We've all been there: You see something irresistible in a magazine or a shop. You think it's clever. You bring it home, put in your living room, and admire it. Then, a year or two later, you start seeing it everywhere, from TV shows to shop windows—and the former object of your obsession becomes an eyesore. At this point, you’re sure that it is not, nor has it ever been, clever. Here are a few objects that, in my opinion, have jumped the shark:
The Antler: I fell hard for this one. It is natural, sculptural, and evocative of things alpine or Adirondack, both of which are near and dear to my heart. I guess I wasn’t the only one to have such an emotional response, though, because in a few short years it was everywhere: Mixed with everything from Hollywood Regency to '70s glam, the antler had strayed far from home. When I saw the resin reproduction at Restoration Hardware, I knew we had reached saturation point. Time for mine to go.
The Black Chandelier: It’s hard not to like a chandelier. It gives off sparkling light and creates a focal point in a room. The color black gave an edge to an otherwise staid piece. It said to the world, “I am not your grandmother’s chandelier.” Soon enough it was a standard fixture in nightclubs and boutique hotels. At this point, unless you want your home to feel like either of those places, it’s best skipped.
The Skull: When the skull started becoming popular, it gave anything it was plastered on street cred…until it didn’t. I proudly wore an army jacket from Libertine, which was bedazzled with a skull made of Swarovski crystals; no piece of clothing I have ever worn elicited more comments. Then, in a 2007 exhibition, Damien Hirst displayed a platinum skull adorned with over 1,100 carats of diamonds (about $23 million worth, at today’s rate). And, with that, the formerly badass skull went rogue, proliferating on ribbon belts, tennis shirts, and kids' clothing. At this point, it might as well be a whale or an anchor.
The Large, Leaning Mirror: I am all for a large mirror and all it can do for a space, but having it angle upwards defeats the purpose, not to mention that it may or may not give you seven years of bad luck if it falls and breaks—which is a very real possibility if it’s not leaning at the correct angle. If you fell for this trend, I have three words of advice: Hang it up.
The Sequined Pillow: I never fell for this largely because I don’t have a pressing need for something sparkly in a room. I understand, however, that many people do. But before inviting this look into your room, consider the comfort factor: Putting sequins on a pillow is like putting rocks in your bed.
(Skull photo by AFP/Getty Images)