Design Happens

Guest Blogger: Stephanie Alexander, Newsletter Editor

When it comes to most decorating motifs or themes, I tend to cast a wary eye. Most folks go completely overboard, and if they don’t, a thoughtful relative or friend will surely buy a new item for their collection for every major holiday or life event.

Take for instance, my friend Tess, who decided at one point she needed to add gilded Renaissance cherubs to her bathroom. Soon, she found herself awash in angelic tackiness, with every type of plastic seraph heralding its faux-gilded glory from every surface in her home. And poor Tess? She just couldn’t bring herself to say “enough, already!”

I tell you that story to tell you this one: Somewhat ironically, I am totally in love with this year’s bird motif. Our finely feathered friends seem to adorn everything from carpets to handbags, and frankly, I’m having a hard time choosing not only the perfect avian accessory, but also the appropriate room in which it will perch! Here are some of my faves:

As the working mom of a rambunctious toddler, I’ve never quite managed to sit down and scrapbook my son’s milestones — maybe I’ll be inspired by these two offerings. I love this twist on a traditional baby book — Baby’s First Keepsake Box ($19.95) — complete with retro drawings on the keepsake envelopes, reminding me of my own baby record book. For a more modern take, I like the simple freshness of Baby’s First Book ($65).

If your personal design style includes plenty of flourishes and delicate detailing, check out Ferm Living’s Sparrow Wall Stickers ($120) or Anthropologie’s Bird-Cut Armoire ($1,898).

Not quite ready to commit to a large piece of themed furniture? A smaller songbird accessory might be the perfect accent to a bare shelf or cocktail table. Wisteria’s Balancing Bird Tealight Holder ($19) will allow you to quietly display a sense of whimsy, without motif overload.

Enjoy! And if anyone questions your latest motif-of-the-moment obsession, just say a little birdie made you do it.