Art

• Artist Derek McCrea does paintings on commission.
  
  Consider commissioning an artist to paint a picture of your home on the river, your view of the river or even your boat. This work of art can be a treasure and an heirloom-to-be in your family. Another idea is to find existing paintings of river boats and river scenes online or in galleries. Buy limited edition prints of Derek McCrea's paintings, frame them, and hang them in your river house.
  
  Group a collection of black and white boat sketches in matching black frames on the wall, or frame color posters of river boats and scenes to coordinate with each other.
  
  

Accessories

• Gather objets d'art relating to river life. For example, scatter miniature reproductions of boats on shelves and tables. Use an antique porthole, if one can be found, on a table top along with old lanterns. Fill an old tray with pebbles, then place candles in it. Coffee table art books with pictorial histories of rivers, an old anchor, oar or steering wheel can be hung or displayed, too.
  
  In your game room, use an old rowboat with cushions for casual seating.
  
  

Make Your Own

• Longfellow wrote,
  "Thou hast taught me, Silent River!
  Many a lesson, deep and long;
  Thou hast been a generous giver;
  I can give thee but a song."
  Engrave this verse on a plaque, or have it written in calligraphy and framed, then display it on a little pedestal. Gather shiny river rocks and put them under the glass of a coffee table with a sunken display, or make your own glass-top display table by building up the sides of a table a few inches to hold the glass. Display old ship wheels, anchors, photos of old boats.
  For a casual look, or a child's bathroom, find wooden fish shapes and paint them bright colors, then hang them like wind chimes or let them swim on the wall.
  Outdoors, make a planter out of a canoe and carry out your river house decor in your landscaping. Stand the canoe upright and add shelves to make an etagere.