When I saw this swan furniture posted at Girl World Decor (via Yuan Tai Furniture), I couldn’t believe my eyes. Swans. On sofas. Now there’s a terrifying combination you don’t see very often.
I had a bad experience with swans once. I was visiting the Miami University campus with my friend Beth, and she was showing me around. There was this picturesque little chapel with a pond and some lovely white swans swimming around in it. Beth said, “Hey, why don’t you stand over there and I’ll take your picture with them?”
Sure, why not?
Next thing I knew–as I stood there grinning for the camera–four big swans were running towards me, honking loudly. They surrounded me and tried to knock me over with their flapping wings. You’d be surprised how big and strong those things are when you’re getting hit by them!
They actually pulled my pants down, which was humiliating enough. I then tripped over them and fell as I tried to run away.
I am not making this up. If we had gotten it on video, it would’ve been a big hit on YouTube.
I’ll never forget the look on Beth’s face as she stood there, jaw dropped, too stunned to do anything to help. After all I went through, she didn’t even get the picture!
We’ve laughed a lot about The Swan Incident over the years, but lemme tell ya–I don’t go anywhere near those scary white beasts any more. And my living room is definitely off limits.
And the Treasure Hunt Winner Is…
Thanks to everyone who participated in my Treasure Hunt last week. I had fun and hope you did, too! Congrats to the winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Card, Julie Harrison!
Couldn’t find the photos? The first one was from a fun post that Paula Grace did on her blog about the Gossip Girl sets (love that show!):
The second was from a great Lookiloos post about the Rockridge Kitchen Tour:
Click the pics to see the posts they came from and learn more about them!
{ 41 comments }
OMG, I am so sorry to laugh at you (with you! with you!), but that is a hilarious!!!
The living room swans are hideous. They would probably scare the crud out of my dog….
.-= Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..You’ve Got Mail =-.
I have to confess, I was laughing at you too. Sorry! It was just so funny. Can’t STAND the swan furniture. Ugh…
.-= pk´s last blog ..Kitchen Ideas and Design Tips =-.
Julia,
I an LOL over that story…too funny.
Blessings…
.-= Renae Moore´s last blog ..Friday Flowers =-.
LOL–funny story!
That furniture is some kind o’ tacky! Words fail me…
Yes, those swans can be nasty. They thought you were coming after their young, with their defense mechanism….
And the furniture is yuk!, with a capital YYYYYY!
Asian for sure!
.-= Suzy´s last blog ..Graham Crackers..Really?? =-.
HO-LY CRAP! LOL!!! OMG!!! I got chased around a duck pond holding a bag of bread when I was little by some geese…I’m not fond of birds in general either, so I’m not LOVING this fine furniture. Who the heck would buy this? Good Lord….
That is some of the ugliest furniture I have ever seen!! Seriously…swans!!
LeAnn:)
.-= LeAnn´s last blog ..Modern farmhouse style….. =-.
I’m CRACKING up about your swan story because I was once chased off a golf course by some nasty birds! Why are they so angry? Ha!!!
.-= the BLAH BLAH BLAHger´s last blog ..i Heart Faces Challenge – CONTEMPLATIVE ENTRY =-.
Ha! Funny story!! (sorry) I’ve had bad experiences with mean geese and ducks, but not swans. They’re a lot bigger so I can imagine it was scary!!
Terrible, bad furniture. Those sofas look like something out of a Princess Barbie fairy tale video… the swans come to life, flap their wings and carry Barbie and her friends off to picnic with handsome princes.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Speaking of tranquility. . . =-.
Oh my goodness. Who knew swans could get so nasty!!? That furniture is YUCKY! But obviously there’s someone out there that likes giant birds on their sofa.
.-= beth´s last blog ..Pinata Whacking Fun on Emma’s Birthday =-.
You have cracked me up! That is crazy! What a memory…but, I’m sorry about your bad experience. I bet you’ve had swan nightmares.
Kim
.-= Kim @ Everything Etsy´s last blog ..Possible Bag Giveaway – Bagel Creations =-.
Swans are mean.. you are lucky you got away alive.
.-= Jen R´s last blog ..Inspire me Monday.. Interview with Melaine of My Sweet Savannah =-.
Funny, funny swan story, those nasty little buggers. I could maybe stand just the little end table up in the back but not 14 more ugly swans in one room!!!!! That’s ridiculous and disturbing.
I didnt even see the swans at first. Then, WOW, there really are swans!
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..Mini blinds to Roman Shades Posh Style! =-.
My first thought on seeing those sofas? WHY!!? my second? WHO?!!
My son called the spoiled ducks at our nearest pond The Killer Ducks because they’d chase us and menace us till we dropped the bag of bread. He still loved going though; he said they weren’t like boring birds. Lord help me when he’s a teenager…
.-= janice´s last blog ..The House of the Thousand Horrormoans =-.
Yikes! Those sofas are TOO much. I’d stay far away from them….like they’re down here on Earth and I’ll be on the Moon. LOL!
.-= Astrid´s last blog ..Alaska Trip: Homer =-.
Oh my , one second while I wipe the tears away! I am horrified for you-that is a nightmarish experience! I’ve heard Canadian geese being aggresive but never a swan. Thanks for the heads up, never again will I allow the little ones to feed them.
The swans on the furniture well I really don’t think there is more to say than what’s has already been said. Keep away from swans especially in the house!
.-= charlie´s last blog ..Marimekko Interiors =-.
I am a graduate of Miami University and I know the exact location you are speaking of… I think it made me laugh even harder, totally being able to picture the swans that were after you!
