WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND
Look at this:
That’s a 16px square favicon, and I do specifically desire the favicon. What I want is for it to be displayed only at its normal size.
HOW COULD IT BE DONE
The question is what to do about the layout. I suggest that in cases where an image’s dimensions are smaller than what the layout needs, the area the image rests in should receive an appropriate border, similar to what happens when an icon appears on an object with a cover:
REAL WORLD USE CASES
Avoids ugly upsizing.