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The Details: Using Typography in Design
Vintage Letters and Numbers Add Instant Interest to Walls, Furniture and More
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Subway signs, London bus rolls, vintage typewriters, a new appreciation for letterpress, oversized numbers: It's official – typography has taken over. Even people who know nothing about graphic design know their Times New Roman from their Arial. Let's take a look at this design detail and all of the ways it's worked its way into our homes.
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Vintage bus and subway signs have been much sought-after for the past few years. The trend hit the tipping point when chain stores started to sell new fake ones, but I still love the graphics and would not mind having one in my home. Remember how cool they were in J. Lo and Michael Vartan's bungalow in Monster-in-Law? Oh admit it, you saw it. Just say you saw it on a plane.
| The typography on this modern shed recalls Robert Venturi's mad PoMo moves. |
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| I'm not sure what the original use of these large metal typographical plates are, does anyone have a good guess? Let me know in the comments section. |
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by decordemon
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| This "F" is from a T.G.I. Friday's sign. I'd say this room has at least 15 pieces of flair. |
by Cristi Holcombe
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This designer collected the letters from several sources such as Homegoods and put them all together to compose a typographical wall.
Side Note: She also constructed that headboard from some extra furniture packing material! It's a pallet.
Side Note: She also constructed that headboard from some extra furniture packing material! It's a pallet.
by flickr.com
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The Surf Lodge in Montauk makes a fun graphic out of something as simple as motel room numbers.
by Anthropologie
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I have a lot of fun imagining what the purpose of these numbered drawers could be. Underwear prioritization? Weekly outfit planning for a severe Type A personality? What do you think?
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Vintage accents like these numbered metal trunks are a good way to get the look. Keep your eyes open at flea markets and on Etsy, or get crafty with some stencils and spray paint.
by Susie Harris
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Here the vintage typewriter trend makes its way onto the wall.
| Sometimes a simple monogram in an unexpected typewriter font is a good way to incorporate this detail. |
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| I think I may have set a record for how many times I've used this image in an ideabook, but it never gets old to me. I love the thought of a therapy sign in the dining room. I guarantee these folks have never had a boring dinner party. And yes, I've probably said that before! |
by decordemon
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I've always meant to ask Brian Patrick Flynn (a.k.a. Decor Demon) what the SEVEN is all about. I hope it's more about a Prince song than that scary movie where Gwyneth's head winds up in a box.
(See the answer in the comments section!)
(See the answer in the comments section!)
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Using vintage signs is a great way to get this look. They serve as works of art.
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| I spied this in the workroom of a fabulously retro atomic ranch on a house tour in Atlanta. The owner is a graphic artist. |
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by Dreamy Whites
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| Dreamy Whites uses numbered votive holders as part of one of her many creative tablescapes. |
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So yes, this is that subway sign tipping point I was telling you about earlier. Whatever, they still look good!
by Design Public
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It's official: I'm declaring eye charts the new vintage subway signs. It brings me back to the time I tried to get my learner's permit, and the lady said, "Read the numbers off the first line," and I looked a sea of swimming figures and said, "Um, E?" And she said, "No hon, they're numbers." That was the day I found out I needed glasses. O.K., so maybe I don't want this pillow...
Ideabook updated on Dec. 31, 2010.
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even in tile
cje4, I'm definitely more into vintage signs than random letters, though I am a fan of found objects, so a bunch of them is kind of a neat thing to me. I'm also a bit of a font freak. I guess it's sort of like Alphabets cereal or something.