Love Travel? Let Your Interior Take Wing

Vintage airline posters, model biplanes and propellors add adventure to a space

Becky HarrisNovember 13, 2011

Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected." I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.

Lately it feels like there isn't much to celebrate about air travel, especially during the busy holiday season. There are the angry masses, lining up to board 30 minutes before rows are called, greedy individuals shuffling to hog the entire overhead bin, screaming babies, that person in the middle seat who will is constantly elbowing you, and that self-important jerk who refuses to stop yammering on his cell until the flight attendant has politely asked him to turn it off three times.

However, watching Pan Am on TV makes me dream of the days when air travel was glamorous; when checking bags was easy and free, travelers were excited and happy, gates were clean and beautiful and airport architecture soared to equal the excitement of being 30,000 feet above the earth. We take the fact that we can hop on a plane and go anywhere for granted, but it's a luxury that's been around for less than 100 years.

More: Pam Am Inspires Flight Back to '60s Design

Next time your seatmate opens up a salad full of onions while the kid behind you kicks the back of your seat and the one in front of you is watching a Chipmunks movie without headphones, close your eyes, put in earplugs and take a second and appreciate how amazing it s that you're up in the clouds. Here are some moves that remind us how lucky we are to be able to jump on a plane, cross the country and be hugging our loved ones in a matter of hours.

This large black-and-white image of a plane adds dynamism to this room, giving the eye a place to rest that complements the breathtaking view.

Story & Space - Interior Design and Color Guidance

This vintage TWA poster is straight from the Pan Am era, when being able to jump from continent to continent without having to take a boat was a miracle.

Thrifty Decor Chick

This brightly colored picture of biplanes is a fun choice for a child's room.

Moody Design Est.

This floor-to-ceiling Braniff poster, depicting a prop plane soaring over the city skyline, sets the tone for the room.

Beckwith Interiors

A vintage poster depicting a prop and a pin-up girl are an interesting match for this modern daybed.

Elizabeth Gordon

This image of a plane is from artist Jeffrey Millstein's The Jet As Art series. These make a great choice for a child's room...

Burnham Design

... and add they excitement to a grownup's room as well.

Vanessa De Vargas

So many kids dream of being airplane pilots when they grow up, and these great cloud and plane decals are a whimsical way to encourage such dreams.

LMR Designs, LLC

A hand-painted ceiling with clouds and planes inspires kids to lie on their beds and daydream about flying.

Imagine Living

Model planes hanging from the ceiling are even more fun. In fact, this bedroom looks like it belongs to an adult who grew up on model planes and won't give them up.

LUX Design | Interior Design Build

Antique propellors become stunning décor elements. Mounting this one over the kitchen cabinets added unique character to a very sleek kitchen.

Dufner Heighes Inc

Here a Red Baron-esque propellor has become an eye-catching sculpture.

JR Ramsay IV

A pair of propellors emphasizes the horizontal when mounted over the fireplace.

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Pam Am Inspires Flight Back to '60s Design
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Comments (5)

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Becky Harris

Thanks Jenson, I thought I might be going a bit too far :) Didn't mean to complain about kids on planes so much, I know traveling with little ones is really hard.

Bepsf, I agree; my downstairs bathroom is an homage to ocean travel (though it's been taken over by the Thomas Paul Octopus shower curtain a bit - that thing really dominates a small bathroom!). There used to be this great store on Newbury Street in Boston that sold almost all vintage stuff from old cruise ships that I just loved; can't remember the name, not sure if it's still there, but it was fabulous.

midmodfan

Next month we'll fly to Miami, and I'm already dreading the 14 hour long journey, standing in line, the security checks, the immigration and all. Flying has become such a nuisance. But you're right to remind us that it is a luxury, after all. Thanks for the lovely, well chosen photos.