Friday, October 11, 2013

Gallery Wall



I have a lot of artwork to hang in the new house. I'd like to paint a few rooms first, so most of the paintings and pictures and mirrors will lean against a wall in the basement until I get around to it, say next summer? I love the paint color in our family room, however, so it was time to get some things on the walls! I started with twice as many pieces as made it onto this wall, so they'll find homes elsewhere in the house.

My first step was looking at what I thought would go well together. This included a painting by my mother in law of the "house that made me," some high school artwork by my mom, inspiring paintings by friends, and an amazing portrait of Jack by one of his classmates. Yeah, an 8th grader did that. Wow.

I had signs, too, one purchased from TJ Maxx and another hand painted by Kristi from Barn Owl Primitives with the words my sister said about Jack at his funeral, This is what she learned from him:


I wanted art from Margaret and Jack on there as well, so you'll find her fish painting plus his watercolor Tiffany window. The wooden piece is  a slat/spindle (?) from the porch railing of my great grandparents' house that is no longer standing in WV, and it hangs below a tender painting of Jack and his cousin.


I tried Martha Stewart's technique first, of cutting brown kraft paper the size of each piece and then taping them to the walls. But the paper got curly and kept falling down, so I moved to the floor. I taped off an area the same size as the space on the wall and just arranged and rearranged until I liked it.


Then I had Tim start the nailing, so I could step back and see if it was coming together the way I wanted.

It's so nice to have these sweet paintings on the wall. Makes me want to get going and personalize more of the house.

So, what do you think of the piece of furniture beneath the gallery wall? We call it "The Dumpster Dive" because I got it out off someone's trash pile about 8 years ago. I have never loved Tim more than when he helped me remove it from the curb and get it inside the back of the minivan without making any snarky comments.


It lived in the carport at the old house and I knew that when the movers came last month it would be my one and only opportunity to get it inside after 8 yrs of waiting. Even at the last minute, the (male) movers and my (male) husband were debating the wisdom of bringing it inside a house and saying things like, "well, maybe if you fix it up." Puh-lease. Ain't no changing the Dumpster Dive.

There is a teeny weeny issue in that I think it is infested with carpenter bees. And that the latent larvae inside the bee tunnels may hatch sometime next spring and start feeding on the wood of our house, thereby reducing it to a pile of rubble.

Small issue, I'm sure. I mean, look at how great it is!



44 comments:

Peg said...

I love, love that wall. What a great expression of your family history, love, connection and creativity. The dumpster dive piece pulls is all together...even with the possible infestation.

Peace and love to all of you in your new home :)

Anonymous said...

This makes me so happy. What a wonderful find (Mr. DD) and I love how you arranged the wall.

love,
jbhat

SWW said...

Awesome! We took ALL the personal photos/artwork down 6 months ago when our house was one the market. It never sold and we never hung anything back up. Maybe this will help get me moving in the right direction again.

Thrift Store Mama said...

The sideboard really does look great - and I think you can treat the larvae with a spray of some sort.

Love the idea of a gallery wall - and your technique for figuring it out ! We're 8 weeks into our new home in Colorado, so I'm hoping to have stuff on the walls by Christmas. Ambitious, I know.

twingles said...

You're hired - come on over and hang up my stuff in a nice arrangement. I'm not too far from Wake Forest...

Suburban Correspondent said...

I have a blank wall in my living room because there is no way my marriage could survive that "hanging pictures together" thing that you guys did. Your wall looks great, and I can only assume that no conjugal unions were harmed in the process.

susan said...

A beautiful show of family. We live in a very small house and so I find wall personalization is in many cases my only option since we don't have a lot of free standing furniture. Thanks for the inspiration!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

The gallery wall is perfect, I love it and that cabinet is gorgeous!

Cassie Bustamante said...

that wall is amazing! and i love the special touches- and ooh that cabinet.

katrynka said...

love the buffet! Lots of people pay tons of money to get "distressed" furniture!

The art wall is great too:)

Susie - Walking Butterfly said...

Love the wall arrangement! So fun to watch the new home come together!
Susie

Sybil@PeaceitallTogether said...

It turned out great! I love the dumpster find!!

Kori said...

All of it is so beautiful!

Rachel Elizabeth said...

I love the pieces you chose. Our gallery wall is only half finished.

Anonymous said...

BEAUTIFUL, just beautiful...from top to bottom!

Sharon said...

I love it Anna! I have a symmetrical gallery wall of black and white pictures of my kids and our dog (my fur baby). I do love it, but lately I've been wanting something a little less formal that also incorporates some art work. I love all of the pieces you chose. They're all so beautiful and meaningful. That's hilarious about the dumpster dive piece. Don't they know what lengths people go to to get just that finish? Hopefully, you won't have an infestation next spring.

Sherri said...

The gallery wall is so cool! Love how you arranged things. That sideboard is spectacular-just as it is. The wood top is the icing on the cake to such an amazing piece. And the gallery wall puts that entire space into the perfection zone! Good job!!

Anonymous said...

