Filling a Large Space With Letters

Gregory's post yesterday on loft living had us wondering how we'd fill such a large, open space. Our go-to decor usually skews cozy and we're thinking large letters would lend a helping hand with a huge room...

Recycled signage from vintage and salvage stores is always a great score (even better if they still light up). We also love how some folks manage to mix up letters in a salon style grouping--adding texture and a color pop to the space. Or, you could always paint a large letter (or two) which allows you to have complete creative control over your design. Using letters to fill a large space also gives you the opportunity to modify the way a traditional monogram is presented--which feels unique and original.

Comments (9)

Not quite a large letter, but we did find a huge sign that says "shoes" a few months ago, which we've hung in an otherwise odd spot of our loft. Check out the last photo here:

http://visualingual.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/the-state-of-smiths-toggery-shoppe/

I love these examples, being a typography geek myself, but they are infinitely cooler if they're real vintage artifacts, rather than something bought at Pottery Barn or wherever.

I loooove Gregory's loft (Gregory, if you're looking for a roommate, hit me up!)

I'd like to add some suggestions for how I might fill such an awesome space:

(Inspired by the post above) A decommissioned / vintage commercial sign.
A super-oversized clock
An arch lamp
A very tall sculpture (i.e. 9ft ), either DIY or local artist. For DIY, wire or carved wood assembled in pieces could be a relatively easy and inexpensive way to add some drama.
A very tall canvas (leaning and anchored). Assembly in sections could be a way to add height with ease.

I'm more of a "cool" decorator, though, so a hyper-minimalist (even barren) decor especially in a space like Gregory's doesn't bother me at all as long as the pieces that are there are high quality.

i prefer to sew them on my clothes, Lavergne DeFazio-style

All those big letters - It's getting a bit "Sesame Street" here...

I love letters as decor. I found a delightful green A at Home Goods recently. For some reason they had it in the baby aisle. Normally I don't visit that section. Luckily I was wandering aimlessly that day. I've also had luck at thrift stores.

If you don't have an industrial elevator, these huge letters are a pain to haul up. I like letters, but I'm not panicked about filling up my loft space to make it look like an apartment--the open space is the point.

And unless you get these things right as the wrecking crew goes in, they're pricey. The light-up ones usually buzz and/or suck down the electric juice too. But they are cool.

If you are looking for quality, real, vintage sign letters to use in any decor, check us out. We are a bunch of typography obsessed designers trying to save the vintage sign world!

typos.etsy.com