apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Was this purchased or taken off the street? If it was purchased, use it as a paper weight or a book end. If you took it off the street SEND IT BACK! Shame on you!

Was the cobblestone taken actually out of a Roman street?

I think she just wanted to show us her apt. We approve, don't worry.

Set it on a (well-mounted) wall cube from West Elm, perch it on a cube of plexi as a base on a table, or get a stand (black iron, like a museum display) professionally made. Or get a plxi box from The Container Store.

Or just incorporate it, as is, into the still life in front of your TV.

But AFTER you get a rug in front of your sofa! ;)

Ever hear of leaving no footprints? This goes for cities as well as campgrounds. I think it's terrible a piece of Rome has being taken away. Probably people are stepping in the hole left by this person's greed. How about putting it on a pedestal that says, "I'm a rude American"? Hope there's something for me to see when I go to Rome.

Thank you Disappointed! What piece of NYC would Holly recommend that tourist remove from our city as they depart? Mason

Where did you get your sofa? It's just the kind I am looking for.

A little context, people. Would we really care if someone took a piece of broken concrete off a NYC street? Even if it's old--really old--would the municiple gov't have replaced or repaired this stone or merely chucked it into a dumpster after some old lady broke her ankle when she tripped over it? Cut her some friggin' slack.

Holly, I say nestle it into a bookshelf--assuming there are some even if they aren't pictured--on top of, or next to, a stack of books. It will break up monotony of book after book and be a great conversation piece. Alternatively, as patrick suggested, sick it on a little stand and place it under the tv.

Perhaps a rat or pigeon - they could have them stuffed!

heed KrapArtist and send it back if you simply removed it from the country.

dear disappointed, krapartist and mason ... actually the cobblestone was neither purchased nor pried out of the street. there was a man repairing some loose cobblestones outside our hotel. the stones he took out were going to be discarded so we asked if we could have one. he gave us the nicest of the bunch. probably should have mentioned that first ...

ps ... sofa is from pottery barn.

"I think she just wanted to show us her apt. We approve, don't worry."

So true, JR. I'm not sure I understand this post. Why don't I send in 10 pictures of my home and ask readers how I should use this stapler I bought at Office Depot?
The apartment is dull but inoffensive, not unlike the cobblestone.

Just plop it down on the table. Either go all out and treat it at priceless artifact (which some here may argue it is in which case you may be likened to Michael Rockefeller) and pedestal it, spotlight it and give it a placckard with propper attribution, dates etc..., or treat it like what it really is; a million year old rock, and just toss it on the floor.

In other news I need to tie my shoes: single or double knot, what do you think?!?!?

Julian, I vote double knot. It may not be quite as fashionable, but it's nice to only have to tie them once a day.

I'm surprised at the level of vitriol here. (Andrew & JR). Why attack someone asking a simple question about interior design? We're not debating partial birth abortion here. AT is a friendly place. Keep it that way and save the snark for you boss. Sheesh.

I'd buy a cool deep tray, fill it with sand, and plop that baby in it with some other stones and put it on my coffee table. Or get a terrarium and put it in there.

What a particularly mean bunch.

C'mon, this is a valid question... how to display an unconventional collectible. This obviously meant something to them, or else they wouldn't have lugged this thing back all the way overseas.

And btw, the transit museum, and perhaps even the Southstreet Seaport, have sold old NYC bricks and cobbles in the past.

To each his/her own. Stop slamming what people collect. It's too personal to judge or be a snob about.

I like the bookshelf suggestion because it's a really interesting shape. And the table and sand is a good one, too. Right now, it's sitting on a table in our foyer (I'm Holly's husband). Kind of like the wood at the Apollo, it's in a place where you can rub it whenever you walk out the door.

Makes for an interesting conversation piece, often met with "what? you picked it up!", after which we explain that the guy working on the street near our hotel gave it to us from his pile of stones that were being replaced. Interesting side note: There are very few people qualified to work on replacing cobblestones in Rome and other "cobbled" cities.

