'A' for Art 'D' for Decorating Brandon's Office

A Vase Full of Arrows

I went ahead and got some arrows like I had wanted! They’re in Brandon’s office, four feet up and safely out of reach. Sweetshorn had sold out of arrows (though they’ve since been restocked), and so I bought mine on eBay.

Arrows

I told Brandon that they were in his office because they’re manly. He then asked if I had also considered some other manly decorating ideas, like a bowl of knives or a fish tank of bullets.

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  • Audrie
    September 1, 2009 at 11:51 am

    That’s a pretty cool idea! My husband’s looking to decorate his office really soon so I’m going to have to channel some manly decorating ideas.

  • Jessibee
    September 1, 2009 at 11:56 am

    A bowl of knives! haha I like the arrows…they look pretty cool. It’s funny how you can see things and never think of them in another (decorative) way. That’s not to say that I’ve spent much time in the company of bows and arrows anyway… :)

  • Sherry
    September 1, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    haha that’s too funny! I like it, very different. Isn’t it funny how we find something we like but we go ahead and put it in our husband’s space. I do that sometimes =)

  • Sarah
    September 1, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    I like it! It brings in color and is very unique. Oh men, sometimes they just don’t understand! My boyfriend would say something like that too. :)

  • RisaJ
    September 1, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    I laughed out loud about your husband comments. LOL.
    Love the arrows!!

  • Asia
    September 1, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    A fishbowl of bullets could tern out kinda sweet…

  • kristin
    September 1, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    sounds like your husband’s got a sense of humor :)

  • Kim
    September 1, 2009 at 1:13 pm

    a fishtank of bullets….that made me laugh:) He could bite on them in his spare time!

  • Sarah
    September 1, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    Too funny! Love the arrows though.

  • kasey at thriftylittleblog
    September 1, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    I think those make for a fun touch! Maybe they’d be nice next to an ashtray of brass knuckles? ;)

    • Making it Lovely
      September 3, 2009 at 8:56 pm

      I have some brass knuckles… My grandpa gave them to me when I was 16. They’re MENACING! ;)

  • invisiblebees
    September 1, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    I gotta chime in and say the arrows strike me as feminine. Or certainly androgynous. Think Artemis/Diana. Or that girl who tried to stop “Godzilla” in the movie, The Host

    We just bought a new place, and I can see I gotta ask my hubby what would strike him as quintessentially masculine decor. That’ll make for good dinner conversation tonight.

  • Laura
    September 1, 2009 at 1:49 pm

    I just started taking archery lessons and was so excited when I saw this! Fun idea and they are so colorful…might have to keep my out out for some now.

  • Little Gray Pixel
    September 1, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    I’m really digging the fishtank-of-bullets idea!

  • Laurie March, EvangelistaLA
    September 1, 2009 at 2:41 pm

    I’d love to see the fishtank of bullets!

    Out of the mouths of husbands… ;)

    That’s pretty genius!

    A killafish installation.

    I dig it…

  • LauraC
    September 1, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    Too funny – your husband’s comment was great!

  • Kerry
    September 1, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    LOL I love it! Look out, sounds like Brandon’s quite the trendsetter!
    :)

  • southern hostess
    September 1, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    These look great! I love the variety of colors.

  • kristen
    September 1, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    haha. at least you don’t have to put up with bobble head dolls and trophies like me!!!

  • Andrea Larsen
    September 1, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    hehehe. funny

  • Jessica
    September 1, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    That’s hilarious.

  • Meg
    September 1, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    My husband actually does traditional archery and I always had trouble to store his arrows away….
    this gave me an idea how to store them! it looks cool and that’s what I am looking for! My husband actually liked the idea too!!
    One question: where did you get that white vase? because I really like it!!

    fishtank of bullets lol your husband is really funny!!!!
    well my husband has corrections of guns also… maybe this would be a good idea to store his bullets too! lol

  • Caitlin
    September 1, 2009 at 9:30 pm

    I LOVE that vase that you have them in! Mind sharing the source?

  • Desiree Fawn
    September 1, 2009 at 10:21 pm

    Haha, ‘fish tank of bullets’ made me snort ^_^
    Tee hee.

    Love the arrows!!

  • Paige
    September 1, 2009 at 11:42 pm

    You joke, but my friend was looking for a manly alternative to a bouquet when her husband had to be in the hospital (he’s doing fine now). She ended up filling a vase with nuts and bolts and then creating an arrangement of screwdrivers and wrenches. It was funny and surprisingly pretty.

    Love the arrows and the vase.

