Geography is Totally Cool

Until last month, we never had curtains on the sliding glass doors that lead to our deck. We don't have any neighbors who can see into our kitchen and the sun doesn't shine into that room for a long period, so we never really cared. Plus, we have a lovely view of a big red barn.

But then I found a map of the United States that was nearly the same width as the doorway.

And voila! We have a new shade for the kitchen.

We've only pulled it down a few times, just to show my neighbors. Who usually roll their eyes and laugh at me. The joke will be on them when my kids know all of the state capitals by the time they turn nine. This will surely make them the envy of all of their classmates. (And will guarantee a few sound beatings on the bus.)

It was easy to hang: I screwed two hooks into the wall above the trim and hooked the map using the two holes that were in the metal bracket at the top of the roller.

At the same sale, I bought a pull-down map of the world, but it was too narrow for these doors. I might hang that as a headboard above my bed. I already have part of my globe collection in my bedroom, so what's another map?

Have you ever seen a pull-down map used as a headboard? Should I question my sanity? How would you use one in your home?

Comments

[Gina at Vintage Junk in My Trunk]

That is one cool sweet shade! Great idea.

[Linda]

I think your map idea is fabulous!!

[Kaye Prince]

Super-awesome I say! Hmmmm, I don't know where I would put a pull-down map but I think your ideas are pretty neat!

[Lynn Sinclair]

Using the map as a kitchen blind -- fabulous idea! Map as headboard? Hey, anything goes these days.

[jewelee]

Great idea -- I bet this will be flying through blogland within a day or two.

I would give the map headboard idea a try.

I also love the view of that big red barn!

[Jenny G.]

If I could ever manage to find pull down maps, I would hang them all over my house (as a geologist, I'm such a map nerd). I think the headboard idea is brilliant! And I love the one you have already hung up- very cool.

[Terry]

Use as a room divider, or as an awning (like the kind over a front door at a 45 degree angle, or a canopy) over your bed, upside down so you could read it in bed. It will also protect you from things falling while you're sleeping, like space junk. The fact that it retracts is very useful. A shower curtain, or anything you want to hide, open cabinets, shelves with too much crap on them. I could go on..

[Mojo]

I've always been shaky on my geography so I applaud your efforts to teach the kiddoes by osmosis! How incredibly perfect that the map width fit your doors!

[Late Night Coffee]

First...I love that idea as a window cover...wow! Very creative....hmmmm. I now have another idea.

And second..I found a large pull down map of Florida (where I live) and have used it as a headboard...I was going to put a faux frame around the outside to give it a look like it was large framed piece and then thought I would put a shelf of Florida things on it....but..I'm redoing that room now. So its getting moved to another wall.

Here's the link to the pic I have for that map as a headboard:
http://latenightcoffee.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/yay-more-found-treasures-from-this-past-week/

[freshvintage]

Thanks for sharing your photo, Late Night Coffee! Your Florida map looks great over the bed. I just realized that my world map is too narrow to hang over my queen-size bed, so I think I might just hang it in the kids playroom.

[beth]

We have collected a few to hang in a 100-year old schoolhouse we are renovating. I love the canvas ones that have old names like Persia and French West Africa.

[Sweet Anne Vintage]

I love your map idea! My parents used to have one hanging on the wall in our playroom, but of course, they sold it. I've never changed on one while shopping. :(

[Sweet Anne Vintage]

Oh boy....that's supposed to be *chanced*.

[Larzipan]

I love maps and I need a cool headboard. Thanks for this brilliant idea.
Geography really is totally cool!

[Nong Yang]

Sweeeeet! I wish I had a pulldown map...makes me miss middle school a tiny bit. :) Did you thrift all the globes? Gahh, I want one so bad and am hoping to come across a nice one during my adventures. :D

[Betsy]

I love this idea, I love maps. As long as the map isn't valuable($) you could get lots of matching frames and then cut out sections of the map to put in each frame and then hang them in order. It's a great way to fill a really large area. I'm sure you'll come up with something fabulous.

[Lexi Bridges]

I just adore al your finds! I have been looking for a pull down map for my boys' playroom--you find the best stuff!! I think the headboard/map idea is brilliant! My mother in law just gave me a unique metal globe as an early bday present--she knows I want to collect them. YOur collection is great!!

[Dude]

I like it! Lot easier them hanging a curtain and the kids can learn geography while eating dinner!

Check out my finds:

MoneyintheGarage.com

[freelance writer jobs]

Geographic is on of my passions. Thanks for sharing this