I know, I know. Every single one of you told me to go BIG with the print concept. But I spent all day wrapping presents and had paper and scissors out and I thought – why not go ahead and cut out templates of all my little prints and paintings from wrapping paper and try the gallery wall idea?
Before: Don't look at me! I'm naked!
After: Hey look at me! Bling!
As Tim Gunn would say, “It’s a lot of look.” And it may be a little over the top but it was really fun to do! You know how fun it is to completely rearrange the furniture? This is almost as good – almost every wall in my house got rearranged yesterday.
Since I have an eternally growing collection (errrr, pile) of things that need to be framed I can always switch things out as they come online. Since etsy.com is an unrepentant enabler of all my framing fantasies – so I know this wall will continuously evolve.
The ‘kraft paper template model’ of hanging art (from Martha Stewart) is well know to us all.
Since I was wrapping presents and had all the gear out - I thought, "Why not?"
But of course I don't do anything without a plan, so I sat down at the computer first. Stan, meet plan.
I bought this laser level for another project but didn't use it then - I should've done so. It is very handy.
Templates all go up on the wall with bits of painter's tape.
Holy Martha Stewart - this worked perfectly! Thank you Martha!!! P.S. If you remove the paper & painter's tape carefully, you can save the templates for next time.
The after, again. Fun and free project.
And since I spent zero money - I went to Whole Foods and picked up one of these for a treat.
So what do you think? Too much of a good thing? Let me know!
Welcome to the somewhat decorative blog! It's all about cooking, gardening, design and DIY in, out and around our 150+ year old cottage in New Orleans. Since the house always has something going on with it (or falling off of it) I'm blessed with a never-ending supply of Web content to share. Have fun!
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
My darling, it’s GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS! I need you to come and align my wall of shame more precisely!
I love it! It looks amazing! Trying to do something similar in my bathroom just having a hard time actually finding the art!
Bravo!
i think it looks fantastic!
I love a gallery wall, and I think yours looks fabulous! Really, it looks great.
It looks fabulous!
But I am more impressed wit the prep work!!!!
I do everything by eye, and my husband would love to do it your way!
xo xo
I think it’s great – a visual feast. You must be happy that you finally got to hang a lot of your smaller pieces.
it looks great, but that level tool! i need that!!
I love it, but my motto tends to be “More is More”. I particularly like the nude. Great colors!
Oh you are so naughty & disobedient! Go stand in the corner immediately & think about what you have done. OK you can come out now ‘cos actually you did GOOD!!! Talk about attention to detail – if I suggested the template thing to MOTH, he’d be off to see the Divorce Lawyer in record time!
Millie ^_^
Who told you not to do it?! Don’t you love proving people wrong!! Looks amazing!! I’m new to your blog and I love it! I love the paint color in this posting too!
Wow — I think it looks great and I’m so impressed with your level of planning. I did the same thing recently in my little dining nook and it probably took me twice as long arranging by eye.
Nice!
I’ve been thinking of doing something similar. I just need more art.
What I like most about yours is the variety.
I love everything about this! And I don’t think it’s too many pieces at all. Plus, Whole Foods for flowers is the best. They are so completely reasonably priced. Excellent!
And thanks for commenting on my blog.
wow, i REALLY like how this turned out. i love the pieces that you chose to frame A LOT, and it has a wonderful balance about it. very nice!
kelly
It is a lot of look, but I love it! Good thing you didn’t listen to us and followed your instincts. I like the idea that it can change and evolve over time, too. Beautiful!
Love how this looks – collected and well thought out.
Great tutorial! I have been meaning to hang some photos but I’m scared!! this was a great idea and you explained it really well.
BTW, I’m new to your blog, nice to meet you!
Wow! You did a great job.
Very impressive. Thank you for showing us all of the steps you took to create such a beautiful display.
xo
Brooke
It looks great and you obviously put a lot of thought into how to display your pics. Love it.
I’m thinking you’re hired and need to come do this at my apt! What did you use to make your plan?
We were all wrong! It looks great!
That looks so great!! And such an easy way to make sure it looks perfect!
Oh very impressive. Just shows, never take advice and do it your own way. That computer template, so clever. Looks brilliant, great set out and the different frames really make it. xo
Hi there! I think your wall looks perfect. I just may try your idea with the paper on my next adventure. Thanks for sharing~
Hey…I LOVE it. It has personality. And I spy with my little eye that you even moved things around since the original template!
Beautiful…and you made it look like a piece of cake!
Ah! I never would have thought to use paper as a template. Ever. So glad I read this! I always wondered how people got their groupings of pics to look so nice…
Wow – that looks fabulous !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love it!!!
and thank you so much for the Hommies!!!! yeah!!!!
Joni
Genius! Love the use of the wrapping paper to create the different size templates. So clever. Love the laser level tool, need that!
Fun and informative post.
Shirley Bovshow
Garden World Report Show
It looks great! I’m definitely going to have to invest in one of those levels …
All of a sudden everyone was over gallery walls, and I think you’ve proved everyone wrong.
I’m also relieved to know I’m not the only one with a “to be framed” pile.
That looks fantastic! I always say yes to gallery walls, especially when they turn out this good. I’ve been wanting to do this forever, but am afraid to knock that first nail in. Excellent tutorial!
Wow. I think it looks really great. And I can’t believe you actually measured and leveled and taped up paper. I am so lazy, I would have just nailed it all up (and regretted it, certainly). Nicely done.
I love it!!
beautiful! i am glad you did what some silly people told you not to because it is perfect! great job!
This looks fantastic. I don’t think it’s overdone at all.
And your photos provide a great tutorial. Thanks so much for posting this!
yeah! love it! I was secretly hoping for the gallery wall. I like the “big” idea, but I feel like you’ll keep this around longer.
that fortune!! HA!!
The arrangement looks great and very opulent. Everything works so well together and is very interesting to the eye. Well done!
Love it. Blessings!
We all love it – glad you went ahead anyway. And since I’m thinking I really need to find the courage to try something similar, it was great to have a reminder of how awesome this can look.
Happy New Year!
just looked at this again – your baseboard are fabulous – they are so wide, just beautiful!!!!!
Joni
I love it! -susan
This looks amazing! I wish I had seen it before posting my favorites of 2009, this post would have been in there.
OK, now that I know how to do it – how to collect the items that you are going to hang? You have a great collection of eclectic items. Had you been collecting them for long?
Such perfection for hanging pictures, but it looks all beautiful in the end. No more naked wall, yeah! Just clicked over hear from another blog. Haven’t read much yet, but I like what I see so far.
Great look. What is the gray color you have on that wall? Love it. Thanks!
Hi there – the wall color was from the Martha Stewart/Sherwin Williams line from about three years ago. It’s called “Pheasant” and is a gray with a little green undertone to it.
I think Martha’s new line is available from Home Depot now if you want to check it out.