The decorated yellow bowl on the left is actually a cleverly designed ashtray from Morocco; the portion where smokers can rest their cigarettes lifts up so spent butts and ashes drop inside
Earlier today, we blogged
how to handle guests who smoke. Although we don't smoke, we've inherited a lot of smoking paraphenalia from our parents who lived
through the "Mad Men" era (in fact, our dad was a mad man)...
We use this cigarette box to hold laundry change
From ashtrays to match holders to cigarette boxes, old smoking paraphenalia, beautifully crafted, can find a second use in your smoke-free home.
- Ashtrays: can hold detritus on your landing strip, work as coasters for drinks or to catch water under plants; the large deep ones can be used as shallow planters for succulents or hold nibbles for guests.
- Match Strikers: use them to hold candles or as small vases, for toothpicks or paperclips or thumbtacks or pens.
- Cigarette Boxes: jewelry, coins, receipts, pens can all be stashed in these.
- Cigarette Cases: can be repurposed as a sturdy, albeit streamlined, wallet or use them to keep business cards at the ready
- Cigarette Holders: often enameled or jeweled, collect them and display them as a unusual centerpiece and conversation starters or, if you're dextrous, twist them into your hair to hold it in a neat chignon.
[Images from LA House Tour: Abby's Cozy Boho Pad]
I have an old ashtray (from back when I smoked) that I toss jewelry in. Given how many people don't smoke anymore and the desire to discourage younger folks to smoke...it always irks me that Urban Outfitters sells/markets trendy ashtrays...
Just gettin' that off my chest...
view I Love Upstate's profile
like upstate, my wife uses old heath ashtrays to organize jewelry and other bits... never smoked, but it's hard to turn down a $10 piece of vintage heath pottery...
view redneckmodern's profile
any ideas on what to do with my old bongs and hookahs? :)
view traceymariel's profile
I have an old glass kidney-shaped ashtray in my bathroom, sort of acts like a little tray for other stuff.
view K T G's profile
i want that moroccan ashtray in the pic!
i'll put it to a lovelier use than plugging it with an odd twine ball!
view *heather leaf*'s profile
people who smoke do so outside
view Lizzykewl's profile
I would like to know about the sofa in the photo---looks like a really nice one. Who makes it and where can I buy it? Thanks
view poptart's profile
Bongs and hookahs make great lamps! Or, you can just take up smoking again...
view somedudeinvicenza's profile
Those two glass vases on the table *were* old bongs...
view zap's profile
I have used a metal cigarette case as a wallet for almost 10 years. I get lots of complements on it and keeps me from collecting junk like receipts and such. I even have a picture of my wife glued inside.
view wally's profile
Also, it's spelled 'paraphernalia.'
view K T G's profile
I use old Bitossi cigarette boxes for my collar-stays and cufflinks and the small individual ashtrays as soap dishes in the bathrooms.
As far as the sofa, I believe it's a discontinued style from Crate and Barrel.
view bepsf's profile
i use my ashtray as.....wait for it......an ashtray. I know. Shocking!
view dmancini's profile
heatherleaf,
riad decor, which ATLA's blogged before, sells similar ashtrays. they're on pico, just east of la cienaga.
poptart,
the sofas are from crate and barrel from a couple of years ago. unfortunately, i don't think they carry them any longer.
cheers!
abby
view abby's profile