The Map Room

Summer vacation is just around the corner, and I'm dreaming of quiet days on the beach.

One of my friends from grad school days in Boston sent me these photos of her family's summer home in Martha's Vineyard. It's an old carriage house with cottage-style bedrooms.


This room is named the Map Room or Chart Room. (PS I want a house someday where the names of rooms have nothing to do with who usually sleeps there. I remember when I was a kid, my grandparents had a Butterfly Room with the *coolest* wallpaper.) Anyway, I guess more than 25 years ago, my friend's uncle went out and bought a book of maps and pasted the cut out pages to the walls between the rafters.


He also pickled the beams. And I think they are the prettiest shade of blue! So lovely.


I think this idea of wallpapering with maps is perfect for a beach house, but it would also be great in a little boys bedroom (or maybe a boys bathroom? Or closet?)

Thanks for sharing this lovely room, Aubrey!! xx
on

42 comments:

  1. pve designApril 27, 2011 at 5:57 AM

    I love maps too. That room looks like the perfect spot to chart one's course!

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  2. cafenoHutApril 27, 2011 at 6:01 AM

    This is a good idea. I love maps everywhere....

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  3. FranApril 27, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    This is such a great idea and your friend's room is beautiful!!

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  4. Spots & StripesApril 27, 2011 at 6:38 AM

    I also like the map wallpaper from Ralph Lauren. Amber

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  5. AubreyApril 27, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    Thanks for posting this Jenny! It is one of our favorite rooms.

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  6. Lina ThomlinsonApril 27, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    I love this! I've always dreamed of having my very own map room so it's neat to see someone do such a great job with that same idea.

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  7. UnknownApril 27, 2011 at 9:01 AM

    That room is very pretty, but the thing that stood out to me was your comment about dreaming of quiet days at the beach...if you have a trick for how you experience quiet days at the beach with three young children, I'd love to know!!

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  8. ValgerdurApril 27, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    On naming rooms- There was a "jelly bean" room at my grandparents' beach house. The bathroom for that room had a wallpaper that, to us kids, looked just like jelly beans! The maps are beautiful in that Martha's Vineyard house..would love to try that some day.

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  9. UnknownApril 27, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    I would die to have a home with awesome named rooms! The maps are great love the old rafters!

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  10. Heather (love your space)April 27, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    I was looking for inspiration for wallpapering with maps not too long ago while decorating my nephew's nursery--this is the best one I have seen, for sure. We ended up doing blow-ups of the continents, but I LOVE this look!

    (the after, here: http://loveyourspace.blogspot.com/2011/04/olivers-nursery-after.html)

    Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Jil CaseyApril 27, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    The muted colors of the maps go well with the wood and make the bedroom look very restful

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  12. Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and AcornsApril 27, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    I love this room! What an easy idea to use to update a room. Thank you for sharing!

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  13. AnonymousApril 27, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    Maps are one of my favorite things, and this room is done so well. It's just lovely. Thank you, and your friend, for sharing!

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  14. AnonymousApril 27, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    This room is so beautiful. It has that sought-after creamy, beach-y comfort, but it is so interesting at the same time.

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  15. BarbieApril 27, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    Mmmm...I've been looking around for inspiration to update my nursery for baby #3. Anyone have a lead on a good map book for a project like this? Would one use wallpaper paste to adhere the maps to the wall?

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  16. sarah.wandering.April 27, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    This is a terrific share. I recently acquired about 50 vintage National Geographic maps that I've been debating what to do with them. I think they'd be perfect in our pool house and I was going to paint out all the wood - but think I'll whitewash or pickle instead. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  17. Jenny at LGNApril 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    Barbie, you can get oversized atlases at thrift stores, used books shops and eBay (and probably Amazon?) for almost nothing. I collect them and have a stack of 5 or 6 laying around for the kids to look at. My kindergartner is completely obsessed with maps, so I of course it makes me feel like this idea is perfect for a kids room.
    I would use wallpaper paste or spray adhesive to apply (depending on how permanent you want these to be. Wallpaper paste being pretty permanent.

    xoxox

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  18. Stephanie SabbeApril 27, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    adorable!!

