Decorating Inspiration from a Completely Accidental Observation

I just love to look in other people's windows.

I tell myself it's not creepy since I'm not trying to see any people. In fact, I get annoyed if the people inside are blocking my view. I just want to see their homes and how they've decorated. I'm always looking for new ideas.

I'd never trespass, and I certainly don't use binoculars. Okay, I might do the latter if I had some. Mostly, I just walk or drive past, slowly. I can't tell you how many wrecks I've nearly had while driving past houses whose occupants were kind enough to leave the curtains open after dark.

Usually, I don't bother during the day. You can't see much. But, I accidentally hit pay dirt this morning.

I was on my way home from an early morning coffee run; I'm nearly as obsessed by Circle K coffee as I am with looking in windows. Anyway, I drove past a typical Midtown Memphis apartment building -- multi-storied and u-shaped, with sunrooms jutting out into a central courtyard.

One of the sunrooms didn't have any window coverings. At one of the windows, facing the street, stood a bald, naked female mannequin. It was the coolest thing. I circled the block to be sure, knowing I'd be very disappointed if it'd only been an immodest early riser. Nope. It really was a mannequin.

I am going to steal this idea.

I didn't get a photo. Knocking on the door unannounced and demanding entry to photograph what I saw while peeping just seemed sort of tacky, especially since the local winos tend to dress better than I do at that hour of the morning. I like to think of it as being haggle-ready, not as poor grooming before noon. I briefly considered offering my coffee in exchange for the privilege, but decided I wanted the coffee more than the photo.

I've been on the lookout for individual body parts for a couple of years -- hands and torsos -- for a project. I haven't had much luck. Memphis has far more Elvis memorabilia and imitation Syroco for sale than mannequin parts. I'll have to redouble my efforts, probably search online, because now I must have a whole one. Body parts are no longer enough to satisfy me.

I've been trying to decide where to put it. It'll be in a window, because I loved that. I'm not worried about it looking like the other place. For one thing, I think I'll put clothes on mine. What a great excuse to buy some glamorous vintage gown, one with a waist so small it wouldn't even fit the cat. For another, unlike that apartment, I do have window treatments. I'm paranoid about people looking in after dark.

As I was contemplating all this, I remembered that mannequins are posable. Why couldn't she stand at the bedroom window, the single one, with her arm extended and her hand holding back one of the drapery panels during the day? Sort of a life-sized tieback? I'll have to remind myself not to scream until I get used to her, of course.  I tend to wake several times during the night.

That's the thing about borrowing the decorating ideas you see. They evolve. It's just inspiration. By the time you adapt those ideas to your home -- by choice, availability, and necessity -- you have a completely different look anyway.