Today, one day only-- animal heads!

I love them. Done right, they are not tacky. Done right, they are green and eco-friendly. No deer died in the making of these heads!


This is an example of a head done poorly. This = tacky. Don't do this. Ironically, this is from a catalog/website called A Touch of Class. Um, no.

A Touch of Whimsy's rule of thumb for animal heads: if it's inflatable, realistically painted, or plush, it's a no.

This is my favorite. Husband, if you're reading right now, I want this for my birthday. At $200, it's not chump change, but it's acutally a good price for one of this size. The white keeps it modern and minimal.

Imagine how great it would look over a slim-line couch. Put a little pizzazz in your sex life by hanging it over your bed. Nothin' says lovin' like being watched by a resin deer. Buy it here from Z Gallerie. They also have a moose!

This smaller, more antique-y looking head can be found at The Well Dressed Home.
I love the little wreath around his neck. Good price at $65.

Below, this deer and moose head on are just on the verge of right. At $70, they are very affordable. However, the bare-wood look is not good, unless you're going for that hunting cabin look. But buy a can of spray paint and go to town, and you're in business.

White is obviously a good choice, but black, hot pink, or really any neon color would be cool too. Just try to make it coordinate with the rest of the room decor, and keep other bright objects to a minimum. If you have a lime green moose head on your wall, that should be the focal point. Ya dig?
Buy them from Amazon here for the moose and here for the deer.

Finally, for the truly adventurous, check out Jen Khoshbin's creations at her Etsy store, Ruby's Lounge. She covers her deer heads in all manner of wall paper, and will even do a custom head for you.

At $375, they're the most expensive, but you pay for the artiste. $100 off all heads right now, too. Again, make sure something like this coordinates and is the focal point of the room.

Trees and botanicals-- live in a forest!

Or approximate one.

I don't know when my love of tree- and plant-designs began, but it's been a lifelong affair. Below are some of my favorite decor ideas involving botanical designs. They inspire nature without being tacky, and, of course, are all just a liiiittle bit curious. You won't find these in the Plaza Hotel, you know what I'm sayin'?

Z Gallerie's twig coat rack is fabulous in coat rack form. In silver! I'm a silver girl-- it looks more clean and modern. Brass and gold look too Louis XIV to me, especially in decorating. You don't even have to hang coats on it. Stick in the corner as a statement all it's own.
But it here.

I first saw this wallpaper (on the left) in the now-defunct Domino magazine, as the background to a piece on speakers. Then it was on an HGTV show. Then it was supposed to be in my bathroom, but then I found out that its $200 per roll, and the only distributor in my area serves "the trade" only.
So then I found THIS wallpaper (on the right), which costs half the price and comes in several different color combinations. Put it on one wall of a bedroom with minimal, modern furniture and white curtains and bedspread.
Buy the less expensive version here.

While I'm on it, look at all the wallpaper on this site. It's called Wallpaper from the 70s, which makes me think of brown and lime green swirls or something, but they're actually really, really gorgeous.

I love birch design above all else. This vase makes me very happy. This designer, Michael Aram, actually does a lot in birch motifs.
Find the collection at Macy's.

I saw these napkin rings at ABC Carpet & Home in NYC and died and went to heaven. Is $60 too much to pay for 4 napkin rings? I don't even own linen napkins! But they're birch. So. . . . no.

Would it be tacky or whimsical to put napkin rings on paper napkins? I jest, of course.
Buy Michael Michaud's version here.