While perusing the wares at our local Anthropologie, we stumbled upon a large rack of oversize zinc letters meant for using as decorative accents around the home. A few years ago the look was a favorite technique of set designers, and a quick flip through a few home decor magazines or catalogs would no doubt turn up several examples. The trend is still commonly used, sometimes spelling out a word (above), sometimes leaving one to decipher the meaning of a lone ampersand, and we wanted to see what you thought of the look. So, in your opinion...
Here are a few sources:
- Anthropologie has both large and small zinc letters available
- Pottery Barn has them on sale for $4.99 - but only the letter "I" is left (Ian, Isabel, and Isaac, now's your chance!)
- Urban Outfitters has an ampersand and "@" symbol in marquee lights.
Images: Top, Marcus Svensson for Sophie Andersson; above, Pottery Barn
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I'm more intrigued by the wall paper or background- how is that done!?
I think the letters look good but I am seriously starting to see them everywhere @_@!
This always reminds me of Rhoda's apartment on the Mary Tyler Moore show: "etc."
Graffiti, really?
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one getting tired of this trend.
Keep calm and carry on...
janejane nailed it: VERY Mary Tyler Moore! (Mary had an "M" before Rhoda had "etc.") The second photo with many letters in many fonts and crisp metallic colors looks pretty "now", but I keep envisioning those craft store wooden letters, and those are not. (Neither, in my opinion, are the rustic sign letters. Been there, done that, YEARS ago...) Still, your mileage may vary!
Actually, our large "B" & "H" channel letters have been a huge hit with anyone who visits our place: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/small-cool-2009/small-cool-2009-deckbds-downtown-loft-little-division-19-081528
The worst is when people have words on the wall for whatever the purpose of the room is: EAT in the kitchen, SLEEP or DREAM over the bed...OH thank god, if the wall didn't tell me what to do in this room I'd just be standing here adrift, not know what to do with myself!
It's a classic that will ebb and flow. Keeping it fresh can make it work any time.
I put the following letters on the inside of the medicine chest in the guest bath: "Hey! No peeking!"
My friends totally understand my sense of humor. I always enjoy the huge laugh that comes out of the bathroom when a first time visitor gets busted.
I have in black letters on a bookcase the last initial of my name and the love of my life...
that will *never* go out of style in my books!
Love will never fade away into a dead trend...
I'm with you MaeEast --- it's a classic that just needs to be revamped every once in awhile. Some of the styles I've seen lately in the mags are dated and overdone, but I still like it when it's really pretty, or done with humor or whimsey.
I did this in the mid 70's. Not exactly trendy now is it?
I forgot about Mary's "M." But now that you mention it, I remember an episode where there was (I think) a fire in the building. She ran around in circles for minute, trying to figure out what to grab. In the end she scooped up a plant... and the "M."
Mary would still approve of this trend.
I doubt I'll ever tire of letter decor because I love book arts and letterpress printing. However, I prefer framed or contained collections of letter forms and large installations of vinyl or painted letters of favorite quotes, book passages, etc.
Like maps, letters are very dynamic to me and I don't tire of them as I do most other art. I sometimes place the letters upside down and/or backwords for a different look that remains easy to read for me.
The truth of the matter is: the general public is very bad with typography. I will jump for joy when badly designed typographic posters go out of style.
If I see one more"Live Laugh Love" poster - I am going to go berzerk.
I found my first letter "B" 18 years ago and hung it up because I'm a type junkie. I still use it, (as seen below) although when letters started appearing at Pottery Barn I knew I was in trouble. The use of letters might be getting old, but I also think you can still find new ways of using them instead of just spelling out "dream" above your bed.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/fall-colors-2008-midwest/midwest-33-gretchens-color-combos-066571?image_id=24056
I don't like words and sayings spelled out (enjoy, eat, relax, and so on) but I do like a single initial now and then. After all, if Mary Tyler Moore did it, it can't be wrong.
It's all about execution IMO
letters are great opportunity - same as many other shapes or symbols... but need to be used creatively, and not same in every second place... Most annoying are words like "cook" "eat" "dream" in spaces related to them. It's just so... stupid. is that an order? user manual?
But I love surprising and fresh way of using letters.
When it starts showing up at your local Hobby Lobby it's time to let it go...
yes, and low end decor shops are chock a block full of the stuff now.
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