My oldest daughter has a randomly placed, odd sized window in her bedroom. To visually deflect your eye from it, we put up these yarn balls. They definitely helped, however she still had a very blank wall on the other side of the window.
My plan was to place the gallery wall on a diagonal in an effort to make it appear that we were incorporating the window in the gallery.
Sort of camouflaging it.
There are many more orthodox ways of putting up a gallery wall. None of which work for me.
Here's my very helter-skelter method:
First, I took several thrifted frames out to the garage and sprayed them either black, gold or white - no science there. Just guess which ones you're going to want which color - this doesn't always work and sometimes requires that you re-spray a frame black that you just sprayed white that morning.
I've ordered a 16 x 20 canvas to use as the focal point of the wall, but it hasn't come yet, so I taped four pieces of paper together to mimic the canvas and nailed it up.
Then I picked up a few other frames, eyed them and nailed them up. No measuring here.
I had great success with the first few and didn't have to re-nail any of them!
As I moved towards the window, things started to get a little tricky. I put a few frames up, stood back and decided I didn't like it much.
After inflicting much pain on my wall, I got it right.
I added a couple more frames and a cut out a paper "M" thinking I'd head to the craft store to find one to add.
The gallery wall is a success so far! As you walk into the room, your eye is no longer drawn to the odd window and I'm sure once I get prints in the frames, it will deflect attention even more.
Do you have a more organized method to hang frames that doesn't include filling a dozen superfluous holes? Is yours as chaotic as mine?
I usually lay mine of the floor first, I know some people cut out paper shapes and tape them up first, but I think that's a lot of extra work :) Your's is looking great can't wait to see the canvas you ordered!
ReplyDeleteYour gallery wall is looking great! I kind of wing like you do. Then patch and go.
ReplyDeleteNatty,
ReplyDeleteI love your use of the yarn balls to off-set the random odd sized window in the bedroom ... a very clever fool the eye solution!
I think your gallery wall is developing beautifully and the composition is very diverse and interesting. I just posted my hanging tips for a gallery wall that definitely eliminates those "do over" holes you are concerned about ... my approach to planning and hanging could be by comparison to yours thought of as over-analysis, but my husband is so bothered by extra holes in the wall I had to come up with something!
Coincidently, I recently also posted about my off-centered window in my bedroom and how I tackled it.
Looks like we have similar home issues!
Robin
happilyhomeafter.blogspot.com
So I just hung 9 frames in Livvi's room and I didnt' want all those holes in her wall so I went to Hobby Lobby with my coupon and bought the command adhesive hooks, they stick to your wall and don't mess up the paint and super easy to use. I'm doing an alphabet wall in the babys room and didn't want 26 holes so I'm going to use them in there too! Just a thought!
ReplyDeleteFrom one Natty to another, great job! I love your blog, and I'm glad that I found you through Young House Love. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI'm like you...just eyeball it and hope for the best and spackle the holes and touch-up paint if needed. It looks like it's going to look fabulous. Be sure and post the finished product!!
ReplyDeleteI just eyeball it and hope for the best...and spackle and paint if needed. Be sure and post your finished product. Looks like it is going to look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!! I think it looks great and can't wait to see the finished product. It would also look cool if you "framed" the window in a frame. You could even use moulding strips cut to size. It would really tie it in to the gallery :)
ReplyDeletei go along great for a good portion of it- It's just thsoe last few,especially that can accidentally tip the whole thing..I admit to a few extra holes myself- and a rather stressed husband, from time to time. I like the previous posters ideas with the temp sticky hangers. that's a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI did a gallery wall in my hallway and except for laying out the center section on the floor so I could work around the thermostat and the doorbell box I pretty much just hung things wherever I thought they looked best. I'm all about organized randomness. Ha! :)
ReplyDeleteI have heard putting a dab toothpaste on the back of the back of the frame and then pushing it up against the wall where you want the frame works great. Maybe get some thicker and larger frames so that the window doesn't seem so large next to the frames. If you don't have anything for the frames mix in empty frames as well. Good Luck, I love gallery walls. My question, how many gallery walls in a home is too many? :)
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I go all anal on my frame hanging and placement... I cut out newsprint the size of my frames as placeholders (with an "x" wherever I'll need a nail), and arrange them until I love it. Then I nail right through the paper, tear the paper away and hang my frames. =) Maybe I'll have to try your helter skelter method - it sounds more fun ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen I did a gallery wall down my hallway I used a large, long piece of craft paper which can be found at most craft stores. Laid the paper on the floor arranged my frames the way I wanted them then with a pencil I marked on the paper where every nail should go and wrote the description of the frame next to the nail mark. Taped the paper to my wall as straight and even as possible. Then nailed every mark ripped the paper down and hung my frames. Really doesn't take long and I like knowing what it will look like before I put it on the wall.
ReplyDeleteYes, mine is just as helter skelter, but always works out. Looks great and, I agree, incorporates the window nicely.
ReplyDeleteI just finished my very own gallery wall! Of course, I was less ambitious with the asymmetry but for a dining room, a bit more formal isn't so bad! check it out and let me know what you think!
ReplyDeletehttp://agirlandakey.blogspot.com/
darling. i noticed those yarn balls a couple posts back - i've been dying to make them ever since.
ReplyDeleteYoung House Love has a good tutorial on how they hung their massive gallery wall...
http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/03/the-hallway-full-monty/
Looking good! I'm sure the finished product will be awesome!
ReplyDeleteI have got to get better at wall hangings - so I appreciate your inspiration. Saw you on TT&J
ReplyDeleteNatalie-
ReplyDeleteEver think about building a frame about the size of the window, stretching some translucent fabric over it and then having your daughter paint her own art on it? Then you could use a piano hinge on the side and make it look like it is part of the gallery wall. Then you can open it if you need to get to the window and close it for privacy. Just a thought! Kim@reposhture.blogspot.com
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