For those of you who own your home, live in a more suburban area, or are always looking for new ways to one-up the neighbors, mailboxes can be a particular source of frustration.
Like ceiling fans, mailboxes are an under-served market in this ever-expanding design world. It's confusing as to why there is such a limited selection, because a mailbox is one of the most public display of one's personal taste. A carefully chosen mailbox can turn a non-descript home in to a landmark.
For example, on a former work commute, I'd pass a property that had a horse-shaped mailbox blazenly jutting in to the street. The horse faced the home, with its rear end pointing towards the street, forcing the mail carrier to place one's junk mail, catalogues and bills, right in to the rear end. The memory of this mailbox is burned in to my consciousness.
I'm not advising anyone to buy a horse-shaped mailbox (unless that's an interest of your own), but I do think we should all pay more attention to the objects attached to our homes.
Above, is a great way to make a tasteful personal statement with a mailbox. It's the No. 10 Letterbox, available at the AIA Bookstore (117 S. 17th); if you're an online shopper, select "gifts" then look under "home accents." I'm so far divorced from the mailbox economy that I'm not sure if $100 is pricey or not. But considering that a mailbox is a year-round design statement that's semi-permanently attached to one's home, then I advocate spending a bit more for something memorable.