What about putting it in one of these things from the Container Store?

http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=233&PRODID=69668

It could make for an amusing little display.

Marm, I like that idea. I wonder if it would look good combining the sand idea with that.

Thanks!

i love when people take the time to post that something else was a waste of time.

I am glad to see that some people also read some of the replies as just mean. I thought people would come up with creative ideas to use an unusual object (i.e create a wall display with river stones and use this a center piece, or do a slate runner in the hallway and incorporate it).

I have been a long time reader (not poster) but I have noticed more and more a condescending tone in a lot of replies lately. It would be more interesting to see completely "out there" ideas to build on wacky questions than assume that people just want to show their place, or As if some of the questions were just "below them" to be even considered.

p.s have not reviewed grammar in the posting for those who will find the errors:-)

as long as we're on the subject, i picked up this great little sculpture when i was in egypt and i could really use some ideas...

http://www.quintandquint.com/sculpture.jpg

besides which, how many of us would pick up such things without question in our own cities? i know i've taken all sorts of things off the streets of New York without any sort of permission.

personally, i think whatever you do, you should keep it low key. i like Maxwell's idea of using it around the house. i also think it would probably just be nice to sit it on a bookshelf or windowsill, or some other convenient little niche where it will be out of the way, but still noticeable. i think some kind of self-conscious display setup would be a bit much.

I think that it is nice that you currently have it in your foyer. If you come home after a rough day it will be one of the first things you see and it can bring you a smile from a happy memory of an enjoyable trip. Maybe you could frame a couple of your favorite pictures that you took on your trip to hang or lean against the wall somewhere near the cobblestone.
Another idea - you could get a nice big picture book about Rome to put on your coffee table or desplayed prominently on a bookshelf and then set the stone on top of it or next to it.
Erin T

Me-yeow! The claws are out on AT today!

I like Greeps' suggestion.

I would put it in a shadowbox cutting a circle openinh for the cobblestone ans perhaps a picture from your trip below it. Something more long and narrow for visual interest. I am a custom picture framer and frame all sorts of momentos. Doingbthis with a photo would be a great conversation piece.

4x5 doesn't seem very substantial to me to display on it's own. I like P(too)'s idea to display by the TV combined/contrasted with those taller vase things. Everytime you look over to the TV you'll be reminded of your trip. Either that or use as a paperweight on the coffee table on top of the NY Times or an Italian art book. Greep's idea has some appeal to me as well.

I think the apartment looks nice. And I agree about the mean, condescending tone of some of the comments. I used to participate a while back, but the reaction I got from some people (scathing) really turned me off. Now, I mostly read but rarely post. AT is one of my very favorite websites and I look at it every day (more than once), but I feel it's become rather an exclusive club...
Nadine

maybe cover it with a bell jar? that would help to focus attention on it so it doesn't get lost in a display... (there's kind of an enormous collection of bell jars here: http://www.englishcreekgardens.com/Cloche1.htm )

I think it's a cool memento. Brava for getting it all the way back from Rome in the current crazy flying situation.

Whatever you decide to do with it, you might want to apply felt (the self-stick kind meant for furniture feet) to the side that touches the floor or a tabletop. Will prevent scratches.

Art Display Essentials has a catalog full of stands, easels, cases, risers, blocks & bases, etc. They also do custom work. They are creative and professional and can recommend different solutions, be it custom or stock, for what you want displayed. The back of the catalog I have says visit us on the web at www.artdisplay.com, but I haven't looked at the site. You can call 800-862-9869.

I think you should use the cobblestone as a saucer when you serve your guests espressos (presumably, having been in Italy, you know how to make a proper espresso). That way you can be sure to always have a chance to tell that charming story.

