroom, but then my good lady Carol came home with a 1963 Lux atomic starburst wall clock. I also love that Pam saw something someone posted and had them write a post about the Kroler room decorating guide.
I feel really inspired now after this. I recently edited down the stuff on my walls and guess what – it’s all going back up!!!
haha!