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The question

I inherited a suit of armour from my great uncle. I'd hate to part with it, but what can I do with it?

The answer

If you live in a castle, the answer is simple: just display it wherever you choose, as a castle lends itself to this type of decor element.

In most homes, however, heirlooms such as this can look out of place, not to mention taking up space and collecting dust.

One suggestion would be to have it photographed, frame several of the shots and hang them artfully on your walls. This way, you preserve the memory of the cherished object while removing the need to keep it in your house.

If you feel you must hang onto it, however, suspending the armour from the ceiling can be a space-saving solution. Do be sure to triple-check that it is properly secured, though, particularly if the suit comes with a sword, halberd or other medieval weapon. I imagine the last thing your great uncle would have wanted is for you to be skewered.

Alternatively, you could simply pick your favourite body part to display on a book shelf (perhaps the head or a hand), though some of your visitors might find this approach disconcerting.

It also might be fun to expose the amour to the elements in your rear garden and watch it develop a patina.

If you simply cannot find a place for it in your home (and if it is authentic), you can always gift it to a museum and redeem the tax benefit.

Before you part with it, though, humour your great uncle and sit it on the sofa while you ponder your options.

Dee Dee Taylor Eustace is an architect and interior designer. Follow her on Twitter: @ddtaylordd. Have a design dilemma? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.

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