Or maybe if it's just for your own personal pleasure, like to remember the awesome time you had in Rome, you could just tie the cobblestone to one of your bare feet with some sturdy twine so it would be like you were always walking down a Roman street.

i like patrick (the other one)'s idea of setting it on a (small) wall cube. maybe it could be the start of a collection of organic objects from places you visit, each on a wall cube (it'd also add a much needed quirkiness to your apt which is lovely but a little barren). just don't tell anyone on this website where your objects come from (cause they're all model citizens and always leave everything in exactly the condition they found it or better.)

i LOVE the bell jar idea. Definitely a way to add some character and to draw attention to the stone.

P.S. I hate to admit this, but Andrew and Julian had me snickering aloud in my office.

I'm glad to hear the cobble is an innocuous one. As everyone knows, Rome is a city of ancient ruins, and to see them is one of the main reasons for travelling there. This should have been stated from the beginning!

if you want to splurge, abc has glass domes and wood bases in different sizes, or as suggested earlier just place it casually on as part of a tablescape. add felt pads to prevent scratches.

Maybe you can dress it up in different outfits.

for a while there, we thought the best use might be for protection! anyway, we wanted to say thank you for the great suggestions and comments. we enjoyed reading all of them, even the snarky ones, and think there are some great ideas here that we can't wait to try.

thanks again!
tripper and holly

ps ... patrick (the other one), do you have any suggestions for that rug? and julian, wow. we are so impressed! we clicked on your name and saw your flickr photos. your artwork, woodwork and chairs are amazing!

Holly--
How tough is that cutie of a dog on rugs?

I think you can go a couple ways...
either a textured neutral (I love the big felted Quinn shag rugs from Pottery Barn), or something more patterned but still neutral (Crate & Barrel's SoHo or Platinum rugs) or a solid accent color wool, but a good one, with some close-up variation in the color (the way only really good Tibetan wool can look.) Try also Storehouse or Room & Board.

Or perhaps a colored Tibetan for colder months, then something lighter and more casual for warmer weather, like a sisal or a seagrass of the Quinn.)

How heavy is it? Can you hang it on the wall? Kinda like a decorative plate.... I have no idea how you'd do it, but I'm sure it could be done.. just a thought :) and it could be hung outside if there is room...

Do you have any garden/container garden area in which to incorporate it?

I love rocks and whenever I go home to the west coast of Scotland. I roam the beach picking up rocks of all colours and sizes. What to do with them apart from cluttering the place up is always hard. Why not place it beside your bathroom basin and put a lovely hand made soap on it. A soap dish. Or hang it with invisible line over a doorway. Defying gravity.

PS I stole a cobble too. From Morocco. Arrest me now I'm dying from the guilt!

Briefs or Boxers ....anyone???

Boxerbriefs.

holly--
Let me know what you think rug-wise, or what you end up getting. I need to live vicariously right now!!! :)

Anyone who is appalled at removing a piece of stone from an Italian city, especially Rome, is ridiculous and misinformed. These ancient cities have stone and other bits of historic buildings carted off to dumps by the truckload daily, not to mention the story I heard while living in Italy about why Rome's subway lines are so limited: they kept running into ancient ruins. Eventually, they simply chucked everything they found in order to finish the lines they had already started and left it at that. I think Holly and Tripper's rescue of said cobblestone is positively conservationist in comparison. Best wishes and best memories to them and their rock.

i have never seen this site before. but as i was looking for ideas on roman decor in our bedroom i ran across this post and it just so happened to catch my eye and after reading the comments i just had to put my two cents in.

first off let me say kudos to you and your rock!!! enjoy for every memory its worth. as for this post it was still helpful to me even though it didn't have a darn thing to do with roman decor.

from this i will take ideas on how to display the rocks my husband and i picked up while hiking in the rocky mountains! hmmm wonder if people will chastise that as well!

or how bout seashells from beaches of pearl harbor? or sand from the steps of the pyramids of egypt?

point being any of these things are peices of our earth. and my guess would be anyone who takes the time and effort to bring these momentos home with them will treat them with much care and admiration....

so skeptics. lay off!