  • Down Pillow
    September 2, 2009 at 12:23 am

    They look so good :) If you’ve been thinking about these for so long, I’m sure you’ll enjoy them for years to come.

  • Angie
    September 2, 2009 at 6:32 am

    They look great! I’d like to know where you got the vase too.

  • Sara
    September 2, 2009 at 8:19 am

    That sounds like something my husband would say. Very funny. E is growing up so quickly & is quite a ham for the camera. She is so photogenic & beautiful! I am sure Brandon will have his hands full keeping the boys at bay soon enough.

  • Julie
    September 2, 2009 at 10:32 am

    I like how they look & I think your vase looks better than the one in the link.

  • Elena
    September 2, 2009 at 10:37 am

    Brandon is a funny man!

  • Helen
    September 2, 2009 at 11:16 am

    A fish tank of bullets would seem oddly cool.

  • erin
    September 2, 2009 at 11:44 am

    I love the fishtank full of bullets. Though a glass vase with beautiful curves could be quite lovely and manly with bullets in it…

  • Rosa
    September 2, 2009 at 11:53 am

    he is funny! I love the concept, and it definitely is manly.

  • The Bella Girls
    September 2, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    That’s something my husband would say….priceless…

    ~Camberley

  • Bonnie
    September 2, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    Tell Brandon he does live in Chicago. One never knows whether there might be a renegade indian or two lurking around The Bean, the Willis (boo hoo) Tower, or worse, his own backyard. Love those arrows. I’m sure that there’s not a house out there that doesn’t have something to be cautious about for babies. Enjoy!

  • Tess
    September 2, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    mmm love it!! I started storing all my paintbrushes like this… in the living room. It took my husband a couple of days to realize it was permanent. He thought I was getting ready to do some massive painting in the living room! :) It’s a good solution for old brushes I don’t use anymore though! The arrows are a great twist!

  • Sadhbh
    September 2, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    Hi, just thought I’d stop by and say I love your blog. I’ve been reading it for a few months and have just added you to the ‘blogs I like to visit’ list on my very own, brand spanking new, blog.
    I hope that’s ok. Please feel free to stop by mine for a visit anytime!http://wherewishescomefrom.blogspot.com/

  • Amanda Nicole
    September 2, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    I am loving the arrows in home decor I’ve been seeing about. These look fantastic in your man’s office, very manly :)

  • Jasmine
    September 2, 2009 at 10:38 pm

    you’re so cool. i love the arrows!

  • Rebecca
    September 3, 2009 at 5:56 am

    How fun! what great decor and there are so many goodies in that Etsy store.

  • Beth@321-home
    September 3, 2009 at 8:59 am

    Very fun!

  • Krysten
    September 3, 2009 at 9:45 am

    I love the arrows – although a bowl of knives WOULD be very manly!

  • maureen wildauer
    September 3, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    I am interested in where you got the clock on the wall in the background. Thanks.

  • Making it Lovely
    September 3, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    The white vase was from CB2, many years ago, and the clock was by Umbra.

  • Amanda
    September 7, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    What term did you use to search for the arrows on ebay?

  • John @ Young House Love
    September 8, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    I get the feeling Brandon and I would get along very well. Tell him to sign me up for a knife bowl too.

    -John

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  • Raquel Raney
    September 11, 2009 at 11:42 am

    ooh. true love.

  • Sarah
    September 14, 2009 at 8:25 pm

    Love it!

    Ha, he sounds like my boyfriend.

  • Condo Blues
    September 14, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    “a fishtank of bullets” made me laugh. I think you’re husband’s right, they are more manly decor than a vase full of arrows.

  • Victoria Bennett Beyer
    September 23, 2009 at 7:46 pm

    Love this – my husband is always breaking arrows and this is a cool way to save them from the garbage.

  • Lisa McLaren
    October 11, 2009 at 10:59 am

    My husband is a police officer, and former Marine. I am a librarian and an artist. Blending feminine and over-the-top-masculine in our home (and a home full of daughters), has always been a challenge and is both frustrating AND funny! I think we do in fact HAVE a vase full of bullets, though not a fishbowl…yet. This is a great idea, Brandon. Look what you started! Thank you!

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  • Abigail
    March 14, 2012 at 7:49 am

    So, this entry is old, but we actually *do* have a bowl of knives (and belt buckles) both of which my boyfriend collects, sitting in the living room. I was hesitant about it when he moved in, but it’s surprisingly nice on the coffee table. It makes my thrift-store/bohemian floral/librarian cottage a bit more manly, while somehow fitting in to the general colorful/vintage look.

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