Vintage or brand new, from an old foreign sign to characters painted on your wall — a bright, shiny letter just might be the thing a dull room needs. What do you think?
(Images: 1. Andie Powers, 2. Lou Mora & Sarah Yates via Design Sponge, 3. Fromage La Rue, 4. Shaela Cook for Apartment Therapy, 5. Elle Decor)
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for many, it began with mary tyler moore & her 'M'...
http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/07/05/mary-richards-apartment-on-the-mary-tyler-moore-show/
if it's done right, it's a conversation piece.
I hate this trend. It's as though Ernie and Bert designed one's home.
Just about to say the same thing! It's all about the M.
I'm with Ryan. Gratuitous use of letters makes the occupant seem juvenile. One exception might be If there's an interesting story behind it--such as in yesterday's tour using the W from an old family-owned business signage.
Thumbs down. Just one step removed from "EAT" signs in your kitchen.
AHHHH hah Phred! I was just thinking how 'good' just the right letter could look, something from,oh I don't know, something cool. ;) NOW YOU RUINED ITTTT.
I happen to love this trend... but then I'm a typography nerd who's always had a weakness for ampersands so I might be biased :)
Today's trends can be yesterday's small pleasures. My mother traveled widely and picked up items featuring the first letter of our surname here and there--framed singletons, 3-D individual letters, hand-colored font samples resembling an illuminated manuscript page, and more. They hang as a collection on a kitchen wall and together, form an interesting gallery display because they're so varied in form, material, size, and color (there's no single giant letter in the lot). I'd love to have them.
Doesn't appeal to me, though I'd probably have a framed 'Sympathy' card next to that 'T'. Maybe if I collected enough to spell a giant ransome note, THEN I'd be ok with it.
Hmm...I really think it all depends on how you pull it off and how your personality goes with it. It's just like how (most) guys can't pull off a prom dress...your room has to be the right personality and the right fit to pull it off. I actually think it's great and quite cute!
Yeah, mostly no. LOL at the ransom note comment, though.
While I don't agree with going out and buying letters at a home store, I do think that if you find a vintage or salvaged piece that speaks to you, it's absolutely fine. Maybe it's because I write for a living, but I agree with the typography comment. Some of these are beautiful works of art -- that S piece in image four is quite lovely with all it's curves. Not sure why we are so tough on each other with these posts. The point is to make your home personal and something you enjoy spending time in. It's not about pleasing those that never step foot in your home.
It's an OK trend. Unfortunately, I've seen many design layouts where the individual tends to overdo and has words and letters sprinkled all over the place. Also, I can't stand "EAT" on a kitchen wall...
Why do some of you see this and assume "gratuitous"? I'm a graphic designer, and I collect letters.
And marlee, would you rather see it on a bedroom wall?
And here's a space where the display of a letter is HIGHLY personal...
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/lori-weitzner-house-tour-183620
I must confess, I kind of like the trend. But knowing it is a trend I'd probably keep it to the kids rooms.
My Aunt had her last name's initial on her outdoor patio back in the 80's before anyone did this. I still think it's cool if not over done, done cheaply, and done correctly.
Now let's talk about all the pallet furniture and "Keep Calm" and Subway signs......now THOSE are ridiculously overdone and tired trends.
Why am I suddenly filled with rage and despair? Because this tired decor trick is uninspiring, banal, mindlessly conformist, and terribly over played.
Apartment Therapy posters, you are the worst!
I think these can look nice, if that's what you like.
I don't think you can call it a trend when I plucked some gold letters from my parents home who had them since the early 70's. I think after 40 yrs we can safely say it's classic design now. In any design choices, to each their own, so sad that people feel the need to be so vile in their opinions.
The only "letter" art I'd want to put up would be an interrobang. Just because.
I'm pretty sure a person's monogram isn't a "trend"- or, if it is, it's been running for hundreds (thousands?) of years, so it's probably here to stay.
I count myself among the typography/word-nerds. I love the letters. Keep 'em comin'.