Designing a Vintage Nautical Themed Room

I never knew how hard it was to find very old nautical themed items, until I started really seriously looking for the types of things I have in mind for a nautical themed master bath at our soon to be new home.

Sure its real easy to find those kitschy 1970's and 80's plastic things in bright pinks and bright colors, but I'm talking seriously old things not the "typical" beach items

...most of what I have been looking for for some time now... dates back to the 1800's and on up to the 1950's...with most dating from between the 1800's to 1930's.

I have found it very hard to find seahorse items and mermaid items in particular...and I've been looking for months..

But then, I know the look I'm going for, and I can be rather picky once I have a particular "look" in mind.

But..I wanted to share with you some of the cool things I have been able to find in my searching for that "perfect" nautical themed room.

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This is the little guy that started it all. This is a chalkware sailor figure that stands almost a foot tall and dates to the 1930,s.
Then I have managed to find some seahorse themed items. This large seahorse pitcher will hold cheery flowers and dates to about the 50's-60's.It is quite a large pitcher and is awesome looking in person.And then a seahorse tin wall placque.Not sure of the age on this seafoam green seahorse but it has flaking paint and is made of metal.I'm thinking probably late 1950's-1960's or so.

Then I have managed to find some darling Victorian trade cards,and postcards..., and a large Victorian die cut boat with flowers. All of these date back to the late 1800's to very early 1900's.

Then last, but not least I found a darling set of children's sand shovels. These will be displayed on the counter and set upon doilies, they will hold a variety of seashells and seaglass in the shovel part of them. and I will probably display a nautical postcard near them in small frames.

I also have a few vintage glass fishing floats that will be incorporated into the room, and a few seashells, as well as the carved clam shells I have shared in previous posts.

It is going to be rather fun to decorate with items that actually have a good bit of "history" to them, and are not as easily found as items one might find at the big box stores.

I've found that I enjoy finding items that are a good bit older and have a great deal more character to them.To me they say "home" and "fun" a lot more than mass produced items do...but then that's just my opinion. :0) (smiles)

Thanks for stopping by and getting a small glimpse into what my decorating style is like, and the items that I think will help to make my soon to be new house..a "home".

~The Garden Goose~