Those Things On The Wall

Matchholders

I received a few questions in the comments yesterday about what was hanging on the wall in our dining room. 

They are old, vintage, junk, antique (whatever you want to call them) matchbook holders. 

I have had the red one for a few years now. I like to have candles on our mantle and sometimes on the dining room table and this is a great spot for storing the stick matches. 

A few weeks back at the Coburg Antique Fair I had a list of things I was on the lookout for and match holders were on the list. At first I was thinking that I only wanted ones that had some red on them. But then someone found the second one (it's cream metal) and I liked it (love the rounded edges). The night before at Come Play everyone had shared what sorts of things they were looking for which made it cool as we went around - many more eyes checking things out. 

The one with the red "matches" was a no-brainer and the fourth one with the yellow just grew on me. 

All of them obviously came home with me. I cleaned them out as good as I could (who knows what stories they hold) and pounded some nails in the wall. I had envisioned this little collection all in a line and I really love how it turned out. And they are cheap.

I think this is good though, I don't need anymore. If you are interested in locating some check your local Goodwill, antique store, or ebay (there are a bunch on there). 

It's become a perfect place for Simon's red homework pencils (they have his name on them - a fun Easter-bunny gift from a few years ago). 

 Here's a straight-on look: 

Matches2

Someone also asked about the wall color. We did paint that but I have no idea what the color is (I asked Chris and he can't remember either). We like it too. 

The red chair right below the match holders was picked up a few years back. It's been in a variety of locations around the house: 

Aestudio_printer

It used to sit next to my printer before Anna took over that room. 

Type

I also have a yellow metal chair that is in my current office. Love those kind of chairs. If I had more room I would likely pick up more.

Good stuff. 

And by the time you read this the Yesterday & Today classroom should be up and running. Super exciting

Dottedline

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52 thoughts

  1. Kal Barteski says…
    10/01/2009

    Yay! You have such an awesome eye for details, Ali.
    Maile is coming to my house today - I'm so excited!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. emily says…
    10/01/2009

    I have an Aunt that seeing your holders reminds for of...like you, she can see the beauty in "old junk" for lack of a better term....I love it though!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Nicky from Canada says…
    10/01/2009

    Love the holders but really love the chairs, I truly have a terrible chair feddish. My husband refinished the high chair that his dad made - and it just makes me feel so good. Heading to the classroom now - can't wait to start.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Sue says…
    10/01/2009

    Love what you did with the match holders! Those are very cool. Also like the metal chairs. I have one with a fold out step. It belonged to my grandparents and it gets used a lot!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Lauren says…
    10/01/2009

    I love repurposing old things too. Your home is very cute :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. lori p says…
    10/01/2009

    i saw these last night and LOVED them!! quite a useful and unique decoration!! thanks for sharing...love the photos of simon and anna, especially her "give me back MY hamburger" one!! too cute and so real!!
    have a great day ali!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Molly Irwin says…
    10/01/2009

    Love them! Little collections like this can't be beat. I'm so glad you posted a link to the pencils again. I literally was just searching through my etsy faves for them. (guess I didn't bookmark it.) No coubt they will sell out again for your reference :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Tara says…
    10/01/2009

    Love the matchstick holders! I don't know if I've ever seen any during my junking expeditions. Maybe I just never noticed them because I didn't know what they were. I'll definately be on the lookout now though!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Karen says…
    10/01/2009

    thanks for sharing bits of your home. my grandfather had a match holder in his kitchen...wonder what happened to that? heading over to BPS to check out the class. i am sooooo excited to start this!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Linn says…
    10/01/2009

    The match holders are a great little collection. I can't wait to get back into "junking" (as my aunt calls it) as my kids are getting bigger. I'm always inspired by the simplicity of your decor.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. JustMeAgain says…
    10/01/2009

    I love those match holders. So cute.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Katie says…
    10/01/2009

    Those match holders are charming - and oh, I'm so excited about Yesterday and Today. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. o~girl says…
    10/01/2009

    Love your little match container collection! I'm always on the look out for little red objects too. If I may, your wall color looks very similar to mine but they're more than likely different colors in real life. My front room walls are painted 'Beach' by Eddie Bauer at Lowe's.
    Thanks for sharing little bits of your home with us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Chris says…
    10/01/2009

    I love the match box holders - particularly the first two. They would go perfectly in my home, which has a very eclectic style (for instance, we have a gigantic hot dog taken from an old hot dog stand that is hanging on our diningroom wall).
    I think I'll start looking for some matchbox holders to add to my house.
    :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Lynn Reaney says…
    10/01/2009

    I also picked up one of those at Coburg. Pencils is a great idea. Was trying to brainstorm other things but kind of came up empty!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. SMK says…
    10/01/2009

    those matchbook holders are fantastic! i'd love to acquire some one day :D thanks for the inspiration ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Robyn says…
    10/01/2009

    You are truly a fascinating human being. Thanks for letting us have a look into your life. Yours is a site I visit virtually every day.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Jenn says…
    10/01/2009

    I love your style of mixing old, new, and photos in your home. Would you ever be willing to to do a more indepth tour of your home? Like you did with Anna's room?

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. sarah says…
    10/01/2009

    thanks for posting those ali!
    i might have to add those to my coburg list for next year (except in cream/white and/or blues). i just love them all lined up. very cool!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. tracey m. says…
    10/01/2009

    Thanks for the descriptive post - just what I was hoping for!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Lehua says…
    10/01/2009

    thanks for sharing. those are super cute!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Amber says…
    10/01/2009

    Ali a few months ago you let us know about a sewing/crafting book you were reading. something like "sew momma" anyway I can't seem to find in going through the archives. Could you refresh my memory. Thanks so much!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Amber says…
    10/01/2009

    Oh Ali, I absolutely ♥ them! I also ♥ the red chair stacked up with books. I ♥ your style & every time I visit I feel so calm & inspired.
    Thank you so much for that!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Jen says…
    10/01/2009

    So cute! I never know what to do with collections, and this is a great idea in actually using them. By the way, I was wondering if you will be doing a week in the life documentation again this year. I did it "with you" last year and enjoyed it so much that I plan on doing it again this year, just wondering if you had thought about it?

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Sharon in TX says…
    10/01/2009

    Ooooh! I'm having flashbacks! We always had these matchbox holders at our house. People mostly kept them next to their gas stoves/ovens or wall heaters where the pilot light had to be lit manually. I just spent at day at one of the best antique shows in the country, Round Top, TX (population 77)and wish I would've thought to look for these. Also, VERY excited to start Y&T class today!

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