Chance to Display Pipes -- But Not Sure How?

[drydock]

Friends, I'm in a weird predicament. My wife & I are gently remodeling our cellar into a sort of lounge, comfort cave. We're using rustic, reclaimed pallet wood on some walls: have a free-standing bar, some great shelving, exposed bricks, a couple comfy mid-C Danish leather chairs, leaving the concrete slab floor alone. Lots of books.
She's gung-ho on me having a space to display my pipe collection--I'm finding I've always been a bit private about that. But here's this chance to get all my vintage pipe racks hung up & family pipes out in the open...and I'm feeling a little exposed?
I'd like to have the pipes out, I think. But I also want to retain a element of privacy. They're things I cherish & enjoy--not necessarily like a hot wheels cars collection, or dolls or whatever the equivalent would be of a collection 'to view' as opposed to a collection 'to use.'
Does this make sense? Have any of you struggled with 'going public' with your hobby? The lounge would be where we entertain friends & occasionally put up family. I'm not sure why I'm feeling kind of stumped about how to proceed. Or why I feel kind of protective of my pipe stuff.
Edited by jvnshr: Title capitalization (please check Rule #9)

 

[warren]

My opinion is, I wouldn't put my pipes in harms way. You call it a cave and describe it as a party room for entertaining friends. But, I'm a pipe smoker not a hobbyist. I do not feel the need to publically display my woodworking tools nor my cameras to acquaintances.

 

[cigrmaster]

My pipes are displayed proudly in my living room. When people walk in my front door, my pipes are one of the first things they see. My kids friends think it is the coolest thing. I put them there because it is the only place where I have space to keep them all. I have a large builtin unit with cabinets, shelves, a large counter top and mirrors all along the back wall. I would have to bury my pipes in boxes and stuff them in a closet if I didn't put them where I do. The only thing I really miss from up north is the basements I had in the houses I owned. No basements in the land of the one foot in the grave state.

 

[tslex]

My pipes are all out but in my den. The den is my room. Lot's of other people go there -- I sit in there with my younger son when he has a big reading assignment for school because he likes the club chairs. My older son will hang out with me and have a cigar and a drink and chat. My lovely bride enjoys being in there to hang out as long as no one is actively smoking. Guests stop by and share a Scotch or a smoke. The last, favored guests of a party are likely to end up there.
But it is understood that no one is in there unless I am in there. (Much the same for my wife's pottery studio. I love hanging out with her while she's working, but it is HER space and I'd never just go out there without her.)
My point is that neither of these spaces is a public part of the house, and I wouldn't want my pipes (or the 19th Century fighting steel I display on the den walls, or granddad's shotgun etc etc just "out and about."
All this to say, drydock: I think I get it. You are entitled to what makes you comfortable, and to have that respected in your house.

 

[jazz]

The fact that she is "gung-ho" on the idea suggests she's a keeper. There are pipe smoking men that would kill for such an offer. If it were myself I would jump at the chance and I would display them with pride but that is me and what I'm comfortable with. I am unsure why you wish to keep this a private affair. After all, it's not a perverted pursuit despite the efforts of some ignorant crusaders but I'm sure you have your reasons. Consequently, you must do what you are comfortable with.

 

[didimauw]

I always wanted to display my pipes on the living room. The issue was keeping them out of kids and dogs reach, but that meant keeping them up high. So I had them in the bedroom displayed nicely for a while. Now all but my cob are boxed up and ready for our move.

 

[tslex]

To be clear, I am in line with what Jazz said above as well. Decide what YOU want and know that it is OK to go with that. Agree that your wife's enthusiasm is a fine sign. My lovely bride was all for the den project, despite some cost, as she knew it pleased me and offered an indoor place for pipes plus, as she says, "those big knives and things."

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

I have my pipes on display in a cabinet in my man cave. I'm pretty much the only one in there, but I do host guests from time to time, and they enjoy seeing the display of pipes and tobaccos. Personally I would take advantage of the display opportunity, but at the same time make sure the pipes are not in a position to get damaged. Also, if you can't trust the people you host in your man cave/lounge area not to damage the pipes; then I wouldn't let them in. :mrgreen:

 

[bonanzadriver]

As I have posted here, in the past, my pipes are all on stands or in racks in the Mancave. The only folks that see em, beside's you all, are my friends/poker pals.
The mancave is upstairs away from the main living areas of the house, so they're really not in public view. (well, except for here).
Never really thought about em being in harms way....

 

[Chasing Embers]

Have any of you struggled with 'going public' with your hobby?

Even people in town that don't know me personally know me as the pipe guy. I almost always have one in my jaw when at home or out and about. Most of my collection resides on padded mats on shelves in my living room closet, but I have a pipe rack on my entertainment center for my regular work pipes. Why would I hide that? Very proud smoker here. You might want to start small. Get a one or two pipe ashtray to show off a couple for a while, then work your way up as you feel more comfortable.

 

[drydock]

The wife is defo a keeper and I wake up feeling lucky and grateful every day! I know she's showing me that even though she worries about 'smoking' (and my motorcycle and so many other things), we both understand that we each have 'our things' that make us happy. And I'd no sooner try to change her than she'd try to change me.
I guess I've been a little worried about putting the pipes out in the open. Which is silly, really. Pipes I've inherited from dad and gramps are just old working man's pipes. The friends we'd have over are all great people and family that might stay over are our parents. No little kids to worry over.
Mostly, I think I sometimes forget that this relationship is simple. There's no getting nagged or dissed about 'guy stuff.' She likes my pipes, likes the smell: says it's comforting. Even bought me a crazy little pipe for my birthday. It's absolutely awful--the worst little pipe--small teal thing. She thought it was cute. I'll never ever get rid of it!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have most of mine in racks, but I only have 120 pipe slots in the wall racks, so some go into smaller racks or get confined to the drawers. I also put pictures of my pipes on the walls, and pictures of me smoking them everywhere. Visitors to my house are subjected to a powerpoint on my pipes and a small quiz afterwards. ::

 

[drydock]

lol!

 

[crashthegrey]

I didn't know people were opposed to displaying their pipes. Mine are all out "on display" in my sitting room, where I have a roll top desk to hold pipes and tobacco currently open, plus the random odd and end related to tobacco or pipes. I don't consider them on display in my mind so much as easy for me to choose a pipe. They aren't there because I am a hobbyist, but because I want to grab a pipe when I am in the mood.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeh, my pipes are the first thing people are drawn to at my house. I have at least one small rack in each room. It definitely allows me to control the conversation, especially useful when the Mormons or Jehovas Witnesses drop by. ::

 

[crashthegrey]

Precisely. My wife has no idea how I can turn every conversation with a guest back to pipes. Well placed racks, that is how.

 

[mikethompson]

Hmmm well, my pipes are kept in a drawer in my tool chest. My cellared tobaccos? In a box in my crawlspace. I'm not hiding it all per se, but with two young kids running around I don't need anything getting broken.
If I had the opportunity to display everything I probably still wouldn't. I don't need to display everything to enjoy it. Some things are just for yourself. But that's just me.

 

[davet]

My pipes and various other necessities are kept close at hand :mrgreen:

 

[crashthegrey]

I hang my favorite paintings up backwards to preserve them and preserve my joy. Other people looking at them really takes away from that. I know what they look like in my head, so why look at them? Some days I don't even know why I purchased them in the first place. :nana:

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Ha ha, Crash. ::