Jackson Free Press

It all began with a wheel. And some glass. And one infamous fight scene between newly cohabitating love birds. Of course, if you're privy to the pratfalls of late 80s romantic comedy, you'll know I'm referring to the When Harry Met Sally wagon-wheel-coffee-table-conundrum. Who doesn't love this scene? Better yet, what guy doesn't secretly want that same coffee table in his living room?

Guys, we know you all have wagon wheels lurking in your closets. And we know you'd love it if we allowed you to bring these skeletons into the living room. So what I'm going to tell you will come as a relief: it's possible not only to keep your stacks of obscure collectibles and stockpiles of sentimental detritus, it's also entirely plausible to use them for purposes of home beautification. Really wicked décor that doesn't involve one college-era stock poster, or other generics, at that.

The last time I visited the home of my friend Joey (which by the way, he shares with his lovely and very talented wife Rupa), I was inspired by his stairwell. Lining the wall all the way up are framed comic book covers. The arrangement is a strikingly modern tribute to his (and his wife's) collection of graphic novels and comics, and also a really sharp way to decorate the space. He could easily have kept these in a big pile on the floor, or crowded the coffee table, allowing them to sit and collect dust.

Instead, he made ART.

[FLY] Guys, go ahead and make some art of your own collectibles and found objects! I envision hand-tied [fishing] flies in shadow boxes over the fireplace, baseball cards made into cork-backed coasters, old records (nonfunctional, of course) used as place mats, framed CD covers in the kitchen, old pots/jars wired up as lamps, coins filling glass bowls on the book shelf, toy soldiers strung like garland! Ok, you get the point. There are plenty of practical and, let's face it, cool applications for your boyhood collections.

Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails? No problem! Bring on your junk, just so long as it's artistically done…