I love old antique maps too, but I think they look better in a study or library.

.....Jane

Here's a great pic of one, although very expensive.

Here is a link that might be useful: Restoration Hardware antique map over sofa

I zoomed way in on Kari B's map, it looks like a street/local map (as opposed to region/country/world). I have seen large local maps like that posted inside the Town Hall where my parent's house is, and back where I come from one of the early settled local county seats has some in their building. They range from very dated to current, showing growth. (Not as big as Kari B's, more like th 3x5 you're looking for.)

If that's what your going for, and have an affinity for a certain town or area, you might try a local town hall. The ones I saw were all B&W, but probably a good photography shop with equipment to handle large scale reproductions could do it in sepia. First hurdle is to get the map, but you might well be able to order from same company that did the city/town planners maps? I don't know for sure, just tossing that out there. ;)

Or, the National Geographic Society sells a wide variety of maps. Mounted, flat rolled or laminate. Large, some are sepia (see Civil War). They call it "Antique Style". Actually there are some cool maps there if you browse through the categories. Available in large sizes and depending on what type you order, not terribly expensive.

My neighbors have an incredible huge map of Brussels where they once lived in their living room. However, they had it cut into squares and the pieces framed identically. It sounds like it was a real chore to hang it, but it looks fabulous.

I ADORE maps -- especially those huge ones in the soft neutral colors!

BUT -- think of a collection of vintage maps (the ones with the cool colors and old graphics) in a playroom!

I love star charts and nautical charts too! Just wonderful in so many rooms too!

I've included a hot links to some of the reproduction maps at art.com -- I wonder if you could have them enlarged by a professional -- and then cut and framed in a tight grid -- as texanjana has seen? I LOVE art.com's map of London!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Here is a link that might be useful: art.com vintage maps

The maps featured on the blog and in the Restoration Hardware catalog are fabulous. When they are that big, they become more than an accessory, they seem almost sculptural to me. If you go smaller, the look will be completely different.

I've put in a link to a website that sells reproduction maps (as well as real ones). I don't know anything about this site, but if you go to the menu on the left and scroll down, there are menus for reproduction maps of cities in the US and elsewhere. The largest seems to be nearly as big as you would like at 50 X 35 inches ($90). But maybe the local copy shop could blow it up bigger for you. I say go big!!

Here is a link that might be useful: antique maps

Check out the maps offered by the US Geological Service. You can get a map with as much detail as individual houses, satellite images and also historic maps.
The web site is awful, but it'll give you an idea of what's available.

Here is a link that might be useful: USGS topographic maps

I showed DH the map from the RH web site and he said something along the lines of "Yes, yes, order it immediately!" Well, first of all, I think the price is steep, and secondly, it wouldn't fit in our room. I ended up buying a map of Paris (we love Paris) on ebay this morning for $34, thinking for that price I could use it anywhere. But the map from ebay is black & white, and I think I'd prefer something with some color in the LR. I like the retro colors of this US map (link below), but not sure if this may make the LR look like a classroom!

We travel quite a bit, and we happen to have a small collection of old globes on our TV stand, so for me, I feel it is entirely appropriate to have a map in my LR. (p.s. Our LR is really more like a FR.) I think anything hung on the wall, whether it's a painting or a map, is a highly personal decision. So I guess what I'm saying is not "should I?" but rather "can you help me find a good one?" LOL...hope that makes sense.

Here is a link that might be useful: Map

I was once in a chic shop that sold unique wrapping paper and spotted large rolls printed with a replica of an antique map of Paris. I got one--quite large--for very little money, and had it matted and framed and gave it to him for his birthday (we had recently been to Paris together, so it served as a memento from that trip). We put it in our remodeled basement, and it really is gorgeous, for next to nothing aside from the cost of framing. I love maps!

Just a quick link. I Googled "wall murals maps" there's quite a few. The ones from National Geo are pretty reasonable.

Here is a link that might be useful: National Geographics

Sueb,

Check out the Pigtown Design Blog! The author, Meg, wrote about a large antique map of Paris that can be bought in sections for $60 and also be downloaded.

If you like it, you can download the map for free in either sepia or grayscale by scrolling further down the page and clicking on the thumbnail of the map on the right.

Meg also showed how she mounted her map here:

http://pigtown-design.blogspot.com/2009/10/mounting-map.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Paris Map on Pigtown Design

I love old maps too, both antique and reproduction. I've been collecting them in all sizes for over 20yrs. now. I've lucked out having a dad and a FIL that are both architects and restore buildings. They've scored some fantastic old boro maps of places that I've lived growing up when they were working on jobs.

One of my favorites is one that my FIL got me from an old school. It's one of the really old pull down school house maps of PA. It's been rolled up in a corner for yrs. waiting for the proper frame.

This is my favorite one because you don't often see them in this colorway. My mom bought it for me the day I graduated from boot camp:

I sort of chuckled when I started seeing maps in catalogs here of late. Seemed sort of foreign to me as I can't ever imagine a time that I didn't have big beautiful framed maps hanging up w/ a myriad more waiting for the perfect frames.

There is a great site you can download and print for free. vintageprintable.com

kmcg85, that is one really cool site, they have so much! If you want larger than what your printer can handle I see you can get it via FedEx Office (Kinko's). Very nice!