Watch The Birdie

I've been amassing a veritable collection of birds used in decor for some time now, which this week inspired me to make my own display. In auction I came across two rather elderly game birds, with a bonus dead bunny. As with most vintage taxidermy, the casing and 'habitat' effects - in this case a motley bunch of dead fern - was scruffy and shabby. I wondered what else I could do with the ensemble to spruce it up, and hit upon removing the glued down fern and replacing it with pearl spar gravel. Instant improvement. But what it really was crying out for (to me, probably not to anyone else) was a mass of bright, white fairy lights to uplight from below, as the case lid pretty much cancelled out any light source from the exterior and was keeping the whole thing gloomy and dark. One visit to Peter Jones later (the only place among countless others tried who had a stock of basic, white LEDs with clear wiring) and my birdies looked fairytale instead of foul. Or fowl. Smartened up with redone case and placed whimsically beneath my other auction gem, a Stubbs print of hunting dogs, they glow. They are very happy! I call it "Keep digging. They're down there."

And so on to my inspirations, and hail to the creative souls not afraid to toss in the odd bird or two and shamelessly manipulate them should the occasion warrant. If you don't have an actual bird, you can certainly have a flight of fancy like this:

 Or indulge in some wallpaper, as here at Friendly Place:

 I love these Ibride Design trays:

Or a wall of prints perfectly complementing this country dining room:

At Rosy, a row of Budgies pick up the shots of color that brighten up the kitchen:

Or grab a pot of paint and make your own - a sinister but stylish raven at De Beauvoir:

However, if you can get a hold of the real thing, they don't half add to a room. Here at Dacha this bird IS the decor:

Or throw caution to the wind and go for it. Kontiki is a bit notorious for doing just that, and I like it:

Go large. Antique taxidermy at its finest:

This ostrich was discovered in a Paris apartment that had lain abandoned for over 70 years.

 I think the goose has a crown on. Yes!

Duck Cool:

Go REALLY large. Triple Ducks in a Dutch pool:

And the piece de resistance...a Lalanne designed canopy bed. Stupendous!