Love the pictures.
Wonderful collection of meaningful pieces.
Could you share what is written in white on the black background?
Who painted the picture of Jack with his cousin? How special that is, and how special their relationship must have been.
Margaret's fish are so bright and dynamic -- just like her, I imagine!
Thanks so much for sharing this wall.
-- Joan in PA
P.S. I concur that Tim is a huge sport re the dumpster find. ;)

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous!

That's incredibly sweet that someone made that painting from your sister's words about Jack.

You really have an eye.

Bees?

for a different kind of girl said...

It's a beautiful wall. Such a display of teasues! (can you tell which key on my keyboad isn't woking?!)

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

@Joan in PA: The black sign says, This is my wish for you: comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, friendships to brighten your being, beauty for your eyes to see, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, patience to accept the truth, courage to know yourself, love to complete your life.

Diane said...

LOVE it! I have a gallery wall but I just sort of eyeballed it with no plan whatsoever so it is not nearly this wonderful. That portrait of Jack? Amazing. Unbelievable that an 8th grader did that. Just...Wow!

And I was (no joke) admiring that piece of furniture and wondering if you distressed it yourself before I read that it was a true dumpster dive piece! Awesome.

Alison said...

Truly beautiful. Each and every piece with its own amazing story. Love. All of it.

Except for the possible bee situation - ack!

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Anna, for posting the content of the writing on the black board. Wonderful sentiments.

-- Joan in PA

Rachel said...

Gorgeous! Anna, you have an amazing eye. Each piece is so meaningful, and you arranged them so beautifully.

We're moving soon (well, it's a short sale, so who knows), and this technique might help me put up pics without my fiancé (but he'll be husband when we move in) going nuts over my haphazard arrangement style...

Anonymous said...

If it has holes or tunnels, just plug them with putty or something. If there are bee larvae in there, maybe they'll smother.

Anonymous said...

Wow, that wall is so gorgeous...you really have a great eye! And what a beautiful tribute to Jack and your family.

Of course, the "Dumpster Dive" ties it all together...can't get rid of that!! :)

Cynthia said...

You are indeed amazing, my friend!

anymommy said...

You had me right up until the bees. Now I'm horrified, but the wall is still beautiful.

Denise said...

Anna, the piece is as fabulous as the pictures above it. And yes, I actually just said, "fabulous."

Really. ;o)

Barn Owl Primitives said...

Anna, it looks wonderful!! That side board is amazing....bees and all!

xoxoxo

Victoria said...

I am a huge dumpster diver and have quite a few pieces of furniture acquired through it. My hubby's well trained now and will let me know if he finds something:) Your cabinet is amazing!!! I think you could easily have the wood treated to get rid of any critters:)

Your gallery wall is lovely! The drawing of Jack is amazing, I can't believe an 8th grader did that.

Andrea Mowery said...

Love the wall, love the Dumpster Dive. What a great collection of artwork you have! Every piece has a special meaning. Great job!

Anonymous said...

It looks amazing and I continue to be inspired by your faith and grace.

Unknown said...

Looks beautiful Anna. Love the arrangement. And yes, Wow, can't believe an 8th grader did that portrait! Amazing!!
Love love love the dumpster dive. Fingers crossed that bees will not be a future problem!!

Anonymous said...

Love it! You've given me inspiration to finally get something up on the rec rooms after 4 years of being in this house! I planned to frame some of the kid's artwork too.

Btw, I LOVE that sideboard just the way it is (well-maybe without the bees). Great work! Nova Mom Jen

tracy@sellabitmum said...

Oh Anna - this wall looks beautiful! xo

Jenny said...

Anna,
This is so awesome! So many wonderful pieces of meaningful artwork, beautifully arranged. The picture of Jack & his cousin is so sweet and so powerful. And the dumpster dive piece is divine! I totally agree with you, I would not change one inch of that beauty. My husband definitely lifts an eye brow at me from time to time when I find treasures on the side of the road. :)

CityGirl said...

Think this is gorgeous...all the artwork, and the stories behind them. Also--the curbside piece--stunning. Amazing work, beautiful tribute.

Karen L. said...

Thanks for sharing your meaningful gallery wall. Love the things that came together beautifully as well as your sense of humor coming through! Love the dumpster dive----one of my fav pieces in our house is an old oak dresser that I picked up free over 40 yrs ago. It has been moved to loads of houses over many moves and from one bedroom to another as we "upgraded" and now sits in our sixth grandchild's room after going through his five older siblings' rooms first! (They just don't make 'em like that anymore do they, Anna?!)

Unknown said...

unless something starts hatching from your dumpster find I wouldn't change a thing. It is awesome! Your gallery wall is fantastic and you've inspired me to get working on hanging our pictures after just moving in a year ago :)

Anonymous said...

Love, love, love your "Dumpster Dive"!!!

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

I love your gallery wall Anna! And that is one very cool piece of furniture! The bees are just an added bonus!

Reenie said...

Love that wall. Looks great. Absolutely love your dumpster dive. Great find.