apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love it in kids' rooms, but there's still a certain 'ick factor' for adult spaces. No matter what words or phrases are used, it makes me think of mass-produced art from TJ Maxx....or Cathy from the Sunday comics.

It was chic when Mary Tyler Moore had a golden "M" mounted on the wall of her apartment during the 70's...

It was clever when Simon Doonan used old signage letters in his window displays for Barney's in the 80's...

It was trendy in the 90's when Pottery Barn and every other boutique home retailer had letters, words and phrases on rocks, printed fabrics and the walls...

Now it's no longer chic, clever or trendy - it's just tired and dated.
Let it die already.

I hate this trend. There is something authoritarian about that last picture as well: "EAT!"

I think it works if it's a little incongruous (like "Diva" in the first picture) but when it's instructive, like "Read" in the kid's room or "Eat" in the kitchen in the last pic it just seems bossy.

I'm sick of "Diva" and "Princess" especially.

I think this works well when done with vintage signage. Such as an old restaurant sign like "Eat At Joes" or "Elmers Coffee House" or something similar. Then there is a vintage, purposeful element to it. But I'm not a fan of making a slogan for a specific room. It rarely works well. But sometimes, it's fine.

I recently saw one in an art gallery (Grey Gallery) here in Seattle. 'I Can't Be What You Want Me To Be' I thought it was well done.

I love words, and most any printed matter, but as decor, it seems intrusive. I don't want to have to "read" it constantly, like a song that gets maddeningly stuck in my head.

The phrase "Boredom" in that living room pictured above is terribly depressing. Why would you want to label the space you gather with family and friends that way? It is almost like a curse. I'm not excited about words in decor anyway, but this just seems like an especially awful choice.

I think it's silly. Why should there be a word on the wall. Some of the examples are exceptionally ridiculous. Cup? Does "cup" really define the space? If it does, HOW does it define the room? Peculiar.

I think "boredom" sums it up. It's a complete lack of design originality.

I think it works well within the right kind of environment. But I don't like the kind of words that look mass produced. I prefer found pieces, or large industrial pieces. But these only work well with certain interiors.

No offence to anyone who has word art in their home, but I'm not a fan. I don't like the look, or get the point of, of "command" words on the wall (i.e., "Dream" in the bedroom or "Eat" in the kitchen). I think it's silly, and as a trend, it's become trite. I would, however, get a kick out of seeing "Sh!t" or "Fart" in a bathroom.

I for one have a giant EAT in my kitchen as well. I don't find it "bossy" at all...just fun! Get over yourselves!

Ah, the dismissive killjoy comment. I was waiting for you...

out of these, i only really thought it worked in "DIVA" and the child's room. DIVA is well-done because it works both aesthetically and thematically: the letters themselves look good and well-suited to the room, and the message is humorously incongruous in such a weird, dark wonderland of a space. how i feel about the space itself is a different story, but does work on its own terms.

"boredom" is the worst - it looks crass and depressing and generally ill-conceived.

Live. Love. Laugh.

... or not.

UGH.

I read picture three as 'see up' (c up) which would have been a little bit clever at least if there were something interesting on the ceiling.

*shrug* I like poetry painted on walls / chairs / doors / tables / floors...

I really want that horse.

When it's sold on QVC, you can bet the trend is officially over:

http://www.vinylattractions.com/

As a poet at heart and technical writer by trade, I can't imagine not being surrounded by language in all forms. Words inspire and give new meaning to a space. That said, I don't really get the "boredom" one unless it's an ironic way of highlighting an entertainment/fun space.

Some people are taking "design" a little too seriously in these comments, and it's making me laugh. It's understandable to be tired of a trend, but come on. Dismissing a design concept out of hand because of a few tired applications?

I agree with many of the anti sign comments that are posted. The "Pottery Barn" style sign look is played.

I would make exceptions for certain signs. I have an original US Air sign that came from Reagan National and some old aluminum sign letters that are oversized and have a great typographical and over-size feel.

If it's iconic, be sure to consider it.

Nooo....but I am oddly AVID for the DIVA (sorry, couldn't help it)....why do I like it? It goes completely against all I believe in about words on walls. I love the floor in that room. And the horse! Is that a lampshade on his head, or is there a floor lamp behind him....this room...I want to be in it and explore...I think there's a kitchen on the far wall, and an office...hmmm...I like this room.

i love letters hung up because of the specific typeface, not the words. my guy's a web designer (and occasional type designer), and to us, typeface IS a form of art. i could really care less for the words that are formed when putting them together...

love the font of DIVA and CUP.

The QVC-featured company listed above sells a wall decal that says, "That's what SHE said" among it's 81 flavors of Live-Laugh-Love: http://www.vinylattraction.com/shop/product.php?productid=4705&cat=0&page=1

I'm a writer and former writing teacher and, like Lizabethy, I love words. Heck, I like the alphabet. I find great beauty in varieties of letters and symbols. I interpret some of this as people needing reminders to slow down--we don't have religious figures any more (not too many crosses or Jesus drawings, or even beautiful religious art) so we're invoking the power of words to find some sort of peace (not the EAT). Personally, I don't have words as decor in my home (unless you count many many books), but if it makes people happy, good for them.

Super annoying. I'm a big typography geek (being a letterpress printmaker and all) but the ubiquity of these words, particularly "DREAM" "HOPE" "WISH" or anything quite so precious, makes me want to write out "Bleh!"... in Curlz

I think people on here are crazy.
if you like it do it. if you don't then don't. and get over it. people have different tastes and that's how it will always be.

I don't love or hate it out of hand. But there is a generic-ness to the ones that say "dream" or "imagine" or "hope." They seem uninspired and too simple - and, as someone said, precious. They're like the Hallmark cards version of a real philosophy, and they feel like they belong on the walls of 13-year-old girls.

I frequently use vintage children's book illustrations and vintage posters on my walls, and I think in those cases, the type works well. If my digital camera hadn't been smashed to smithereens the other day (sigh), I'd post some examples on Photobucket. I also have a giant (3' X 4') Stendig calendar right above my computer, and it looks great as wall art: http://www.stendigcalendar.com/

I like the clever use of old signage and printer's blocks - but in those cases, it's the history and what the letters represent (books, nearly forgotten businesses) that makes them special... not the sayings themselves. I've got a much more modern/country style than a lot of you mid-century folks in here, and old signage fits well in that look.

I love the "Diva" room, and also want to visit. They should charge admission for tours. But I'd rather see something else old and great displayed in the space where the word is. "Diva" feels passe. I like the "Eat" in the last picture, because it calls to mind old diners, and the kitchen as the right aesthetic for it. But the "Gather" one just feels, again, too cutesy... too much someone's generic Hallmark card idea of what you should do in a dining room. Not a big fan of the "Read", but it's OK in a kid's room, I guess.

The pub near us - "The Victoria" has been closed and is being developed as apartments. I have the letters from the sign - (for the typographically inclined the font is some variation on Copperplate). In all I have two complete sets of "THE VICTORIA" - Any suggestions for words we might make out of the letters. All letters are caps but the V and one of the Ts is bigger than the other letters and would be better at the start of a word. "HOOVER" is my best so far.