The Letter as Decor: No Font of Creativity
Dear Reader: for a long time a large, silver S hung in an alcove in my former Pacific Palisades apartment, surrounded by metal frames and sconces (this was the Silver Phase). I really, really liked it…until one day I looked at it and thought, “Dude, this is lame.”
Well, not quite. It was more like pondering: What was the purpose of this S? Psychoanalyzing: Was I marking my territory? Journaling: Did I have nothing more interesting to display than a letter? (Yet again that master’s degree in liberal arts proves useful.)
Stick with me here, R. The letter as decor is a popular motif. But is it a classic element of style, like Danish chairs – or is it a bland substitute for a more original statement? I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to feel like the world of wall decor is going to turn into one big L.L. Bean towel if we don’t nip this thing now.
Let’s take a scroll and decide:
Yeah, it’s not looking good.
Damn, that’s cute. Maybe we’re going to be okay.
I’m not sure why but I find myself wanting to draw a squiggly red line on that wall.
Words are useful. A little obvious maybe, but useful. I get it.
Although I admit this one does remind me of that Far Side “school for the gifted” cartoon.
As seen on Apartment Therapy, an advertisement for wooden letters. Which means there is a whole marketing department for this somewhere. Uh-oh. (Maintaining editorial credibility, AT points out that we are witnessing the beginning of the end, and it is not good.)
Then again, letters are less silly than, oh, I don’t know, pink plastic ducks flying across your wall.
A letter is nice.
Really nice.
Super, duper, freakin’ nice.
What a nice G.
Nicest and perhaps most literal display of narcissism ever.
For nice little girls. Complete with an ehow-to-do-it.
Also nice.
Still pretty much nice.
When nice attacks!
There are places where a bold letter creates a statement, adds drama or lends a warm touch (especially if it’s a full name or an inviting word). But doesn’t it seem like a lot of the time, sticking a letter on the wall is just filling space rather than defining it?
Images: diaperchest, make-baby-stuff, Oh Joy!, Centsational Girl, blueantstudio, HGTV, visualize/designsponge, Amelia M Bell, Apartment Therapy, Design*Sponge, Living Etc, ehow, lovemyearth, tinydecor, countryliving
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4 Comments
August 11th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Sort of reminds me of the monogramming of objects, kind of a Palm Beach aesthetic. But I agree, some of them are very, very nice, “S”. I like this variety.
love, “L”.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I’m a big fan of experimental typography. I wouldn’t mind having letters all over my walls, but not to spell out anything, and certainly not my initials. I’d prefer showcase pieces of my favorite classic fonts (oh, Bodoni!), placed at odd and artistic angles to each other, to show off the fluidity of the lines (Bodoni italic “f”), the serifs, or the perfect roundness of the “o” (in Futura’s case). How about that Caslon upper-case italic “Q”! To die for!!!
August 11th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
In the person with all the Zs defense, I doubt their name starts with a Z, they were most likely using the Zs to connote sleeping.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Haha, good point, Fern!
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