Translation: the bird cage.
My most recent favorite home accessory! (Yes, I realize it changes almost weekly, but this is a good one.) I keep seeing antique-looking bird cages pop up everywhere from boutique windows to hotel lobbies, which wouldn't be so strange if they were pet stores or bird-friendly hotels, but that's never been the case. In these instances, they were simply used as a design element - and they worked.

Now, I'm not talking about the big, boxy bird cages that most people use to house their cracker-hungry Pollies.

Just...no.

But the delicate curves and designs of a vintage or throw-back bird cage is a fantastic accessory for nearly any room. You can find them in all different sizes and depending on the room you put them in they can be functional too.

No folles paux here.

For example - empty spot on your nightstand? Find a cute bird cage and use it to house a few mis-matched candles (following the advice of my mother who I've come to believe was a designer in her past life, I always do groupings of odd numbers).

Need a unique shelf-filler in your library or office? Grab a few of your favorite well-worn books to sit inside. Bird cages can also make attractive table centerpieces or can provide delicious soft light for your backyard dinner parties when you put tea lights inside and hang them from the trees.

Light done right.