I usually try to plan some sort of project or adventure for us and also provide some down time where the grandchild can just relax and and some space to themself. This time, our adventure was testing out the basement bedroom. I have begun transitioning the bedroom into a guest room and had stagnated. One of the things I've read is that a person needs to sleep in the guest room every now and again to see what it needs when a guest might stay there. So, Luci and I trekked down the stairs to test things out.
Right away I noticed that the room needs a fan. She and I, both, felt that the room was a bit stuffy. So, Luci crept back upstairs and got the inexpensive fan that is kept in the guest bathroom for just such situations. I made a note that some sort of fan needs to be added to the guest room. A quick fix that worked for now but really will need revisiting.
Later that night, I noticed that the bathroom needs a night light for those trips when a visit to the facility is necessary but a bright, wakeful light is not. No quick fix for this one during the wee hours but it will be revisited.
We also discussed that the wall facing the beds needs a clean-up and some sort of artwork. The TV that was mounted on the wall there has been moved to the office. So, there are holes where the mounting screws were and black marks from the equipment that was there.
Eventually, the wash stand will be gone as it was given to the bonus son. So, I'm pondering what might sit there and have a good purpose in that space. In the meantime, something needed to be done to the wall.
Filling the holes and painting is an option. However, I'm not - and never have been - fond of the grey color that is on the walls everywhere down there. Grey seems institutional to me. Plus, the walls were painted about ten years ago and even with left over paint, the color probably won't match seamlessly.
So, I decided to just cover as much of the unsightliness up and move onward.
I had come across a vintage map tucked into some pictures and papers that were my mother-in-law's. So, I held it up to get a feel for things and decided that might be the ticket for now. I sat down one day shortly after Luci's visit and measured the map and ordered a simple frame for it.
I think it will be perfect for the start of some sort of gallery wall. Smoothing the map out was simple and popping it into the frame was easy. This was nothing transformational but it was a quick fix that sent my mind wandering about what else might be a fun look for this room.
I've got a few directions I could take using what is posted on this map. I think the details really add to it!
It is an Interstate Highway Map of the United States. I'm not sure how old it is but it obviously was intended for travelers who wanted to get somewhere fast. There are other features and keys on it that I really like as well.
I love how it explains the different interstate highway shields. I don't think a lot of folks know this information. Because the map does not include Interstate 840, a radial or alternate room that bypasses Nashville, that tells me that the map was printed before the road was started in 1991 and completed in 2012. So, this would make the map be at least 30+ years old.
Reading the section above made me wonder how many of these will survive and be accessible for travelers with all the cuts that have been made recently by our federal administration. Below are the lists of scenic, historic, man-made, and recreational wonders that are marked on the map.
It might be fun to add some travel posters or vacation spots, images of historical places, or scenic photographs. So, while a total transformation was not made by framing and hanging this vintage map, ideas have been generated and the wheels are turning!
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