Not knowing the layout of your house it is hard to suggest where to actually put one but why not in a spare bedroom if you have one. I have mine from my mother and since she lives with us now it is easy for me to put it in her room. The past couple of years it was in her sitting room (she has two bedrooms across from each other as little apartment) but she is bedridden now so I am trying to figure out how to put it in her bedroom where she can still enjoy it but it won't be in the way for nurses and aides. I think it is a wonderful piece of nostalgia and can be fit into almost any decor depending on what ornaments you put on it.....

Lynne

Lynne, I'm so sorry about your Mom, know that must weigh heavy on your heart. Hope you can figure out where to put the tree for her to enjoy.

I only remember those trees with the projector light too--used to love to watch my older married sister's tree like that when we visited her house. I don't see why you couldn't decorate it with traditional ornaments and garland though. Not sure if adding regular light would be okay on it or not. Hope some of the other's here can help with suggestions.

Luvs

Hmmm, maybe the kitchen? If you have stainless appliances there'd be some continuity with the shiny aluminum tree. For a theme you could do kitchen utensils - not the real stuff but those play sets available for children.

Hi! Coming out of my lurking to post this. :) I'm hoping to use one of these old aluminum trees (with or without the color wheel) in my garage one day. Our garage parks two "collector" show cars (1950 Ford and a '79 Bug) and we are doing a bit of a nostalgic theme in the garage. Our garage isn't used like a normal garage -- we sorta use it like another room of the house.

So maybe you have an area for a garage tree? Or a mudroom tree? Sunporch?

I would just put it up even it it doesn't go w/your decor - your family will love the nostalgia and honoring g'ma.

Maybe just do it closer to Christmas, so it's not up as long.
Also possibly do something interesting w/the base and what it sits in/on.

We had one too - I never really cared for the light wheel on it, and I remember that because it was metal, adding lights was a concern so we never did.
I do remember they usually looked best when all the ornaments/trim were the same color i.e. all red, green, etc.

Jim

I remember my Mom and Dad having one also. They used it for many years, eventually w/o the lightwheel. They eventually left it bare, but I didn't think it was Christmas-y enough that way. How about all gold ornaments? I like the idea of using one metallic against another. ;o)

What a wonderful item to have. A wonderful piece of history and memories. Would love to find one someday. My aunt had one years ago.

I think you can decorate it somehow to fit in...I like the kitchen Idea.. depending how large it is. Please post pictures of your finished tree.

this was my mothers aluminum tree last year with her kitty - it was decorated with all homemade ornaments that have been given her - she had a story with each and every ornament. Bless her heart she is 93 and is making everyone in the family a beaded angel ornament for Christmas even tho she is bedridden. She has given every hospice nurse and aide an angel this year - makes me smile everytime she hands one out :)

patty cakes - I do like the idea of doing it all in gold - what a pretty and modern contrast - the kitchen idea sounds neat too

it is definitely too unique a tree not to put up somewhere....

Lynne

My daughter rescued her Grannie's tree when we lost her two years ago. Dear MIL had promised it to her since she loves retro things. We don't have the color wheel. Last year she wanted to put the tree up, but we found that it wouldn't fit where she wanted it since the branches stick out so far. We were told to make sure that did not add any lights since that was a fire hazard. It is really made of aluminum.

I think that the kitchen idea sounds really good.

I remember we had one of those trees..many moons ago, to decorate our office. We did use lights on them when they first came out. Years later, the color wheel came out, because people were getting electrocuted and they were also declared fire hazards.
A suggestion on how to set it up >> How about if you use it to Display your Christmas Cards. You can tuck your Christmas cards in between the Branches, as you receive them. I saw that once many yrs ago, in a magazine. Looked very pretty.

Lynn..bless your mother's heart. How wonderful that she is able to create such loving gifts to give, not only for family, but for those who care for her as well. What a wonderful keepsake for all. She is such a special lady. Also, Bless you, for providing her with such loving care & security.
jane

Lynne, what an incredible woman your mother is. I bet everyone falls in love with her. Her cat almost matches the tree, LOL. I love the little village type scene at the base of it.
I agree with Jim that ornaments all one color would be lovely. Tho if its going in her room, maybe she should choose what goes on it since she'll be spending so much time looking at it.
I bet that little tree holds a LOT of wonderful memories!

