Menagerie

I must admit, I love animals. The living ones and the statuary versions. I'm not really talking taxidermy here as I don't love the formerly living stuffed versions of animals. I've been thinking about animal statues a lot lately especially the larger versions (not really the smaller ones like Foo dogs, Staffordshire dogs or the ubiquitous elephant garden seat), ever since I saw a pair of stone greyhounds in my local garden shop recently that resembled this one:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/24488391693967205/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="540" src="http://media-cache5.pinterest.com/upload/24488391693967205_suSmTtWV_c.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Finneman_the_Dog_Statue/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">homedecorators.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/myinteriorlife/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">My Interior Life</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Then, I immediately thought of all the dog statues I had seen scattered throughout my Pinterest boards. Not sure I love this stark white one, he may be too mod for me. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/24488391693962017/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="651" src="http://media-cache8.pinterest.com/upload/171559067024890929_tzukfLCZ_c.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.paloma81.blogspot.com/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">paloma81.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/myinteriorlife/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">My Interior Life</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I kind of like this guy hanging out in the stairwell rather unexpectedly on his leopard carpet next to his Louis Phillipe mirror - how dignified!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/24488391693925674/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="600" src="http://media-cache4.pinterest.com/upload/202380576974712594_Bhta2mIZ_c.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://cwbarchitects.com/project/brooklyn-heights-greek-revival/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">cwbarchitects.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/myinteriorlife/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">My Interior Life</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Barrie Benson injects some playfulness into this modern decor with a pair of cuties flanking the fireplace.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/24488391693962020/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="395" src="http://media-cache6.pinterest.com/upload/24488391693515050_3W7wcoXv_c.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.barriebenson.com/projects/residential/fashionplates" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">barriebenson.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/myinteriorlife/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">My Interior Life</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I love the whimsical nature of these hand-painted porcelain pooches, not to mention the amazing orange lacquered walls, decorative molding and ceiling! My friend <a href="http://completelytotallymadly.blogspot.com/">Nelya</a> noticed a theme in my latest pins and actually suggested this photo to me. Aren't blog friends the best?</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/24488391693963488/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="569" src="http://media-cache1.pinterest.com/upload/186617978279277604_E23GYL2r_c.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://theaestate.tumblr.com/post/19240009532/in-your-face-foyer-via" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">theaestate.tumblr.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/myinteriorlife/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">My Interior Life</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Next up, there are elephant garden seats in this room designed by Ruthie Sommers but also a dog statue that is rather unobtrusive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPx61pHa6cgHnfl40XA9aflyaPwHXSaLl29o8gZuj-l77c_W0n0VhMpNvSlliEemJEz8S-AwhAk1wxIUvf-QqrAASDlK7gif9NFDqXzVPdPlVpTzuEr2qqUXcvxjMNx97jX4vgknSYHYJh/s1600/Ruthie+Chapman+Sommers+Interior+Design-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPx61pHa6cgHnfl40XA9aflyaPwHXSaLl29o8gZuj-l77c_W0n0VhMpNvSlliEemJEz8S-AwhAk1wxIUvf-QqrAASDlK7gif9NFDqXzVPdPlVpTzuEr2qqUXcvxjMNx97jX4vgknSYHYJh/s400/Ruthie+Chapman+Sommers+Interior+Design-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do you see it? It's like a design game of Where's Waldo. I'll show a different angle so it's easier to find.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBezF9Ptr86_Ii0r_mEsIaFwGRmU2LcAFyE6W37THGr0rlGoQz28uf0j5Z4SEwU1La33xREIRaeoKl7urXTAGWShvUoBsnfTByW2rcdUpkU88f4HIVWKeaR3kn_owIP4LIWQIdkJmWXPb/s1600/Ruthie+Chapman+Sommers+Interior+Design.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBezF9Ptr86_Ii0r_mEsIaFwGRmU2LcAFyE6W37THGr0rlGoQz28uf0j5Z4SEwU1La33xREIRaeoKl7urXTAGWShvUoBsnfTByW2rcdUpkU88f4HIVWKeaR3kn_owIP4LIWQIdkJmWXPb/s640/Ruthie+Chapman+Sommers+Interior+Design.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">He's just hanging out on the hearth, cozying up to the fire.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And in another one of Ruthie's rooms . . . a poodle stands sentinel. Isn't this the sofa she used in Drew Barrymore's office that was featured in Domino? I'm thinking it is, or one very similar. Maybe this was from her showroom. Anyway, moving on . . . </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/24488391693961971/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://media-cache9.pinterest.com/upload/24488391693961971_8Gr53U8g_c.jpg" width="475" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2007/12/the-alchemist-ruthie-sommers.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">designsponge.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/myinteriorlife/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">My Interior Life</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, if dogs aren't your thing, there are always other large animal statues with which you can decorate your domicile. Here are some large brass deer that would make quite a statement. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/24488391693961952/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="397" src="http://media-cache3.pinterest.com/upload/24488391693961952_fJ8cc559_c.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.atlantishome.com/page/2/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">atlantishome.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/myinteriorlife/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">My Interior Life</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/24488391693961850/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache3.pinterest.com/upload/150307706282978595_QtM99ILn_c.jpg" width="604" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://shelterinteriordesign.blogspot.com/2008/11/oh-deer-holdiay-cheer.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">shelterinteriordesign.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/myinteriorlife/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">My Interior Life</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Or how about a monkey?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/24488391693961837/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="779" src="http://media-cache9.pinterest.com/upload/24488391693961837_cpGR49Tp_c.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.moderndeclaration.com/residentialprojects/stanhope/one" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">moderndeclaration.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/myinteriorlife/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">My Interior Life</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, where am I going with this? I really have no idea. I just wanted to show you what's going through my brain and that I might break down and get a big dog statue at some point. Or I may not. What are your thoughts on my animalia obsession (as Nelya diagnosed it)? Do you think they're cute or should I stick with my living, breathing animals (of which I have three)?</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Menagerie

I must admit, I love animals. The living ones and the statuary versions. I'm not really talking taxidermy here as I don't love the f...

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