Finally, I have my gallery wall up!
This has been a long process … starting back at the beginning of the year when I removed the few framed photos in my hallway.
I had grand plans to repaint my entire house whilst my Hubby took the kids away on holiday. That was in January and we were graced with three of the hottest days ever. Needless to say, I had bitten off more than I could chew (as always) and even without those hot days, I never would have got it all done.
So the hallway sat with just one coat of paint for all this time. When Hubby took another holiday with the kidlets (yes I know I am sooooo lucky to have such a great husband and no, it normally doesn’t happen more than once in a year) I finally got that much needed second coat done. I will not have my kidlets breathing in the paint fumes nor running their grubby hands along freshly ( not quite cured) paint, hence waiting until they are out of the house!
The plan for a gallery wall was devised after seeing some great walls on pinterest. I love the eclectic look, where it seems each piece has been added over time and a mix of shapes and sizes.
I shopped my own house first. Then I scoured thrift shops and garage sales (both online and on foot) for cheap, interesting frames. By interesting, I mean ones with a little detail or of a shape other than rectangle.
It didn’t matter what colour they were, nothing a little paint couldn’t fix, so out with the spray (white) and my trusty acrylic paint in my favourite shade of blue. I wanted a blend of frames with a little ‘pop’ of colour.
Then they sat in a box for some time, waiting for that second coat of paint in the hallway.
Once ready, I took measurement of the length of the wall and laid out a couple of pieces of wrapping paper to the size of the space.
Then it was time to play! Laying down and moving around all the pieces, I came upon a ‘design’ I was happy with.
Seeking a second opinion, I texted my sister a photo – her reply ‘is that for me?’ hmmm, upcoming birthday and all, knowing my gift would be handmade … Oops! She was just stirring, but there are now plans to do one at her house now too!
With my ‘design’ set, I grabbed each piece individually and hung it up on the wall. The only measuring at this stage was from cornice to top of each frame along the top, the rest was eyeballed. There is something so free-ing (to the perfectionist in me) to just ‘wing’ it!
The frames are hung up with a mix of frame attachments on nails or picture hooks and command strips depending on the back of the frame, hardware it came with and what I had on hand. The letters are hung with command strips. My little secret to keep them all straight in a busy hallway? Blu-tac on each bottom corner, ssshh don’t tell anyone!
Grabbing them all out, I discovered one glass pane had broken. But I think that may be a blessing in disguise, I have an idea for that one and it should add a point of interest to the wall.
Now, it’s just a matter of filling the frames. I don’t want just photos … There will be quite a mix of other mediums and a chance to showcase some keepsakes that currently sit hidden in boxes … Stay tuned! And if you don’t see at least one post soon, feel free to give me a swift kick up the behind to ‘get on with it’ for the procrastinator in me may have moved on to yet another project, leaving yet another half finished ….