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  19. kbdApril 27, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    gorgeous, and so relaxing. Reminds me of my friend Vicky's bathroom, but her's is the fully saturated version... http://www.iwantthat.co.za/in-the-mix/bathroom-before-after/

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  20. fric and fracApril 27, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    I love it! I'm a big fan of maps as decoration - they are so romantic and inspiring!

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  21. JessApril 27, 2011 at 3:34 PM

    i always wanted to do a map-themed room,s omeday:) great inspiration.

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  22. AnonymousApril 27, 2011 at 4:04 PM

    Love the map room. How does one pickle beams?

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  23. Andrea @ strawberry-chicApril 27, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    What a clever idea! I don't have any rafters in my house, but I would love to cover one of the walls in our spare bedroom with a vintage map like that! Do you happen to know where your friend purchased them?

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  24. Emily @ Peach and PearlApril 27, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    This is too, too cool! I love it!!

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  25. natashaApril 27, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    Did you see the latest Country Living? This couple had neat maps from their travels hung in their kitchen. So fun and inexpensive!

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  26. UnknownApril 27, 2011 at 11:20 PM

    so pretty! maybe i'll do maps in my boys room!!! love your blog i don't comment near enough :)

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  27. Porchlight InteriorsApril 27, 2011 at 11:57 PM

    This is absolute perfection - I have three sons rooms to start decorating soon and this will definately be inspiration for one of them! Thanks for sharing! Tracey xx

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  28. Prue RamApril 28, 2011 at 3:21 AM

    Love this!

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  29. Buy WoW AccountApril 28, 2011 at 3:30 AM

    Isn't that amazing? You could let your imagination move and travel anywhere while staring at the map.

    Buy WoW Account

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  30. www.StarHughes.comApril 28, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    This is such a beautiful room! It reminds me of the Chart House restaurant chain - they decorate with big, old maps that are just gorgeous. It's very New England. But I think it can work here in California too! :)

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  31. Sarah GreenmanApril 29, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    Amazing. I love this room!

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  32. NinaApril 30, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    I love this room but cannot understand why you see it would be good for a boys room or bathroom, why only for boys, isn´t that terribly restricting that girls could not enjoy this as much as boys? I know many little girls who would prefer this sort of room and they love to play with dolls and are small princesses...

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  33. Jenny at LGNApril 30, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    Hi Nina! I think it would be awesome if a little girl wanted map wallpaper in her room. I was just speaking from personal experience with my clients and with three daughters of my own. Map wallpaper would not be their first choice. Just like butterfly wallpaper would not typically be a first choice for a little boys' room. But, I agree that little girls can love maps as much as little boys.

    xx

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  34. EmilyApril 30, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    I am absolutely head-over-heals for this room!!! I would love to try this in one of my upcoming projects...so inspiring! Thanks for sharing!!!

    Emily Hewett
    awelldressedhome.com/blog

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  35. theROOMMay 1, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    What a lovely room!!

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  36. michaelMay 1, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    SOOO pretty!

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  37. beth at secondhandmom.comMay 1, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    This map wall is amazing. I love your blog and all of the inspirational ideas...so fun to read. Your site is an inspiration. I just started blogging, hope you enjoy my site if you get a chance to visit.

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  38. casey at loft and cottageMay 2, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Brilliant idea. Love it in this beach house. What a great space.

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  39. AnonymousMay 2, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    I love this room! :-) I have a thing for maps...this is such a nice way to display them!

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  40. Merriment StyleMay 4, 2011 at 2:20 AM

    I love this look. What a great way to daydream about traveling even if you can't get away. I really enjoy reading your thoughtful & creative blog.

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  41. I'm Busy ProcrastinatingMay 4, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    That is one dreamy room! How do I get invited to their house?!

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  42. AnonymousMarch 14, 2012 at 4:25 PM

    This room is unbelievably soothing. I just featured it on my post about the beautiful, inexpensive maps and vintage prints available through the US Department of the Interior. thanks for sharing these images!

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I so appreciate hearing from you. Nice comments make my day! Thanks for keeping things light here, friends! :)