Every decorated room should have several key elements. These key elements include color, style, comfort, and something unexpected. Having an unexpected item in your room’s décor is what makes the room truly personal. Unexpected items reveal something about the personality and inner psyche of the homeowner.

So what qualifies as something unexpected? It can be anything that one would not normally expect to be in room, but somehow still fits. It would catch the visitor’s eye, and possibly elicit a comment, but never turn them off. It would also fit into the overall design style of the home. An unexpected, but still good-taste-worthy item might be a mannequin sitting on a ledge in a loft apartment. It can be industrial items transformed to fit residential use. It can also be a traditional piece of wall décor that represents an item you would not expect on a wall.

One item that you would only expect to see in the wall of a loft or modern home is a bicycle. However, if you are the traditional type with an affinity for bicycling, you could consider buying an item like the Poznan Bicycle Metal Wall Hanging. This metal wall art piece takes an otherwise industrial item and recreates it into a classic wall piece. With dimensions of 39.5” wide and 34” high, it is the perfect size to fit on the wall above your favorite chair or your in your foyer. If you want to use the Poznan Bicycle Metal Wall Hanging on a feature wall, consider purchasing two or three and installing them in a straight line on the wall. Now that would be unexpected!

• November 2007