Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Guest Picks: Animal Accents for Lively Decor
Houzz contributor, design blogger, photographer and editor of http://www.TheSwelleLife.com
Houzz contributor, design blogger, photographer and editor of http://www.TheSwelleLife.com... More »
One day I was sitting in my living room looking around at the decor that I've built up since it was just an empty box three years ago. I'm happy with what I've created: a warm space with everything I love in color, texture and style that energizes me whenever I enter. Luckily my family feels the same!
However, I realized that it was still missing something: a bit of life, possibly humor, the kind that only an animal friend can bring. Not having a four-legged pet in the house, I felt I needed something with a face.
This ideabook is all about animal-themed products that you can use to add some life and warmth to your space in either little doses or full on for big bite. — Denise from The Swelle Life
However, I realized that it was still missing something: a bit of life, possibly humor, the kind that only an animal friend can bring. Not having a four-legged pet in the house, I felt I needed something with a face.
This ideabook is all about animal-themed products that you can use to add some life and warmth to your space in either little doses or full on for big bite. — Denise from The Swelle Life
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This grasshopper sculpture embodies all kinds of wonderful things: design, style, craftsmanship, humor and color. Plus, it's made completely out of recycled moped, bicycle and car parts. It's a substantial piece, so it's a much more dominant presence in your home than a little critter sitting atop your living room side table.
I love the retro styling of the wings that come straight from the moped's chain guard, complete with the brand name painted in gold. It has all the original marks and scratches for genuine vintage character.
I love the retro styling of the wings that come straight from the moped's chain guard, complete with the brand name painted in gold. It has all the original marks and scratches for genuine vintage character.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I love that this cheery yellow rooster is not merely a novelty item that looks cute in the kitchen; it's a culinary-grade ceramic roasting dish that delivers super juicy chicken. I have one, and my chicken has never been better. It will accommodate an extra large bird, and when it's not in use, it makes a nice farm companion on the kitchen shelf.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I can't think of a better way to make your house guests stop in their tracks when you show them to their room! This collection of printed duvet and pillow sets for animal lovers is a great way to bring the wild beasts indoors while keeping your sheets clean.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
There's something exotic and elegant about this hand-carved zebra mask, and I could see it in all kinds of homes. Eclectic decor just begs for a piece like it, though I think this striped friend would make the most impact in a minimal, white room to liven up all those straight, clean lines as he watches from the wall.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Although the doors in my house do not tend to slam shut, I am very tempted to buy one of these little guys simply to have a canine companion in the living room. He's stylish in his striped ticking and black collar, and his weighted body will keep him upright wherever you place him.
by Wallpaperking
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I love a print that reveals a surprise upon closer inspection. From a distance this wallpaper appears to be a non-objective, blue and gray, graphic pattern; but it is actually mirror images of zebras. It's a great design for a child's room or a secondary room. It's not a babyish animal print, so it could endure into the teen years, and it's sophisticated enough for an adult room that could use a playful presence, such as a home office.
by Plow & Hearth
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Every home should have one piece that elicits a chuckle, and this oversize froggie table would surely do it for me. You can place your cute, servile friend to the side of your chair or bench for just a touch of quirk, or put him out front to be the fun centerpiece of your outdoor space.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A gadget, model, curio and luxury item all in one, this dragonfly is altogether a really cool object to display in your house. It not only looks fantastic, but also comes "alive"; when the tail is turned, its delicate wings flutter. If I were lucky enough to own this opulent creature, I would set it against cool blues to simulate a watery abode.
by artful home
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I know I'd much rather be greeted by a giraffe than a hook when I hang up my coat. These pewter castings of mom and baby look to have some personality in their faces, and by mixing the sizes you could create an interesting, asymmetrical arrangement. For families, a few in large followed by the little ones would be adorable.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
If I were about to knock on your door and was welcomed by this shiny little piggy, I'd fall in love with you — or at least your house. A chunky piece cast in heavy, etched brass, this character has an illustrative style that adds to its charm. Details such as these present an opportunity to say something about who you are, so take advantage!
by Dutch by Design
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
How gorgeous would these floaty, bright butterflies look on a clean, white kitchen wall? They're just what I'd like to see first thing in the morning. You start with the time piece and stick the butterflies on the wall yourself, so the color arrangement is up to you.
by Generate Design
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A play on a "woofer," this set of speakers is encased within a pair of dogs, albeit headless ones. They're kind of compelling and disturbing all at once! I couldn't see these in my home (they would probably give my daughter nightmares), but they could bring some life to a minimalist room and would work best accompanied by a sense of humor.
by The Chess House
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Every stuffy office or library could use some monkey friends looking on to keep things from getting too serious. This chess set may be good for some fun, but it's also well crafted. The board is sycamore and walnut and finished with inlaid mosaic borders.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I like this table with bite. It's so cool, and it just may be menacing enough to keep your family from cluttering it up. Fabricated in steel and painted with powder coating, it can be customized in your choice of color.
by MollaSpace
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This would be the chair left empty in a room full of people standing, but it's OK to sit on this handsome black pony. A bit of sculpture and a bit of a place for repose, this piece is sleek enough to fit in a hallway or a tight corner. Its lovely legs remind me of a table, and I'll bet you could place a serving tray atop the cushion and make it an unusually stylish presentation for drinks or hors d'oeuvres at a party.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
If I had any single guy friends left, I'd suggest he buy this baby deer cushion and have it peek out from behind a more masculine one so that his date would catch a glimpse of it. It's adorable and the perfect complement to a room that could use some warmth, like a stark, minimal one or one with exposed brick or concrete floors.
|
by Mirrormaniac
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| If you're bored of round and rectangular mirrors, elephant-shaped ones should shake things up. This unusually shaped mirror comes in a variety of sizes, so you can create your own elephant walk on the wall. It's perfect for the hallway outside of a child's bedroom or as a memento of your trip to India or Africa. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I'm not quite sure why cuckoo clocks have freaked me out since I was a child, but I love this modern interpretation in wood and metal. It appears to be a picture until the clock strikes the hour and the little yellow birdie in the window serenades you (via digital recordings of real birds). A night sensor keeps the birdie quiet so that you're not disturbed by your little friend in the wall while you're sleeping.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I like the vintage look of these porcelain plates. They remind me of the illustrations from old children's story books, yet there is something fresh about their simple design and outlined rims. The blue on white is reminiscent of Delftware, which is always a good thing. I would stack the plates and leave them out to be seen on the sideboard, changing up the top plate every few days.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Being a dog person is not stopping me from being charmed by the tiny pewter cat resting on the edge of this hand-crafted bowl. The spoon's handle is fashioned into an owl, bringing the two characters together from the Edward Lear poem.
Next: Add an Animal Statue
Next: Add an Animal Statue
People who liked these photos also liked:
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
