Decorating with red, white and blue may sound kitsch, but the trend towards all things Americana has been growing in recent years. In fact, designers such as Thom Filicia, who embraced this color palette in his own home featured in House Beautiful, have put their own chic spin on patriotic decor. After all, there's nothing more dynamic than stars and stripes.
We spoke with Steve Winters, owner of Historical Americana who has been collecting authentic flags and other memorabilia for over twenty years. Originally an antiques dealer, he stumbed into this niche market when he received rave reviews after framing an entire wall of flags he had collected over time on his office wall. "Every flag is different and has its own character," he told us.
Winters explained that the value of these vintage items can range from $100 to upwards of $60,000 for very rare flags that are dated before 1800, which are usually only found in museums or private collections. If you've come across one, but you have no idea what it's worth or how old it is, he suggests to first count the stars to determine an approximate year and then note if it was hand-sewn or printed.
Do you love the idea of incorporating this look into your home, but don't know where to start? Try one large-scale flag as the focal point of a room. Winters has also seen people hang them in hallways, kitchens and over fireplaces. "It's like a great painting. You feel like you have a little piece of history."
Perhaps a vintage flag or another piece of Americana is just the accessory your space needs. Click through some flag decor on sale now at One Kings Lane and our other favorite sites in the slideshow below.
Vintage American Flags
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