Glad you made it out of there, and hope you enjoyed the rest of your swan-free campus visit. Ha!
You made me spew a mouth full of coffee across the room. I wasn’t expecting that hilarious story. Cracked me up! The swan furniture is hideous. My goodness…
Have a great day!
Belle
.-= Belle´s last blog ..And So It Begins… =-.
LOL funny funny story! Someone needs to tell Bjork to get out of the furniture design biz. Miami is my Alma Mater too. Like Stacey, I know the local. I’ve had run ins with geese and I’ve heard swans can be nasty, despite their beauty. Looking at that room was probably enough to cause you Post Tramatic Stress. Can you imagine living in it? OY!
Julia I just laughed out loud! That is so unfortunate but SO hilarious.
Now that’s a little too gaudy for me (and for most living, breathing human beans!) – maybe just the coffee table in an outdoor pavillion next to the pond on my estate in the country . . . I can dream, can’t I? LOL! I have heard that swans are very nasty creatures.
.-= SueLovesCherries´s last blog ..THE YOUTH’S COMPANION, 1905 =-.
That is hilarious. I hate to be insensitive, but I wish she’d gotten a picture. That would have been priceless.
.-= foobella´s last blog ..Feels good to be creative. =-.
That is absolutely horrible but I couldn’t help seeing it happen in my mind and laughing out loud. That is definitely a moment you won’t forget. Swans must be pretty territorial. I never knew.
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..Almost There =-.
We had a similar run in with some geese in a pond in Houston. My son was 2+ years old and did not heed my advice not to chase the geese if he didn’t have any bread to offer them. I looked down to hand him some bread, but he took off. Next thing I knew, a goose had grabbed a hunk of his leg and they were tumbling down the hill. It was terrible, but SO funny after the fact. Even funnier was listening to him tell the story later in his sweet little voice.
.-= Nikki´s last blog ..Labor Day in Big Canoe with the YaYas – Boat Ride =-.
Did you see “Analyze This” with Billy Crystal & Robert Deniro? That furniture reminds me of when Billy Crystal sees the fountain in his front yard and says to check with the Vatican to see if they’re missing anything.
My cats would have a field day with those swans, sharpening claws everywhere just to make a point:)
.-= Mary Beth (Cats, Books, Life is Good)´s last blog ..BLINDSIDED =-.
Good one Julia! Great post! Love the “human interest” side of the story!
.-= Cathy Rust´s last blog ..A visit to MADE Design — Retailer of Canadian Artisan Furniture and Decor =-.
That living room furniture…….the ultimate in bad taste!!!! Those swans are not even in a comfortable looking pose. Swans belong in nature (in the garden). They should not be used on sofas.
I feel your pain! This is the furniture of my nightmares, too. I was bitten by a swan as a child. I was 6 years old and tossing bread to ducks in a public park in Austria. A swan joined the feeding frenzy and tried to take the bread directly from my hands. The swan gripped my finger so tight in its beak that my father had to hit the bird over the head with an umbrella multiple times to make it let go of me. Swans are horrible, nasty creatures.
Confessions of a Semi Slacker Mom mentioned Guiding Light’s Reva’s white beach house in her blog yesterday. Would love to see a photo or two of it. Enjoy your blogs everyday. Thanks!
Oh my! I didn’t know swans could be so violent! I never had a bad experience with one but never got that close to one. I’ve admired them from afar because they are beautiful, delicate creatures.
However, that said, I’m not wild about that furniture.
I can understand how someone who loves the beauty and coloring of swans would want to incorporate them into a room but I would find another way … maybe a pretty framed painting of a lake with swans would satisfy that urge.
Swans on a sofa….this screams…..”We just moved over here from Italy”……and it’s okay for me to say that…I’m Italian!!
.-= Sue´s last blog ..NOT JUST A BARGAIN……..A Real Steal… =-.
Love the way swans look…gliding in the lake…not near me! On the furniture, really tacky! Not to mention how many accidents would occur because of them. Tripping, falling, impaling, you can tell I have a house full of teenagers.
.-= black eyed susans kitchen´s last blog ..RAINY DAYS AND YARD SALES =-.
Sorry but that really is the funniest story and that is the awfullest picture of the world’s ugliest furniture. Terrific combination!
.-= Why S?´s last blog ..We Got Picked! =-.
There are just so many things wrong with that room!!
Julia! This is so funny. You probably were near their eggs…they can be brutal! But the pie tcture of you running and probably screaming is visually very funny!
Sorry you were traumatized!
Debbie (smiling)
.-= Debbie´s last blog ..Living room change… =-.
I used to take my daughter to the park to feed the ducks when she was little. If the swans were about we wouldn’t even get out the car. I’ve seen them chase too many people to try and take them on! I’ve seen big, hulking men flee from their wrath!
As to the furniture……… shudder……….. and the dusting of all those little nooks and crannies…………just – eugh!
That’s priceless, I’m so sorry, but you gave all of us such a good laugh with that.
Yes, swans are powerful and very effective when angry. I kind of think it’s good they only got your pants…
Swans are really mean Julia. I’d stay away from them and stay away from putting them on my couch too.
.-= Puna´s last blog ..September 17, play =-.
thanks for the mention.
luv ur blog.
.-= girl ´s last blog ..my favorite and my best is now on the blog list =-.
Swan furniture makes me think of this bed I saw at Maymont Mansion in Richmond, VA – I thought you might enjoy a “gander” (sorry about that pun): photo courtesy of Easy and Elegant Life, and more pictures in the full post.
.-= Kalleigh Hathaway´s last blog ..calm and clarity =-.
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