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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Eclectic Picture Wall--My Second House Project

I was going to call this my first project, but I guess I have to let my painted laminate countertops be the first project. I feel like it was first, because I started planning for it the minute our offer was accepted.

I wanted to do something really striking on entering the house. I had this idea to do a lot of different pictures on a wall with a monogram in the middle. I actually started gathering and painting frames weeks ago, and the quilling monogram was the last piece of it.. I didn't pay more than a dollar for any frame, except the middle one, which was $5. I did probably go through two or three cans of spray paint. I actually have a cool idea for how to dress up some of the plainer frames, but that is going to wait for later. Right now, I'm loving it.

I totally splurged on those new Command strips, the picture hanging ones which are sort of velcro-ish and you can take the pictures on and off. I'm so glad I did, although it was probably as much as the frames, because they are all hanging pretty straight, will likely remain so, they are easy to get on and off and I don't worry about the kids knocking them off the wall, AND they were a lot easier to put up than putting nails everywhere.

I knew for a while that I wanted to do teals in the living room. The kitchen is going to have some in it too, since the spaces need to relate to each other. One thing I really love about this house is that the kitchen feels integrated into the living space, but it's not just floating around. It has a defined area too.

Anyway, I wanted to paint the wall behind the pictures teal. It was a bit of a challenge to figure out how to do this, with the way the stairs are set up, with the railing on one side and the half wall on the other, but I finally decided to just paint the long rectangle. I think it works pretty well.

One of the hardest parts was narrowing down the pictures. I think I had 72 in a folder once I finished going through all the pictures since we were married. These are really some of my very favorites.

Also, dang, my kids are CUTE!

So, here's the before:

And the after:
That light fixture has got to go! It's ugly and it doesn't even work.

Oh, and if you're interested, here are the photos I choose.



Linking Up Here:



Blue Cricket

Me and My Bucket

Photobucket

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15 comments:

  1. What a great bunch of photos!

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  2. That is so cool!! So great that you are having so much fun with all of this!! I love the pics.. and the one with the snow.. nice capture!!!!

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  3. Sandra10:43 AM

    What a fabulous "first" project for your new home. Love your picture selection. Your kids are pretty darn cute, so it must have been difficult to choose. These are the projects that make a house a home. Keep up the great work. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  4. I think this wall is GREAT! Love the color and all the wonderful pictures you chose.

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  5. SandyS11:34 AM

    I love the way you painted the wall! Also love the color! Making it into a photo wall is fabulous!

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  6. How stinkin' fun! I love it all! I love the wall color and how the frames just pop off of it! I love all the pictures you used too. I like how you used updated and baby pictures. Great idea. Thanks for sharing. I'll let you know if I end up doing this in my house somewhere!

    Jennie @ Cinnaberry Suite

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  7. Oh my! This looks GREAT. Thank you for such great inspiration. Oh, and LOVE the picture of you holding the cruise ship. Too cute!

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  8. we have been living in our house for 5+yrs. we have a big white wall as just before you come to the landing which we want to fill with frames just like you did. the idea has been with us since we first bought the house. the only thing we managed to do is put a wide border of paint around so that all the frames would go inside of this border....and its in (wait for it) teal!!! One day we will do the pictures. cause like your its a difficult area to reach...
    I do like the outcome of yours, i can only imagine the rest of the house will be lovely too.
    becky
    bpbajona@maltanet.net

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  9. I think it looks AWESOME! The black and white photos are great, and the monogram gives it a focal point. Looks fantastic!

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  10. What gorgeous pics!!! I just adore b/w pics. And what great way to use that space... tall staircase areas are so tricky (I've got one I'm still trying to figure out). I LOVE it!

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  11. I love the teal behind your photos! We did a similar photo-collage in our house -- now I'm thinking maybe I should paint too! :)

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  12. That looks so great against that brightly painted wall! Your kids are adorable!

    Thanks for sharing at My Backyard Eden!

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  13. The color is awesome and the pictures are beautiful!!! It looks so gorgeous!!

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  14. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE love it!

    Your house is going to be awesome, I wish I had half your ideas...

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  15. This is fantastic and you have a beautiful family! Thanks for sharing!

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