Christmas Is All Around Us

I’m been coming across some pretty cool old stuff recently. More on that another day.

But the whole experience has gotten me into thinking about how to put some really old, really useless stuff to good use.

I’ve grown up around people who appreciate old crap. Thus, I’ve developed an eye and a soft spot for the chipped, the rusted, the molded and cast-off, the burdensomely-heavy-but-made-of-Real–Wood objects that just can’t be thrown away.

It may have something to do with the Japanese notion of wabi sabi, which is an aesthetic based on the beauty in things that change with time. It may also have something to do with plain old nostalgia, remembering and longing for the simpler days gone by.

I’ve never been much of an interior designer, but I do know that antiques can be really cool when used well. I’m not at all into that whole “my house is just like an antique store!” look, but I do appreciate a well-placed vintage item. Today I thought I coined a new term—vintage industrial—but it turns out the design world is way ahead of me on that one.

The trick is to use antiques sparingly. Most people don’t, but I know how easy it is to get sucked into the idea of treasuring old things to excess. I’ve been seeing a lot of it lately, in fact. And I’ve begun hoarding a few rusted and battered items myself.

I need to find a use for them, quick.

Naturally, my thoughts lately are crowded with growing green things. So what better way to utilize my hoard than to make a cute little vintage container garden? I’ve done some mighty googling and come up with some inspiration.

I’ve decided, due to the questionable nature of antique materials, that my container garden will be strictly for decorative purposes. A nice mix of annuals and houseplants should make for a colorful and quirky set of greenery. Deciding where to put my container garden to maximize our enjoyment of it will be a different set of decisions altogether. The possibilities are endless.

As always, stay tuned for updates on my capricious whims.

Or don’t. (though I know you will)  🙂