Of a Feather
Bird watching is the number one fastest growing hobby in America so is it any wonder that birds are starting to show up in our decor and fashion? The Victorians loved using pheasants, peacocks, and other elaborate birds in their wallpaper, borders, and fabrics. The Edwardians utilized little song birds in their wallpaper and fabrics. Now these decor items have reappeared, and I adore them!
My good friend and former supervisor Nancy used to live in an older home in Milwaukie, Oregon (yes it’s spelled differently than the city in Wisconsin). One wall of her dining room had this wallpaper that she wasn’t thrilled with, but I found fascinating. Amongst the printed branches and flowers were little birds, sometimes playfully hidden, peaking out or darting from tree to tree. Now, twenty years later, that wallpaper would be a best selling item!
Certainly the bird watching craze has a lot to do with this style’s popularity, but I think the new focus on the environment is partly resposible. People seem more aware of the nature that surrounds them, a complete departure from the hedonistic nineties, or the “me generation” of the eighties. Birds are a beautiful part of nature and many Americans are just now discovering that beauty.
Much like the brocade you posted about in future posts (it’s like I have a time machine. lol) I think everything can be over done and sadly this is true with many “nature” patterns so one has to be careful not to overload the eyes with some of these patterns.
My personal taste is more of the abstract representations of nature, or the negatives similar in your last example.
Oh design trends, how you like to revisit every 30 years or so. lol.
I love the bird on branch wallpaper, how do I find it?
For those interested (I really should have cited my sources earlier), the bird wallpapers can be found at http://www.housetohome.co.uk (for the hummingbirds & vintage style prints) and at http://www.LouiseBodyWallPrint.com (for the garden birds on wires and the birds on branches). Although a couple prints I liked are no longer available, they’ve added some really cool ones.
As continued evidence of this trend, a recent episode of American Idol (during Hollywood week) boasted Randy wearing a black shirt with white birds and one of the contestants wore a white shirt with black birds.