Thanks for sharing a bit of your Mom with us.
hugs to both of you,
Karen

bourbonlady, How wonderful to have an aluminum tree and even more special because it belonged to your grandmother. I think it could work very well in your home where ever you choose to place it. I think you could use any style of ornaments, but agree that one color family would look best. Have you done a google search to see how others are using theirs?

Lynne, I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. I do hope you can find a spot in her bedroom where she can enjoy her Christmas tree. I love how she had it decorated last year. And the stories of all of the ornaments must be wonderful to hear. How sweet of her to be making beaded angels for everyone. I'm sure that makes her just as happy as the people who are receiving them.

Lynne, we also took care of my mom for some years at our home & it is wonderful for you to still have your mom at 93!

She sounds like a strong woman to live that long & still be making home-made gifts! Bless you & her!!

Bourbonlady, the aluminum tree is fine without lights, it picks up any light in the room & reflects it, so just decorate it however you like, I like the idea of all one color on the silver.

We had one with the light wheel for a couple of years as a kid and we kids hated it. To us it was too un-Christmasy. Personally, I wouldn't want one, but I do think that setting it up as a retro tree with ornaments that look like they came from the Sixties (or originals from then, if you have them) would be nice. You could also put all your Sooner ornaments on it in your game room. The red would really stand out there.
I've also seen one done up with all copper decs on it, which was pretty.

Thank you all so much for your ideas! Lynne....duh.....the OU (red/white) ornaments....I can really see that. The more I'm thinking about it, I don't know if it will see the light of day for a couple more years, it just does not fit with the interior of my house. But we are planning on taking our backroom downstairs and opening it up to the backyard with a covered patio area....party lights, outdoor bar feel, and I think I will slate that tree for that room/area in the future, I think it will fit right in in that type of atmosphere.

Now that I have a direction, I can start stocking up on the goodies after Christmas.

Alex

They have those out again now at the stores. call them tinsel trees mostly. I saw one with shiny bows tied on the end of the branches. I also saw one once with feathers hanging fromt he end of them. Can not remember if they were made like earrings and hung on or just feathers. Hey, maybe you can hange her ear rings or ear bobs on the ends of the branches...

twomonths, I like that idea as well! I really wish that I had the true understanding and interest in all of that when I was younger and my great-grandmother "Icy" and gg-aunt "Deedle" were still alive. I remember as a little girl going to spend the night (I'm 37, so this was back in the late 70s early 80s) with both of them quite a bit and all the baubles they had. All the "jeweled" broaches.... That would have been so gorgeous to have for the tree.....grrrr!

Alex

Here's a link to a silver tree that I found when I was browsing for Christmas pictures. I thought it was too cute for words.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29037909@N04/3072817462/in/set-72157610480361917/

Mary

I really liked how they decorated this tree w/the beaded garland the the color complimenting ornaments, it looks so fresh.
I almost wish I still had the one from my youth.

Jim
]

I agree - that's gorgeous. I saw one at a flea market the other day. I may have to go back and get it now.

Mary

Jim, that's a beautiful tree! On for the inspiration album.

Yep, Jim, that's one for our album for sure.
hugs, Karen

Mary, I like the little one you shared with the little elfs and ornaments on it. Very cute and vintage looking.

Jim, that one is really decorated in a neat way. Would look great in a contemporary style home.

Alex, are you getting any good ideas for yours? Hope so.

Luvs

Mary, I love that link that you sent, adorable.

Now go figure, pre-1900 main house, turn of the century remainder..... Love the nostalgia, but want our life-styles....poker tables, neon lights, bar, game rooms, all with a complete respect of the old while injecting our current traditional lifestyle..... Hah....someone come up with a decorating term for that...ecclectic....duh.

Jim, I think that is the look I'm envisioning for that tree! Gorgeous! I've run out of rooms.....but you have inspired me to find a corner SOMEWHERE to put up this 6' silver tree and make it work!!!!! I love looking at your inspirations!

Alex

Oh Luvs....so many wonderful ideas! This forum is so much fun! I've now gone from not knowing what to do with that darn tree, to now thinking.....I need more because there are now so many wonderful things I can create with it.....grrrr...

But I'm out of rooms and the corners are dwindling ..... this may have to become a full time hobby ... lol ... guess I could start to decorate the storage rooms at the little house!

Alex