apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love the 3rd picture. With the antlers, old suitcases and ornate blue porcelain in the foreground. And even a little surprising animal print lamp in the corner. I dig the entire composition...and I must admit, I still like the Union Jack. I thought I was over it after college, but this awakens my Union Jack obsession once again. You've awakened the beast!

it's a really great graphis, especially when using non-flag colors, but i cannot bring myself to wear/own/display another country's flag under any circumstances.

I wouldn't want a symbol of imperailism on my bed.

oops, imperialism!

Wait, isn't that the Confederate flag?

LadyJ - I'm not sure I understand the problem with wearing/owning/displaying another country's flag, but if you're concerned that displaying it would somehow be unpatriotic, I'd say using a foreign flag as a doormat - literally, as in pics 5 and 9 - would probably count as sufficiently insulting to furreners to count as patriotism in many quarters. It may be a little *undiplomatic*, on the other hand...

Here's some Union Jack accessories for Geoff:

http://www.joannehudson.com/dinnerware/union-jacks.html

Can you have too much patriotism?

this is my flag so I'm protective, but i don't think its a good idea to start hating on another ones flag, especially when u get so offended when any1 burns yours.

i love the union jack flag
i think it is far more beautiful
from a decorative standpoint
than the american flag

if i were to use an american flag
i find the older ones
much more pleasing to the eye

i don't wish to be insulting, i just can't bring myself to cross that line. i think flags have more significance than as decor.

Imperialism, lol. I think it's neat. Nice bold graphic and fun. It reminds me of Austin Powers and 'mod' fashion from close to a mid-century time so a lot of fans of this site should be diggin it.

I'm a Brit living in the US and so of course I love the union jack - but definitely as much for the design and colour as for the symbolism. It's possible that not everyone is aware that the Union Jack is a combination of 3 country's flags, - Scotland, Ireland and England. Each stands alone, but the Union Jack is just that - a union of all 3. The history is interesting!
One of the popular items on my website - all sold to the US by the way - is Jonathan Adler's Union Jack dog bed! here it is FYI https://www.lavishgiving.com/products/jonathan_adler_union_jack_dog_bed-284-137.html

zhenpoo -- I'm guessing hrhprincessfiona was joking, but even if she wasn't, judging from her name it sure sounds like she's one of your compatriots!

But as for the second part of your post, I think Americans in general do take their flag more seriously than most. So yeah, many Americans do tend to get offended when people burn the U.S. flag (The point of burning a country's flag is generally to offend, right? So that reaction doesn't seem so inappropriate.) And of course, as Chuck Norris's idiotic Townhall editorial this week illustrates, many of those who profess to hold the American flag sacrosanct are often all too happy to desecrate it for their own cheap, dishonest political motives. (On a sidenote: Chuck Norris is a pussy. Chuck, if you read AT, go fuck yourself. Any of us skinny, effeminate decorating-blog readers could kick your pseudo-macho ass -- anytime, any place.)

That said, I'm not sure how I come down on all the aspects of the decorum-of-flags-as-decor issue. I may not be a stickler for flag-handling protocol, but I'm not inclined to use my own country's flag in some way that seems frivolous, either. On the other hand, I think the Union Jack (and the Canadian flag - ah that maple leaf) are pretty aesthetically pleasing (and I like the countries themselves, too). And if the prevalence of cool-looking Union Jack stuff is any indication, it seems like many Britons may be OK with using their flag that way.

@pilgrim, I'm Irish!

U.S. Code 4 USC Sec. 8
http://uscode.house.gov

d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery........
The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
........
The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. ...."

Has always seemed to me that a fair amount of merchandise supposedly patriotic isn't really respectful.

( am not getting into debate "it's not a flag--it's a picture of a flag...")