I am moving back to the Portland OR/SW Washington area where I grew up. My teen daughter and I are moving in with my Dad to give him some company since his wife recently passed. In any event, we have discussed some DIY decor changes, which seems natural given what I do. I do want to make clear,that this is not elder abuse; my dad is more independent, healthy, and coherent than I am. He just has issues with change… any change.
The issue at hand is a 1985 entertainment center in good condition – holding about 50 VHS tapes. You can only fit at the most a 26 inch television in it. I have a larger flat screen television which he is pretty fascinated with, and I am using that as leverage. I do have a much smaller up-cycled entertainment center that will add a pop of color and house the Xbox and cable equipment.
I found a place to move his candy stash, and I thought I was golden. Then he informs me he will NOT let go of his non-collectible collection of about 20 to 30 coffee cups. Yes, since I was a teenager he has saved random coffee cups with no rhyme or reason. I suggested in my DIY frame of mind that we might break them and make a mosaic pathway through his front yard… He did not find that very funny.
This is where I need your help. Please comment and give ideas of how I can decoratively, possibly discreetly, display his coffee cups. Mind you, he agrees they are somewhat obnoxious. The prize is ending the coffee cup war that could last forever… besides, think of how fun it would be to see all the interesting ideas, and a happy father and daughter. Two important things to consider when commenting: the cup collection can go in the kitchen (where they belong) or the living room. Also, I am trying to bring the decor out of the last three decades so keep that in mind. I’m also alright with ideas that involve vintage decor in a tasteful way is fine.
Angela
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I think could put some hooks on a wall in a line each side of his desk. You could even turn some of the mugs
in useful pen, change, paperclip holders. The others you could store in an under the bed storage box and he could rotate the display.
I love mugs too, I think the trick is to see if you can put them to other good uses. Have fun.
Finally, in my experience insisting brings resistance in children but waiting a little can bring their agreement to your point of view.
Those are great ideas! I didn’t think of using them in different ways!
Hi Angela!
My folks have a wall of shelves in their living room filled with a wide-ranging display of objects (boy scout plaster deer prints to carnival glass to Mexican pottery to antique farm tools) that somehow works all together, perhaps because of the sheer size (it takes up the entire wall) or the height (I’m guessing about 8 feet tall, with a good 3 feet to the ceiling). In their previous place they had a short, high wall in the living room of a loft apartment, and did thei collection up very high to the loft. Is there an area where you could stack some open shelves and make art with cups and other things?
We are somehow cousins, and my mom tells me your mom stayed with us in Maryland soon after you were born. Small world!
Kirsten,
A shelving unit wouldn’t be a bad idea but space is an issue and my gosh I don’t want to encourage anymore cups or other “collections” from gathering. You should see his refrigerator magnet collection – need I say more…. Now to his credit, he does have a lovely snow globe, carousel horse and music box collections nicely displayed in curio cabinets. He does love Franklin Mint!
It is a small world! My mom did stay with them while I was in the hospital for an extended time as a baby.
Hi Ang,
How about finding an 8 mug display rack and leaving 8 at a time out on the counter. You can change them out once a month or so. I found a great stainless steel one for a Christmas gift on the internet.
I am so happy you read my blog! This is not a bad idea! It is a bit of a compromise. Since you know my Dad and his “collection” issue, you know how hard it is for him to let go of anything.
I like the open wall shelving idea. This is the best compromise, can actually create more room in the space and can look tasteful if done the right way.
Yes it does seem like a good compromise but it must be discreetly displayed so it isn’t the focal point of the room. Without the large entertainment center there anymore there will be more wall space and I think if the shelving is too big it will be all that you see. I agree that it must be tastefully done.