It's been three months since I finished hanging my gallery wall in the stair landing. Thanks to Pinterest, this is something I was convinced was going to take a lot of time, a lot of precision, and the death of a lot of wax paper.
It didn't take me that long because I have a toddler. There is no time to be precious about perfect walls when there are nails, a hammer and a kid eager to climb the stairs and get in the way of said nails and hammer.
So I just picked up a nail, hammered it in and hung a frame. Repeated approximately 20 times. I did not trace any outlines, I did not arrange the frames artfully on my living room floor, I did not pass go.*
Crazily enough, it took me longer to finish ordering the prints to go in the frames than it did to plan the wall itself (and that includes a month's worth of finding frames at thrift stores). Three months, and I finally did it! I placed the order, and the remaining prints are on their way ... finally!
It was hard as hell to whittle down the possibilities. At first I thought I would showcase some of my landscape photography, but the longer we lived here the more I grew enamored with the idea of having a family photo wall.
Oh, but to pick out the photos from the millions we have. It was a process. The empty frames seemed to mock my indecision on a daily basis. We're still empty, they said, taunting me. The jerks.
When Alexa and I walk down the stairs each morning, we pause on the landing to point out family members. I framed a photo of my mom as a toddler, and she points at it eagerly, saying, "Baby!" I like that she is getting to know her grandma even though grandma isn't with us. Same with her paternal grandpa (who looks so much like H in his framed photo that a few times Alexa has mistakingly called him "Daddy"). Of course, she knows Baba (my dad) and Mima (my mother-in-law). And Mommy and Daddy. Soon there will be a picture of Uncle Chad and Aunt Kelly and cousin Lola.
Today I pointed to a big photo of Alexa. "Who's that?" I asked. She grinned really wide. "It's you!" I said. "It's Baby Alexa."
"Baby 'Lexa," she said decisively.
*I am a designer by trade, so it doesn't hurt that I have a good spatial sense. (Plus, perfection is overrated.)
perfection is totally overrated!! I have so many frames in our house that are up but either empty or showcase a happy couple that we don't know smiling at us and a false price tag sticker. Not exactly the look I was going for, but at least that wall space is taken up!!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of doing the same thing on our stair wall. Probably paint all the frames the same color and have the photos b&w + color. I think finding the frames is going to be the hardest (like you said).
ReplyDeleteI need to do this on the walls up my stairs. I've done it in the living room and did it in our last house. Time to get on it!
ReplyDeleteDo it! I'd love to see how yours turns out.
ReplyDeleteIt was only hard because I'm a major cheapskate and refuse to pay more than $7 for a frame! (Plus I like the thrill of the hunt.)
ReplyDeleteBwahahaha. The "happy couple that we don't know smiling at us." Aren't they the best?
ReplyDeleteI want to re-do some of my "gallery" walls and add to them! I just saw a fantastic idea about framing cork boards and using those to hang the kids' artwork.
ReplyDeleteOooh, That's a great idea. So you can swap out artwork easily?
ReplyDeleteWe've been in our house for 3 years and my gallery wall up the stairs is still nothing but a Pinterest board waiting to happen! I need to get on it! Yours looks amazing, especially with that sweet baby girl modeling in front of it!
ReplyDeleteGo for it. If you don't like it, you can always take it down or rearrange!
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