This Week: Wall Art

Walls are not just for wedding pictures or diplomas. They can be a great place to display antiques. With the correct supplies, almost anything today can be framed or mounted to a wall. That's why a hardware store can be an antiquer's best friend. Tell one of the helpful staff at Brinkmann True Value Hardware in Blue Point what you want to put on a wall and they will show you just what you need for the job at a fair price.

What you choose to display does not have to be an expensive endeavor either. Antiques stores like Country Junque and thrift stores like GoodWillies and the Barn Thrift Shop carry lots of pictures at bargain prices. Even if you do not like the print, you can remove it to use the frame for anything you like. Or maybe your items do not require a frame.

Albums: Music is art, and not just in the traditional sense. Vinyl album covers are genuine art, which is why artists like Andy Warhol (the Rolling Stones "Sticky Fingers") and Eric Meola (Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run") got involved with this form of art. Vintage is used to describe anything 25 years old or older, which as of today means any album made before 1985. Albums are a staple and a steal at garage sales, anywhere from .25 cents each and up. Country Junque has a good supply of records also.

Plates and Lids: Plates are not just for display in china cabinets. They work well in any room, including bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices. They are so easy to find at tag sales, antiques stores and thrift shops. Stop in at the Salvation Army or the Barn Thrift Shop and you can choose from dozens of designs.  But you don't have to limit yourself to just plates. Platters, pie tins and certain collections (kitchen items like vintage cheese graters or zesters) can work on a wall. How about lids for compote dishes or vegetable bowls that no longer have their partner? They come in a variety of shapes, colors and designs and since they no longer can be sold in a set, the prices are fair as well.

Mirrors: One mirror is a mirror. Several are a statement.  Choose them in different shapes, sizes, dimensions, etc.   Old mirrors also have lots of imperfections which only add to their charm. Use a combination of sizes, shapes and types. Some antique hand mirrors have beautiful designs on the back so if you hang them backwards they make striking displays. Or hang every other one with the mirror showing to change it up a little.

The unexpected: I always loved wash boards, but I didn't know where to display them other than in a laundry room. My laundry room is a washer and dryer in my unfinished basement, so I tried to think of another place to use one. I held one up against a wall and tried to imagine a use for it. Then it hit me- a towel holder. So I drilled holes on each side to place a dowel through, hung two hand towels on it then hung it on the wall with two screws.

 I also love antique glass door knobs. They make wonderful curtain tie backs. They can also be used in place of hooks on a wall to hang coats and backpacks.

Anything you like qualifies as art: Do you like post cards?  Magazine covers? Old train schedules? If so, pick a favorite one to frame and hang it on a wall. Be sure to put it in a spot that you can see often. Looking at something you really like more than once a day is like hearing your favorite song-it never gets old and it always feels good.